Should Free Republic become a paid subscription service?

Vanity | 6/23/2006 | Berlin_Freeper

[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).

[MOgirl]

"I would love to be with my FRiends on the 24 rerun thread"

How do I find this thread?



Hello,

Post to don-o, he started the ping list last week, I am sure he would be glad to add you (or anyone else reading this that would like to join in the 24 - Rerun thread) to the list.

BTW, it's ALOT of fun!

Glad to be here, MOgirl

[don-o]

How do I find this thread?

Put you on the ping list -

[processing please hold]

However the recent thread hijacking on FR by the anti-immigration crowd has made me want for an ignore button at this site

Well, well, well, what have we here? Looks like you just did that all by your lonesome. And, it's anti-illegal alien, I'll have you know.

[bwteim]

loreldan wrote:

"Foreigners that post here normally are an asset to FR."

With the caveat that those foreigners who post ABnormally here are not necessarily assets...;)

Berliner, you have raised an interesting point. Mark me on the side of: it ain't broke.

PS Don't know how the world will end or how this thread ends, just got out of the shower and am working my way through the responses.

[Bigh4u2]

What makes you think that Jim Rob is in it for the money?

[BlazingArizona]

I wouldn't want to see FR become a sealed-off echo chamber. I welcome DU trolls here because their presence, like the hysteria over Ann Coulter's works, means we're pissing them off. So long as the voluntary donations remain adequate - and from the appeal responses I see here, I bet they are - let's keep things as they are.

[fso301]

You have my nomination for "Worst Idea of the Decade".

[aliquis]

If you're so sure it's a viable model, start your own site and make money. You can also visit FR now and again, laugh at us, benighted ignoramuses, and, if you're feeling particularly magnanimous, donate to FR!

[bwteim]

schmuck can also mean something else...;)

[TET1968]

This is so cool.

[TET1968]

Thank you :)

[leadpenny]

I knew it! You are more than a little goofy.

[bwteim]

"This site is way easier to navigate than the new stuff out there."

Another bump. In addition to our content, to our members, our founding father and supporting cast --- I'd say that in terms of the technology suppport and the design in how the threads can be followed - not to mention customization - makes this site a pleasure to use. Wade in some other sites - they may be flashy but they ain't winners.

[Indy Pendance]

My kid wasn't 'bad', just was heading down a bad path, peers, etc. Joining the army was the best thing that happened. I figure, it took 12 drill sergeants to replace one mom. I was happy for that help. By the time they're 20, either they get it or not. That extra set of 24 hands helped a lot! Going to the battlefield is stressful, but, it's no worse than them going off to the city for a weekend adventure, untrained and unaware, and getting lost, or hooking up with the wrong bunch. Thanks, we stressed, but had confidence the training was superb!

[FreedomCalls]

Nothing prevents you from starting such a web site as you described.

[Indy Pendance]

I'll bet this is the most replies you ever had to a thread.

[Bigh4u2]

One thing that makes this site stand out over others I have been to is the 'ping' factor.

I've posted on many other sites where you just don't know if anyone has responded unless you re-read the entire thread.

This site is great in that respect.

[brazzaville]

Good afternoon.
"I resemble that remark!"

Yo tambien.

Michael Frazier

[Bigh4u2]

?

Ok. Whaddi miss?

[lonestar]

B gone!