"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

[RockinRight]

Heck, if not for the delete button being pressed before I clicked “post” - I’d have probably been banned years ago.

[metmom]

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

e-s: 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.

*******************************************************************************

That aside, I’m afraid that if there are banner ads, people aren’t going to see the need to donate and donations will fall.

[Lazamataz]

(Psst. Don’t tell anyone, but I really DON’T wanna hit every chick I see. It’s a running gag.)

(But don’t tell anyone)

[Quix]

Wise words, imho.

[tomkat]

I must be due a Texas fix, cuz lately most things taste like chicken .. lol

..it's another burrito, it's a cold LoneStar in my hand ..

[Lazamataz]

But yes, gears are in motion to create a hard-news site with a Free Republic affiliation. Eventual goal - a cable news network to the right of Fox.

[DJ MacWoW]

Maybe we can start a whole new fundraising conspiracy thread.

There are certainly enough trolls for it.

For example: Does it really take that much money to run FR? And if so, can Jim stop eating to cut costs. LOL!

That's next. Seriously. There are some VERY petty complaints.

[Scythian]

To place google ads on a site you just copy a java script snippet into your page. Add runners DO NOT want to control sites, that’s rediculous.

[PeterPrinciple]

I’ve watched it for 12 years as it has degenerated into hatefulness, name-calling, nastiness and division among freepers....and the warfare never ends.

---

Well, after all, conservatism means what ever I want it to mean.......................

What is conservatism to make my point:

http://www.bing.com/search?FORM=BABTDF&PC=BBLN&q=what+is+conservatism&src=IE-SearchBox

I try to use the following as a touchstone:

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Lecture/Ten-Conservative-Principles

[beezdotcom]

but what exactly is the problem with banner ads? I run a couple of high-traffic sites and even just a few ads placed reasonably (not pasted everywhere) can generate some significant income.

I hear what you are saying, but I also respect not wanting to be beholden to someone else's click-through philosophy. It is widely recognized that banner-free web sites / software are considered a "premium" experience, which is why the free versions often have ads, and the paid versions often don't. I don't blame Jim for wanting a model that STARTS with the "premium" experience.

but this site and tech thinking is ancient to be honest.

I can't speak to the "under the covers" tech, since I don't know all the details. However, I appreciate the clean look of the forum, and the simplicity of the thread navigation. On many other forum sites, I can't often easily find my own posts, much less what replies I have received. It is trivial, here.

[MinuteGal]

My dismay at what happens on the religion thread should not be misconstrued.

As a Missouri Synod Lutheran I comment and post frequently on the takeovers and attempted takeovers of various denominations and offshoots, including things like the continuing exodus of congregations from the ELCA Lutheran Synod whose leaders have become non-adherent to the Bible. These are examples of current religious news-of-the-day with political overtones and/or consequences.

Religion and politics intertwine constantly and the action of evildoers in any theology, religion or denomination is a legitimate arena of debate and information-sharing on a conservative news forum.

What I decry is endless bickering, personal attacks, vindictiveness, anal retention, divisiveness, obsessions, insults, holier-than-thou attitudes and the like on FR's religious AND news forums..... which consists of bitterly attacking or defending various basic DOCTRINES...which is something different than discussing current or breaking religious NEWS.

These are battles and wars that have been going on a thousand years and will never end. It's an endless spinning of wheels on FR, that's for sure....and to many, an unnecessary waste of space except to the veteran warriors.

Leni

[metmom]

The only problem with designating donations is the likelihood of judging others on their donations.

I think it could potentially cause problems.

Not everyone has the same ability to pay and someone with a $5/month donation might be making a bigger sacrifice than someone with a $20/month donation.

Don’t forget the widow’s mite.

[woofie]

I love your attitude Jim

[sam_paine]

But now that Oracle owns them, I'm a little concerned they're going to become Oracle-lite.

What about these?

Members of the MySQL community have created several forks (variations) such as Drizzle, OurDelta, Percona Server, and MariaDB. All of these forks were in progress before the Oracle acquisition; Drizzle was announced eight months before the Sun acquisition.

[editor-surveyor]

>> “Yes, I would suggest seeking anonymous donations from Walter Williams, Mark Steyn, Rush, Hannity, Mark Levin, Ann Coulter, etc. Hand written letters guaranteeing their anonymity.” <<

.
You left out your Fairy Godmother...
.

[Quix]

EXCELLENT POINTS, imho.

[DJ MacWoW]

Frankly, I have had it with the LDS who are blackmailing JR and withholding donations because he doesn’t allow their prostlytizing to go unchallenged.

I believe that some of those posters are single issue posters. That contributes nothing to FR's mission.

[Notary Sojac]

If JimRob wants to make it clear to all that “FR is a site where only the evangelical Protestant Christian faith is welcome” he is of course free to do that. As of now, that has not happened.

[jellybean]

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

I was responding to your offer to pay a few extra $$:

...would pay a few more bucks to change it.

However, to change your screen name and keep your history, send a FReepmail to Jim or Admin Moderator and tell them you'd like to change. Easy as that!

[paulycy]

Don’t forget the widow’s mite.

My personal donations are very small. I only hope that my posts add value to FR and don't detract from the Conservative cause.