"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

[driftdiver]

FR isn’t a charity.

[DJ MacWoW]

There are more than ten times that number of registered screen names, are there not?

There are between 300,000 and 400,000 registered.

[ladyvet]

I read, I post, I donate. No excuse for folks not to be able to send in a couple of bucks. We are hurting in this economy too but I dropped my magazine subscriptions and use that money to donate to FR. There's always a way.

[Lazamataz]

JimRob and JohnRob (at least halftime), at a minimum, make their living here. Are you including 1.5 staffers, full time pay, in your calculations? Are you also including the various legal fees from people and organizations who sue for harassment purposes?

[paulycy]

every post would be like a wikipedia entry and a little more biased, probably.

Sorry to the poster but pay per post would be a nightmare. LOL!

[EBH]

FR is an interesting study. It claims to be a conservative website etc. and yet depends on a PBS fund raising model, without the government grants.

I think this is a good thread to have for open discussion. Folks who use the site for “free” really don’t have a dog in this discussion though. Paying members though do in my humble opinion.

Not everyone is a programmer or understands the outages when they occur, but something and some solutions need to explored. And while Jim’s site is private, he has paying customers.

When his customers are complaining, letting him know things are just not meeting expectations...consideration should be given to their concerns...and if possible finding solutions.

If the cost and corners need to be cut slimming down the bandwidth use or whatever...to be able to invest in some of the needed upgrades...lets say it, get it out there and do what needs to be done.

I am not a computer guru, I a customer service guru and some of the problem here is some of his customers are unhappy.

What is a priority item for FReepers regarding FreeRepublic?

1. Site access
2. Load times
3. what else?

And then all the other stuff of the different forums etc. that could be consolidated down.

Part of the frustration this weekend came from a failure of the first two items...at a time when the left was firing a rapid fire rhetorical machine gun at the United States of America. If we’re going to stay on top of things and events to be able to use the soapbox in saving our nation...we can’t let that happen ...again.

I know some folks here vehemently defend Jim Rob and FR and that’s fine, but don’t let it cloud your judgment of the things that need to be repaired.

Jim, we met once on your Tea Party Across America journey. I love and admire what you’ve been able to build here, the activism you have inspired in likely thousands of people and I hope you can get through all the harsh words to evaluate ways to make FR even better. There are some great suggestions on this very thread. Perhaps garner some of the ideas and private poll your customers what they would do and what they value most.

[GeronL]

I don’t want to see ads from Google or (horrors) Pulse 360.... if there are ads I want them to be from FReepers, blogpimps and other conservative sites or hawking conservative books, magazines, TV programs and such or even radio programs.

That’s it.

[writer33]

Hold on...Mormons are conservative? /s :-)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The donation might have strings attached.

[GeronL]

yes, pay per post would turn it into a ghost town

[DJ MacWoW]

Now stop being mean to McCain supporters, DJ. We need them. We really do. /s :-)

Ha! I guess this has been forgotten. ;-D

Free Republic's Rino Free America Project

[Mr. K]

ok then how about a SUBSCRIPTION?

maybe you can read online for $5 yearly (by far the cheapest subscription price on the web)

but if you want to post you have to pay $50 (yearly)

I donate AT LEAST $100 whenever I can so that would be fine with me

[paulycy]

FR is an interesting study. It claims to be a conservative website etc. and yet depends on a PBS fund raising model, without the government grants.

I tend to agree that FR is a very successful site that has outgrown its current business model.

[Salvation]

I would hate to see the Religion Forum go. The chat or bloggers could drop off before that.

[GeronL]

Maybe a penny per reply and a nickel to start a thread. lol.

[Beaten Valve]

"And no, we’re not going to invite a bunch of strangers in to get their hands on our secure systems.

All I can say is, if someone else can do it better and cheaper, then please step right on up and get ‘er done!!

[jellybean]

I am already a monthly donor but i would like to up my amount. How do I do it? Also put the answer in the FAQ’s on the donate link. Thanks

The last time I inquired on the process for upping my monthly, Jim told me the system that handles that wasn't working. Send him a FReepmail telling him how much you would like to add.

[Salvation]

There have been many converts to Catholcism after people saw the real truth about REAL Catholics.

Thanks for your suggestion, though.

[OldMissileer]

I do not have a lot of funds right now but I donate automatically every month.

That written, with Gods grace I may end up with a better job soon and I will increase my monthly donation to make it at least a dollar a day, if not more.

Free Republic is more than a web site;: It is one of the few bastions of conservative thought and debate. It is too valuable to our Country to see it die, and I am not being hyperbolic.

[Let's Roll]

I give $10 a month. If my situation improves, that donation will increase. There are a lot of regular posters on FR. It seems like people who can afford a computer and an internet service provider could also commit to a regular FR donation.

Please FReepers, let’s get it done.