"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

[beezdotcom]

Why would I donate and then get banned for posting my opinion that isn’t 100% agreed to by the higher ups?

The counterpoint to that argument would be: why would you invest any time at all in a forum that really and truly operated that way?

[dangerdoc]

bump

[Quix]

Am in the same boat on such terms and I strongly agree.

[jellybean]

Im so sick of mine I could spit, and would pay a few more bucks to change it.

Make that donation to FR and I'll tell you how to change your screen name and keep your posting history! Heh!

[editor-surveyor]

>> “I’ll donate more when we start having banner ads.” <<

.
You haven’t thought it out too well.

We are a political opinion site, and advertisers tend to want to control the sites on which they advertise. If we become dependent on banners, we risk our freedom of expression since the ebb and flow of funding would be subject to outside forces that do not share our views.
.

[reaganaut]

Anything that promotes heresey, turns my Savior into a created being and the spirit brother of Satan, and any church that calls all other churches ‘whores of babylon’ and ‘apostates’ IS an attack on my faith.

BTW, JR saw that thread as an attack on HIS faith as well.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

“...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.”

In my frustration, I said this around 10 years ago; but as you can see, it didn’t do any good because it is still going on.

[ArrogantBustard]

Besides, posting here on a iPhone is a HUGE pain

Should have got a 'droid. ;'}

Posting here on a 'droid works just fine.

[BuckeyeTexan]

Maybe a different color to the font of their handle, maybe a gold star, or a mini American flag icon next to your name. Maybe different colors for different levels of monthly donation amounts. Platinum stars for those giving over a hundred?

I believe that if the monthlies were easily identified, more people would proudly participate that way.

I really like that idea. I think it would increase donations too.

Is that something that could be implemented fairly easily and inexpensively, JR? I mean like "bare bones" cheap - stars, dollar signs, asterisks, etc.

[Quix]

Hmmmmmmmm

Sounds exciting.

Is that some new strategy to land an ongoing bevy of chicks in your lap?

Sooooo, when did this FREEREPUBLIC NEWS SITE thing become a sexual turn-on for chicks?

I can’t believe you’re trying to tell us Laz has ANOTHER agenda!

[LOL]

[Slicksadick]

I've already been a monthly for years how much more do you want?

[deep]

We are a political opinion site, and advertisers tend to want to control the sites on which they advertise. If we become dependent on banners, we risk our freedom of expression since the ebb and flow of funding would be subject to outside forces that do not share our views.

That's not the case for all ad networks.

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

Because I’m a news junkie. FR is a good source for news.

[Moose Burger]

Ok, I’ll correct, way overpriced for what it’d do here. Thanks.

[DJ MacWoW]

So you want to drive another person away? That’s why this site is failing now.

Of course the lousy economy has NOTHING to do with it. /s

Your iPhone complaint is stupid.

[Notary Sojac]

Back in my lurking days, there used to be a much wider spectrum of ongoing threads here.

Regular posters who were knowledgeable about art, sports, literature, history, you name it.

Now it's nearly all politics, religion, religion, politics, politics, religion, and not much else.

I don't know if the purges are responsible, or if those posters drifted away....but I miss those topics.

[B4Ranch]

>>FR should require a paid subscription to post any article.<<

I have posted a total of 466 threads. Not a single one of them was posted for my benefit. I post articles to help keep other FReepers informed, not myself.

[InvisibleChurch]

It’s always a celebration in Heaven when a person comes to Christ. Thanks. What’s your recommendation for aiding FR?

[Quix]

It is dysfunctional nonsense to even pretend one can remove a religion forum from a conservative site.

For most of us Christians, our Christianity pervades all our being, all our thinking, all our priorities . . . etc.

And if it doesn’t, then our Christianity is hardly authentic Christianity.

Regardless, without the Religion Forum, religious comments plague the normal political discussion to the point of driving too many away.

This way, it’s workable.

[editor-surveyor]

>> “What is ‘oracle’?” <<

.
Ever heard of Larry Ellison???

(yes, this question is usually expressed in the converse)