I've been hanging around here for a long time myself. And, yes I've contributed several times. Am I the only one who wonders why it takes $70,000 or so every quarter to keep this site operating. Hell that's a over 1/4 million a year!! Once the website is up and operational, with very little if any improvements, the cost of some servers and T1 lines – it can't cost that much! Where's the accounting? Where's the money go? Am I missing something? No one ask questions. Why? Will I be banned for asking? Oh well, I can still read, which is what I do anyway.
On the FR home page, scroll down and you'll see a link to the budget. It's not a mystery.
The budget is posted on the donation page. Whether or not you wish to help support FR is entirely up to you. When antifreepers register to make accusations about our efforts, they are indeed banned (not that I think you're an antofreeper--just answering your question).
As I understand it, these are voluntary contributions. No one is forced to donate, unlike taxes which are ripped away from us at the point of a gun. JR can spend these contributions however he likes, including giving himself a salary(I don't know if he does or not, but there are other mods on here who may get paid), or do you think he should just run a site for free, just so you can have a place to complain? I give and don't really care where it is spent as long as FR is kept up and running. JMO.
I just became able to contribute to FR and don't care where the money goes as long as Jim keeps this site going.
Having this site up and running is worth more to me than any amount I could ever contribute.
BTW, thanks to all who have contributed to FR in the past, when I couldn't, to keep it going. Will try to carry my full share from now on.