[Dilbert San Diego]

There was a thread recently on this subject.

A few people said they would never give money to Free Republic, because the tone of this site has really gone downhill. There’s a lot of negativity and bizarre stuff on the site. There’s a lot of personal attacks and criticisms of other posters, which hardly will attract new donors. There are purist conservatives with whom it’s impossible to have a conversation.

Why is there such a desire not to have advertisers on Free Republic? Allowing for ads would certainly help pay the bills.

Personally, I’d love to see financial statements on this site. How much does it cost to operate this site, and how much when donations are received? How much do the Robinsons personally contribute to keep this site going?

If I had a vote, I would vote for a subscription, only site. There would be fewer participants that way, but hopefully, the quality of the discourse would improve, if people actually had money on the line. There would be far fewer bizarre and personal insult type comments, if we all had to pay to belong to this site. What I don’t know is what’s and how many subscribers , at what fee level , would be needed to keep this site going.

[Right Brother]

I agree with your entire post. I posted #12 before I read yours. Otherwise, I would’ve just said ‘’ditto’.

[Not A Snowbird]

A few people said they would never give money to Free Republic, because the tone of this site has really gone downhill. There’s a lot of negativity and bizarre stuff on the site. There’s a lot of personal attacks and criticisms of other posters, which hardly will attract new donors. There are purist conservatives with whom it’s impossible to have a conversation.

I think you nailed it.

[BipolarBob]

If I had a vote, I would vote for a subscription, only site. There would be fewer participants that way, but hopefully, the quality of the discourse would improve, if people actually had money on the line.

I agree but that rests with management. There are some participants that I wouldn't mind seeing go. Such as the anti-Israel crowd and the pro global war crowd. I don't mind diverse opinions but our countries security is at stake and WWW3 is not in anybodys best interest. I give what I can (living on SS) but will kick in more to keep this alive medical bills be darned.

[Lizavetta]

Agree with both of you.

And if you say anything regarding the rudeness you are called a Karen. It's just all so childish.

Subscription service is my choice.

[Brian Griffin]

“How much do the Robinsons personally contribute to keep this site going?”

I expect the Robinsons quite properly draw a quarterly salary and run up credit card balances of about $10,000 per household each quarter.

Free Republic runs on fumes compared to say the Washington Post or X.

I’ll write my check in a few minutes and post it Monday morning.

[stars & stripes forever]

RE: Negativity...

Start your own thread on FR with people you like. Ask Jim first.

[T.B. Yoits]

A few people said they would never give money to Free Republic, because the tone of this site has really gone downhill.

The Left is sending in paid shills for the Jim Jones Jab, Ukraine, perpetual wars for other countries, etc. They're not here to influence or sway opinions, they're here to enshittifiy¹ the site to silence dissenting voices by chasing them away.

The shills need to be exposed each and every time they post or comment.

¹ Enshittification, also known as crapification and platform decay, is a pattern in which two-sided online products and services decline in quality over time.

[TwelveOfTwenty]

Why is there such a desire not to have advertisers on Free Republic? Allowing for ads would certainly help pay the bills.

To add to this point, the companies that do advertise on FR would likely be the ones who aren't pushing the woke agenda. You'd be doing us a favor by letting us know who they are.

[DariusBane]

Have you ever visited the religious forum? Wow what a train wreck! Also no transparency about the website. Asking for money without any accountability. No audit. No board of directors. Nothing. Idk if I am paying to arm North Korean special forces lol.

[ransomnote]

 

In the General/Chat forum, on a thread titled Will Free Republic survive? Not without your support., Dilbert San Diego wrote:

Dilbert San Diego wrote: There was a thread recently on this subject.

ransomnote: Free Republic takes flak whenever we're over the target. We also have endured the gutting of our economy via the Plandemic lockdowns. In my town, many businesses folded and did not return. Why not advocate monthly donation signup. That would reduce 'raw funding' each month.

Dilbert San Diego wrote: A few people said they would never give money to Free Republic, because the tone of this site has really gone downhill. There’s a lot of negativity and bizarre stuff on the site. There’s a lot of personal attacks and criticisms of other posters, which hardly will attract new donors. There are purist conservatives with whom it’s impossible to have a conversation.

ransomnote: Some of those saying we should not fund FR because of x, y, or z are sincere, and some are paid trolls trying to shut down FR.

Dilbert San Diego wrote: Why is there such a desire not to have advertisers on Free Republic? Allowing for ads would certainly help pay the bills.

ransomnote: If FR accepted avertisers, those advertisers would cut off all funds over night during the Plandemic because we spoke of matters forbidden EVERYWHERE else. Advertisers control you by stripping funds to force compliance.

Dilbert San Diego wrote: Personally, I’d love to see financial statements on this site. How much does it cost to operate this site, and how much when donations are received? How much do the Robinsons personally contribute to keep this site going?

ransomnote: They give their blood sweat and tears for years and instead of requiring payment, they ask for donations. I think that's more than enough.

Dilbert San Diego wrote: If I had a vote, I would vote for a subscription, only site. There would be fewer participants that way, but hopefully, the quality of the discourse would improve, if people actually had money on the line.

ransomnote: Trolls have subscriptions too. Paid trolls wouldn't be paying for the subscriptions themselves.

Dilbert San Diego wrote: There would be far fewer bizarre and personal insult type comments, if we all had to pay to belong to this site.

ransomnote: Paid trolls are attacking FR with bizarre insult type comments and they would just get subscriptions. 

Dilbert San Diego wrote: What I don’t know is what’s and how many subscribers , at what fee level , would be needed to keep this site going.

ransomnote: I don't understand why you think it desirable to reduce contributers with subscription fees while hoping that paid trolls would act better. Sure that's my interpretation of 'fall-out' only, and not what you are directly asking for. But those would be some of the impacts.