Weeeeeelllll. I see it as more software to “go bad”. We already have to deal with attacks and the normal breakdown of equipment and software. It’s one more feature to go wrong.
DJ, if Jim allowed banner ads on the site, they would bring in more than enough revenue to deal with the occasional glitch or breakdown associated with their addition.
At the top of this thread, Jim is quoted as saying, "If FR dies, that's that." This discussion has brought out a lot of very good suggestions to fix what is obviously a long running deficit in funding.
It's plainly apparent to most regulars here that the established donation model is barely sustaining the site. Folks can continue to exhort their fellows to donate more, but how long has that been going on, and how has it affected the overall revenue generation?
I suspect that it hasn't been all that effective.
This site is too important to the health of our republic to allow it to simply die because the business model is fixed in stone. Naturally, all I can do as a member, is to gently suggest some kind of change to the existing business model that will generate the sort of revenue that is required to keep FR healthy.
Banner ads are one sure way to accomplish this, and as I posted upthread, paying members could be spared the ads, while unpaid members would see them.
Jim would also be free to accept advertising from only those businesses and individuals that meet with his approval.
I think the larger (and inescapable) point here, is that FR is doing the same thing over and over, and hoping for different results.
FR is Jim's property, and he's going to keep his own counsel on what's best for his forum. I just hope that he takes the time to weigh some of the very good suggestions on this thread.