http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2951974/posts
As for those who come to this thread to bitch and complain about how slow the threads are loading, I have to ask if they contribute financially to this website. I suspect that most of them do not and that they expect to come here for absolutely free and get performance like it was Google.
Well this site isn't Google. There are not billions of dollars in advertising fees streaming in to support the infrastructure. In fact, no advertisements at all. No annoying pop-ups and banner ads.
However, if each regular user gave $1 a day ($30 a month), this site would be rocking and rolling with it's own data center.
I give $30 a month and it's worth every penny. I used to subscribe to several magazines and two newspapers. They costed me over $100 a month. I made the decision several years ago to cancel all of those and give that money to alternative media like Free Republic. (I also contribute to several podcasts that I get my information from.)
I urge everybody here to do the same. Give up those newspaper and magazine subscriptions. Give up HBO (Netflix is so much better - and cheaper). Give up on cable entirely and get a Roku box instead. That way you are not supporting the likes of CNN, MTV and MSNBC, etc.
Use some of that saved money to support Free Republic and if enough do that, this site will load as fast as Google.
Look, 100% of us come here for the very reason you suggest, to bch and complain about something. Access to FR is worthy of a fine bitch and complaint. It helps us vent.
Now, you are absolutely correct that everyone must give what they can. When I was out on the ledge yesterday in a rage, yes siree, I wondered if all those able to get on site, when I couldn’t, were paying monthly, or was I paying for them but didn’t have a prayer of getting onsite
Everyone should pay a monthly minimum for whatever amount it takes to run the place, a world class site. Period. I suggest it even be required. Jim knows that no access is deadly and people are whacked about it.
This is not a charity. It’s a business where a return is expected.
Let Jim work on it and let the venting be a safety valve that just may save the place for allowing it.
“I have to ask if they contribute financially to this website. I suspect that most of them do not and that they expect to come here for absolutely free and get performance like it was Google.”
Someone always says that and I think you are wrong. Those of us who contribute are probably on here more than others and we would like to be able to use it.
Whatever this problem is, it’s not a lack of money that is making it happen.