Posted on 06/23/2006 12:27:30 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
I am not certain what the legal ramifications would be in changing Free Republic from donations to a subscription service. It seems to me the switch may be detrimental to legal issues such as copyrights. If that is true I'd appreciate if someone could briefly explain that to me. However if that is not the case here is my suggestion:
I have been wondering about this for some time now and have not seen any discussions about it. So I would like to ask: Is it time for Free Republic to become an online subscription service?
Currently, the site is very antiquated. People can easily abuse the "add a keyword" feature and there seems to be a growing number of liberal trolls, foreigners and even pro-homosexual agenda-driven people infecting the site. In order to cut down on the undesirables and enhance FR at the same time, would it be advisable to start charging a monthly fee of about 15-30 bucks to be able to log into the site and post? There could also be different subscription levels like Basic, Premium or Platinum. That way, the more you pay the more features you have access to. Some of these extra-services could include storing photos or FR could be a conservative search engine for the web.
I have seen online sites where people can still read the boards for free. FR could do something like that so it would still be accessible to the Conservative public even if they are not paying members with posting priviledges.
Websites that rely heavily on banner and pop-up ads need as many hits as possible so for them restricting posting rights to subscribers might not be so desirable. However, Free Republic does not work like that. There are no ads other than some book links on the home page so the number of hits is not as crucial to the bottom line which is currently being paid for by donations.
Donations seem to be working well, but I am sure the cashflow could be improved. How many of you people honestly are put off donating money to FR because it is not what it should be? Especially in regards to the undesirable element that can be found throughout many of the threads. Wouldn't this change in format go a long way in eliminating the undesirables? I think so. Plus it would be neat to experience an upgraded more modern version of Free Republic.
Note: If you are a democrat troll, foreigner or pro-homosexual/lesbian then I am really not interested in your opinion and you should not be posting it to me (just the fact that I have to add this note is proof that something is not right).
Have always had enormous respect for Mods even when I suspected some had a bad attitude toward me for mostly unfounded reasons.
You do a huge mostly thankless job for free and often demonstrate the wisdom of Solomon.
Greatly appreciated.
The real money is in ZOT insurance and a thread extended protection plan.
Hmmmm.... maybe.
But most trolls aren't reasonable to start with, so editing their post would probably be the last thing on their minds.
But I can still see some sense in what you are saying!
:0)
If FR became a "paid subscription service", it would kill my business at the "Levin Lounge". I would have to have a cover charge , and cut down on the peanuts & guacamole!
Spungh
"Is this what they call a "trial balloon"?"
Let me make clear I am not in any way representive of Free Republic. I'm just another schmuck with a thought in his head. (in Germany schmuck means "jewel" so right now I am glad I am in Germany).
That is obviously what they want.
No, the point was, eventually, everyone would at one time or another disagree with me. Likewise you too. We can never be 100% in agreement with each other. That's what makes this place fun.
An edit button would be nice. Even if it was only viable for 90 minutes after a post.
"The owner will do with this site what he will.
You're not the owner, and somehow I don't think you've discussed your idea with him first."
You are quite right I am not the owner and have not pretended to be. However the owner of this site can now read the thread so consider it discussed.
You don't think there are freepers in other countries, foreigners, who want to champion causes which further conservatism in America?
I haven't been here as long as many others, but I don't recall ever reading anything from JimRob that states his forum is for Americans only.
You have ruined my day
We are raising him to be conservative.
"An edit button would be nice. Even if it was only viable for 90 minutes after a post."
Even 60 seconds would be long enough.
That's generally how long it takes for me to realize how 'stupid' I was for not using the 'spell checker'...
:0)
Which may or not mean anything. But, yer right, Indy. Hang in a couple - three years, you have pretty much seen it all on Board Wars.
HEY! Three hours and twenty minutes to the Jack Baurer Power Hour. Rerun of Season 5. I will put up a live thread. All: Freepmail me for a ping. It is hugh fun!!
Has any thought been given to installing an "ignore" button?
I know the feeling. But if it's a substantial post, I'm getting better at checking and previewing first.
And, at typing html coded posts up in Word first. Doing a long html, reparagraph post and have it lost in the ethers without being posted is . . .
worse than the pits. Especially since it's so unnecessary.
Uh - the Nazis tried that one.
You can't be serious. If you are - maybe you'd feel more at home at DU, where they only allow those who toe the Party line. If you can't handle posters who disagree with you then you'll feel right at home with them.
Shheeesh!
You type what you type. You shouldn't have the ability to change your post after you figured out you were a moron about it.
The ignore button proved useful at alien-ufos.com because they are a rabid bunch of liberal idiots--some with pathological hostility toward Christians and conservatives.
Have virtually never felt the need here except maybe the first year or 2.
There was some kind of 'free-for-all' on occasion that could be quite hostile.
FR is relatively quite tame, now, imho.
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