Last night, after reading this thread, I FReepmailed Jim informing him that I was donating after refraining for awhile. (I also shamelessly bribed Jim with my small donation to fix the typo in my screename, Thanks again Jim :).
I told Jim that I stopped donating because I didn't agree with a rash of bannings which occured last year, and that I felt some moderators were a little heavy handed at times.
In fairness to you moderators, I'll try and explain in a little more detail.
When I discovered FR in 2001, I instantly became addicted, and liked it so much that I donated twice my first year. Then a rash of squabbles broke out between groups of posters, which wrought bannings , voluntary separations, and bad feelings. A group of these ex-FReepers ended up at LP and posted daily about their issues with FR ranging from unfair moderating to coordinated group "lynchings" to claims of fraud of Jim's part.
Some of the ex-freepers at LP seemed sincere in their claims and made reasoned arguments to back their complaints. There were some FReepers in good standing posting in support of those ex-FReepers. This group's main complaint was with the moderators and a certain group of posters.
At the time, I decided to withhold donating from FR untill I could make an informed decision regarding the issue. Understand that I never gave those who accused Jim of fraud a minutes thought. My disagreement was with the way posters whose opinions weren't popular but were within the rules of the forum were treated one way, while others were allowed more leeway by the moderators. Nothing happened to me personally, I feel that I've been treated fairly and have no complaints in that department.
When I made the decision to stop donating, I didn't complain to Jim asking him to change the way he runs his forum. Nor did I make my complaints public. I'm not the whining type, as evidenced by the fact that I've never pushed the abuse button on any poster I've gotten into battles with.(BTW...Have I had any posts removed? I'm not aware of any.)
In the time since I made that decision, IMHO the way the forum is handled has improved. I've come to realize that you moderators have a tough job given the volume of posts, and that you do this on a volunteer basis. Overall, I feel the way y'all balance allowing unpopular but otherwise valid posts with removing the posts and posters that deserve removing has greatly improved.
Y'all especially gained admiration and respect from me for the way the Lady Pilgrim missing son thread was handled. This happened not far from me, and if Richard had not been found that Thursday, Katie Scarlett, the black lab and I would have spent a weekend trudging through Talledega National Forest helping look for him.
So along with my small donation I sent off this morning and this explanation, I offer my sincere gratitude to all of you for doing the valuable but thankless job of being a moderator.
P.S.: The Admin Mod who is a Dale jr. fan is my favorite. :)