ars_ex_machina

I'm not trying to shoot you down, I admire your overwhelming optimism. And I totally understand doing something that's based on your passion. But from a business standpoint, how is it possible to convince someone to open a local version of this in their town? You've admitted to using personal cash to keep it running. You've said that you're so poor you don't worry about being sued since they'd not get anything (why you're not an LLC I have no idea). This is, admittedly, a non-sustainable business model. Yet you think there should be more. I do not understand that and I'd like to.

Have you read this on /.? http://it.slashdot.org/story/14/04/13/1553258/private-keys-stolen-within-hours-from-heartbleed-openssl-site

Many commenters note that this effectively destroys ssl for all time and the industry needs to rebuild from the ground up. Your thoughts?

Also, I've read in several places now, that using your test effectively violates cybercrime laws and could be considers hacking attacks. Your thoughts on that as well?

Selling it as a "charity hostel" instead of a "donation based hostel" would be a good place to start and change perceptions. Up until this answer, it has really seemed to me like you're trying to explain this as a not for profit business. While similar to a charity, it's not the same. As a charity I think you get a lot more grace for things that are not commercial quality. And it's easier to understand a greater need to make a difference. A lot of businesses are run not for profit to give greater dividends to the share holders. That's simply not the case here. If you license as a charity you'd open yourself up for a greater range of donations as well as more opportunity for local charters.

I admire your belief in the inherent goodness of humans. I wish I still viewed the world through your eyes.

If I'm in town I'd love to stop by. If I had cash, I'd love to buy an old place to do this type of thing as well, all bitterness aside. I do think it's a good idea. But, as with anything in this world, you need to sell it in the appropriate context.

As a charity, you could have official fund raisers. I think you should talk to the local tourism ppl, if there are any in Pittsburgh, and ask if they have ideas or would like to cross market in any way.

Also, instead of emails and "getting to know someone" perhaps an official registration process. That way, if you do expand, those folks could go from location to location with relative ease.

Just sorta thinking as I type... if you did expand this to a charity... why not do national fund raising and use it to preserve old buildings and repurpose them? That way you'd get a huge expansion and have yet another aspect of doing good/making an impact. I suspect there are a lot of locations just here in the states that have no reasonable use for an old place but don't want to see it go. It'd be a fantastic way to get newcomers to see the city in a good light as well. So now you need to get some historical societies and architects to donate time/resources. But... this is all very doable and in today's climate would have a very welcome reception.

I don't blame you for getting down. Humans can be complete shit. All the potential we possess and yet... we level out at Jerry Springer.