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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.

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.

Uhn-uh. As much as we would prefer only tax payers and/or land owners to have the vote, we are already in a system where any schmoe who thinks he has nothing to lose has to be convinced that he really DOES still have something to lose, in order to vote differently.

Given that you say we are already in the PBS model, I think the same rules need to apply here - you also have to convince the freeloaders that this or another model would work.

I think one important distinction, however, is that even if you don't pledge to NPR, you are still paying tax money for part of it (assuming you pay taxes). Since I don't pay for FR unless I donate directly, I don't think it's completely fair to draw the comparison.