Thoughts? Objections?
I wouldn’t buy a t-shirt, but maybe a mug.
And since someone will say it, I’ll be first. No pimping one’s own blog without being a donor (i.e., free use of FreeRepublic).
To some degree, it might help.
I wouldn’t have a problem with a monthly subscription fee (say $2 to browse/read only, or $4 for full-up permissions).
There are companies that FR can partner with that will provide tees, mugs, hoodies, etc. with whatever logos and artwork FR asks for. FR will have to share the profits but there would be far fewer upfront costs.
The camel's nose n'all that.
We need our own monetized youtube channel.
The idea of a reasonably priced FreeRepublic email system is very attractive! Would use it extensively for my personal comms.
I would absolutely buy a Free Republic t-shirt or sweatshirt. I reference FR quite often when talking politics with my conservative friends. So a visual aid would be nice to have.
The premise of the owner is that he does not want to sell out to the man..
There is no reason you have to sell out if you accept ads.
If anyone offers money only in exchange for something you just refuse those ads.
I Would not mind some unobtrusive ads.
Free Republic was doing exactly what Facebook does now before Facebook existed. Jim rob should be the billionaire.
I’d buy a tshirt and coffee mug!
I would suspect that selling anything would change the status of FR from non-profit to profit/commercial.
If there were a separate ‘selling/commercial’ entity, it could ‘donate’ some or all profit.
For consideration:
Keep FR open to viewership, but charge a ‘member’ fee for posting articles and comments. Depending on the number of members, the fee could be quite low — $1/month or $10/year.
I actually bought a FR mouse pad ages ago.
The site isn’t making money because the moderators allow abuse. It’s driven away throngs of folks. What used to be the best news aggregator on the internet has fallen from that peak.
Now if you are not a hard core Trumpian, anti-vax, consoiracy crap or Putin lover, there is no room for discussion. It is 100% attack. All the time.
I used to give every quarter. Not so much any more.
I figured my communications to moderators were ignored or brushed aside…so I vote with my money.
I have an FR mug with my username on it from back in 2003 or 2004-ish.
One thing I can’t help but notice is that there are one or two sites that get posted here all the dang time. Every single article. The site demands to be excerpted. And yet (usually) a single FReeper will post thread after thread excerpting article after article from that site as though just a fan boy of that site. American Thinker comes to mind.
Now is the human posting bot on the payroll of the site? I have no idea. But he likely has some connection. How much does American Thinker (just as an example) make from FR clicks? Does American Thinker contribute anything out of gratitude after demanding to be excerpted, but getting all this free publicity day after day? Fair question, I think. Maybe the human posting bot can send an email to his handler, er, I mean, the head honcho, and suggest throwing something FR’s way as a sign of gratitude.
And what’s wrong with the current tried-and-true method of raising money for Free Republic?
At the beginning of every quarter a new Freepathon begins. After 90 days the goal is reached and another Freepathon begins.
Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
This model has been ongoing and successful for 20+ years. Why change things now?
“What say you? No ads”
I say ads would be ok.
We could all make our own Tshirts marketing FreeRepublic.com but I would buy one from Jim and John if they profited.
At least to wear to the Republican county meetings.
I am a night owl, and we frequently have posting gaps of an hour or even more during the Midnight - 6 AM period.
Bottom Line - if there is nothing new or interesting to read, people stop showing up.
We also have a very large elderly demographic, which means that reliable donors get sick or die, but they are not replaced by new reliable donors.
The quality of the posts at FR have also degraded. I have learned more about science, engineering, and political philosophy at Free Republic than I learned in 16 years of formal education. We have lost a couple dozen members who specialized in informing and challenging the intellect of other members.
Our Troll problem has abated somewhat over the last year, which is good, since the Trolls definitely drove away a lot of good people.
I think the Q-experience also drove away some good people who have not returned.
I still love coming here every day (mostly nights actually), and I still think FR has the best news and comment format on the entire Web.
I will also continue to donate money every month, or as long as the Robinson family keeps the lights on.
Not ads - sponsers
I like it.
I send cash donations and several recently have NOT gotten through.