"If FR dies, that’s that." - Jim Robinson [Jim's reply at post # 588]

freerepublic.com ^ | 1/11/11 | paulycy

[paulycy]

FYI -

Here are statements from Jim about the future of FreeRepublic.com for those who missed them. They are quite serious.

===

"Well, I can say that there are definitely two things that will never happen. 1) Banner ads. 2) Oracle [a completely new database system.] And a third is a total replacement [of the current damaged system.] Don’t have the financial wherewithal."

"To those who wish to leave because of it, see ya."

"If FR dies, that’s that."

===

[To: paulycy]

Hey, you want us to get an all new system with all new software and add a few more pricey techs, system programmers and database administrators to keep it all working 100% of the time 24/7/365? Well, start coughing up the big bucks.

It’s going to take tens of thousands of donations and many with at least three zeros each after the comma to accomplish the task. And that would be EVERY month like clock work to make the payroll. Once you take on a big load of expensive overhead, there’s no going back. As it is, we get a couple thousand donations per quarter averaging about $30 bucks each and there’s no guarantees we can cover this quarter’s expenses much less next quarter. We’re on a pay as we go system and we have zero employees.We just ask for enough to pay the bills.

Throwing more money at the problem won’t solve it. [This latest glitch] was a technical issue and we just had to keep troubleshooting until we found it. And no, we’re not going to invite a bunch of strangers in to get their hands on our secure systems. John has been programming since he was 14 and he’s pushing 40 now. He built these systems and he’s an expert in them.

And no, we are not going to throw out our software and rewrite it and no we’re not going to move on to some other database system. There are no guarantees that any other system can do a better job and not without hiring a staff to build and maintain it and that’s for sure. And we don’t have the financial wherewithal to do any of that anyway. Maybe if we had a couple million bucks at our disposal and a couple years to do it in we could build an iron-clad system. And maybe not.

All I can say is, if someone else can do it better and cheaper, then please step right on up and get ‘er done!! I’ll bow out and retire. Thankyouverymuch.

Hit it boys:

https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/

And no, we have no plans of taking FR commercial. I like it the way it is. Not sure I could handle getting rich.

===

- Jim Robinson

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2653583/posts?page=168#168

[metmom]

YAY!!! You got post 1,111 on 1-11-11.

[DJ MacWoW]

It would also be too easy for a troll to make an innocuous post and then change it later and plant a “bomb” on FR. We’ve had reporters do that WITHOUT an edit feature. It was a mess.

[reaganaut]

Hanging out on the Religion forum is a choice. Nobody is forced to be there.

- - - - - - - -
Exactly. It isn’t for everyone, but there is a lot of good that goes on here.

[4woodenboats]

Jim, If you're happy with the voluntary set up, fine, but don't sweat it if you have to start charging, at least not on our account (no pun intended).

There's nothing wrong with charging a moderate posting privilidge.

It would actually cut down on the trolls ~ look at the difference in posts on the Wall Street Journal, compared to posts on Market Watch, which WSJ owns and doesn't charge for. MW is a pump n dump, anonymous Lib hypster infested pit, while you have to use your own name on the WSJ.

I'm not up for giving away the freedom FR's anonymity offers, (though the Rats will find us if they want to, no matter what) but a dollar a day ~ or a two tier system for those who are occasional visitors or just don't use much bandwith wouldn't chase anyone away.

Or just don't extend the benefit of having a unique ID to anyone who doesn't donate.

If we don't value the community you've attracted and provided for, why should the community offer us notoriety?

Visitors could still do their DD on most any currently relevant subject for free, an offering clearly near to your heart.

Though I'm against banner ads, I would support a simple Business Listing section benefit for members who donate.

[paulycy]

We’ve had reporters do that WITHOUT an edit feature. It was a mess.

I think I remember that incident. A mess it was.

[DJ MacWoW]

and read more into it than I meant

You "skeert" us. We're freepaholics and don't want any 12 step program.

[reaganaut]

Not all paths lead to God.

[GiovannaNicoletta]

I didn't tell anyone where to go.

There are people complaining about the Religion forum and stating that it should be eliminated. If the Religion forum bothers them, then they need to stay away from it.

If they are on the Religion forum, it was their choice to go there. Nobody forced them.

[reaganaut]

LOL

[sappy]

This is an amazing forumn with many, many very intelligent folks contributing! I lurk a lot and make wise-cracks but I absolutley cherish the volume of knowledge and intelligence on so many subjects on this forumn.

sappy (i’ve had other user names over the last 10yrs, but let’s not go in to why they were not IBTZ) haha.

[Servant of the Cross]

FR has be one the “Get off Ma Lawn!!” forum of the Internet.

Roscoe? I kind of like the imagery of JimRob as Clint Eastwood?

[BykrBayb]

God bless you too. Thank you for reassuring us that FR will remain the same. I like it just the way it is.

[Jim Robinson]

LOL! Love it!!

[musicman]

[Netizen]

Yes, news of that has been all over FR in the last few months. Still - I see all these other sites up and running with links, excerpts, and banner advertising. Somehow, they're doing it. It would be interesting to know how they're dealing with issues related to that.

Its been that way for years. The only thing I can surmise is that they don't generate enough traffic and they aren't a 'threat', whatever that may mean.

What I'd like to know is how they get away with nit picking who they go after. Shouldn't all sites have to follow the same laws if there is a violation involved. Some shouldn't be allowed to get away with something that others can't. Equal protection and all that.

My other question is, how is posting articles and or excerpts for others to see/read any different than the person that buys a newspaper, then leaves it in a restaurant for other customers to see/read the rest of the day?

A link to their site certainly should not be any type of violation, so I'm not sure what their problem is.

[wardaddy]

i. do my part..maybe better than most but i think the forum sees less action now than before except when things heat up even though we have accumulated more total membership. it seems like less and less high reply counts.....im sure someone knows

[Chode]

Sir, i DO think FReepers would be very happy to buy hats tee-shirts, mugs, keychains, anything, you name it with an FR logo in it to help out and show the flag to the public as proud FReepers...

and we prolly have several FReepers in that line of advertisement that would be happy to help

just my 2¢

[MalPearce]

It works. In fact it works very well.

Correct me if I'm wrong but you said something upthread which I took to mean, that copyright infringement lawsuits have in the past distracted you from the actual day-to-day running of the site, if not hit you with a legal bill. Someone mentioned Righthaven upthread...

Maybe the cost of bandwidth, infrastructure etc isn't an issue for you but in your shoes, I would want to avoid litigation if only for the fact that I'd have better things to do with my time than be dragged into court on the basis of someone cloning a newspaper article and posting it on a thread.

I'm in the trade so to speak - specializing in data loss prevention, access control, and SOX / CFR21 Part 11 compliance, all that cobblers - or in plain English, it's my job to ensure my customers don't get harmed or sued because confidential data starts appearing on Wikileaks or they're found to have stuff they ought not to have, on their systems.

I was only suggesting the configuration changes, on the basis that they'd mitigate the risk of litigation without having a detrimental impact on the user experience. If anything, it might make page loads a bit faster and new threads a bit easier to read.

But if you disagree, no problemo. I'm old-fashioned. when I were a lad, we had nowt but Gopher, and it were great...

[musicman]

[MHGinTN]

Amen!