"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]

According to post #122, this site costs about $360K annually to run. I have no idea whether this is a “reasonable” number or not. But there are 330,000 members. If everyone donated just $1.10 a YEAR, it would keep FR going indefinitely.

According to some others, there are about 20,000 active posters on FR. If every one of them donated $20 a YEAR you'd get $400,000.

With the trouble that it is to get money during FReepathons and the number of people who are monthly or dollar a day donors, it's obvious that a few are pulling the weight in donations.

[Sidebar Moderator]

Can I look now?

[Gamecock]

However, there are plenty of religious forums on the internet where those who seem to exist only for religious controversy and doctrinal dueling can post their piety or prejudices to their hearts' content.

What a perfectly liberal thing to say! You sound like those on the MSM who are howling about the rhetoric in Washington, which of course is a slam on the Team Party movement.

[reaganaut]

LOL.

[Admin Moderator]

" A Mod's work is never done. "

That reminds me. There's a dust rag and a broom over there in the corner with your name on them. They await your re-acquaintance. ;)

[tubebender]

I signed on to a Religious ping list and 8 days later asked to be removed as I can get my fulfillment without dissension elsewhere but I can not get my Consecrative values reinforced anywhere else and I fell that is the mission #1 of FR above all else...

[Quix]

Please check your FREEPMAIL.

BTW, there’s dozens of ways to help someone see a need they’ve been blind to—even willfully blind to.

[mlo]

"Most of the complaints about the software arise from features that used to be there but have disappeared, or never worked well in the first place such as the search mechanism."

I've seen people complain about search not finding something many times. But every time I've done it works. I put that down to people not knowing how to search. They are too specific and include punctuation and other things that might vary.

[DJ MacWoW]

There's a dust rag and a broom over there in the corner with your name on them. They await your re-acquaintance. ;)

Well it's better than being drowned.

[presently no screen name]

Dunkin Donuts doesn't foster a sense of community if you don't belong you are zotted the hell outta there,

Actually, they do. Many locals support their own community retailers to keep them there. Besides start complaining about the coffee/donuts daily - either you like what they serve or you don't. You don't like it, you don't belong there.

FR is a conservative site - the same applies. You want shareholder rights, so you can post whatever you please? IMO, sounds like a control problem.

[paulycy]

I put that down to people not knowing how to search.

That's certainly possible too. Complaining about the search is common here, though, and many including myself use google or somesuch rather than relying on the in-house search mechanism if we want to find something quickly.

I'm not trying to bash, I'm just mentioning examples.

[greyfoxx39]

[Quix]

Of course I fiercely support a public thread. The learning can be quite significant.

And, the conregations are anonymous.

Folks who find TRUTH tooooo uncomfortable ought not to call themselves Christians anyway.

And, scroll buttons and page down buttons should still work.

LOL.

[metmom]

I've seen people complain about search not finding something many times. But every time I've done it works. I put that down to people not knowing how to search. They are too specific and include punctuation and other things that might vary.

Google searches are much more forgiving. And tend to show up any thread that FR has going on the topic if you type in "(title) Free Republic"

[reaganaut]

Regardless of your feelings on the matter, JR has created an Religion Forum and allows it, so he must see some value in it, perhaps part of the mission of FR, I don’t know.

As conservatives, our faith is often a vital part of our worldview and for many the reason they are conservative.

The myth that ‘religion and politics’ don’t mix is part of the reason this country is in the sad shape it is and we have to work so hard to get it back.

courtesy ping to JR

[paulycy]

Besides start complaining about the coffee/donuts daily - either you like what they serve or you don't.

If the local Dunkin Donuts was run by great guys but had a problem with the coffee pots breaking down whenever there was a crowd of people, the end result being that most didn't get their coffee, I do NOT think that it is out of line to discuss with those guys the various possibilities of repairing or replacing their coffee makers.

[reaganaut]

Love those scroll buttons, especially during an ‘elsiethon’. LOL

[Track9]

You truly are beautiful Jim. Your comments are as founded on God-given common sense as anything I have ever known. Thank you.. and look forward to a Free Republic for many more glorious years.

[PeterPrinciple]

If it no longer works, then it needs to be upgraded to one that does.

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If the success of freedom and conservatism depend on the right font, color, no hurt feelings, business model, faster computers, and all the other surface things presented in this thread, we have truly lost.....................

Then freedom is not part of who we are. It can be manipulated and bought. The means justify the ends and we are no better than liberals.

I have learned it is worth a few bucks to learn what people are made of. If people won't pony up some bucks to fund FR and buy into it on its merit, but must be sold on frills, then that is very revealing.