Posted on 06/23/2006 12:27:30 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
I am not certain what the legal ramifications would be in changing Free Republic from donations to a subscription service. It seems to me the switch may be detrimental to legal issues such as copyrights. If that is true I'd appreciate if someone could briefly explain that to me. However if that is not the case here is my suggestion:
I have been wondering about this for some time now and have not seen any discussions about it. So I would like to ask: Is it time for Free Republic to become an online subscription service?
Currently, the site is very antiquated. People can easily abuse the "add a keyword" feature and there seems to be a growing number of liberal trolls, foreigners and even pro-homosexual agenda-driven people infecting the site. In order to cut down on the undesirables and enhance FR at the same time, would it be advisable to start charging a monthly fee of about 15-30 bucks to be able to log into the site and post? There could also be different subscription levels like Basic, Premium or Platinum. That way, the more you pay the more features you have access to. Some of these extra-services could include storing photos or FR could be a conservative search engine for the web.
I have seen online sites where people can still read the boards for free. FR could do something like that so it would still be accessible to the Conservative public even if they are not paying members with posting priviledges.
Websites that rely heavily on banner and pop-up ads need as many hits as possible so for them restricting posting rights to subscribers might not be so desirable. However, Free Republic does not work like that. There are no ads other than some book links on the home page so the number of hits is not as crucial to the bottom line which is currently being paid for by donations.
Donations seem to be working well, but I am sure the cashflow could be improved. How many of you people honestly are put off donating money to FR because it is not what it should be? Especially in regards to the undesirable element that can be found throughout many of the threads. Wouldn't this change in format go a long way in eliminating the undesirables? I think so. Plus it would be neat to experience an upgraded more modern version of Free Republic.
Note: If you are a democrat troll, foreigner or pro-homosexual/lesbian then I am really not interested in your opinion and you should not be posting it to me (just the fact that I have to add this note is proof that something is not right).
Only when I can't get into FR, I'll check, and see, yes, FR is having tech problems.
Would you subscribe to Free Republic if it became a pay site?
A. Yes, whatever the amount
B. Yes, but only if it was nominal
C. No, I'd rather give voluntarily
D. No, I don't pay now
E. You'll get more money out of Jesse Jackson than me.
"You've been haveing a few too many Grappas down at the restaurant in Alt-Spandau..........."
I wouldn't be caught dead in Alt-Spandau.
c
" My idea is that true Conservatives who are the ones that this site is supposed to be meant for"
And who, pray-tell, determines what a "true conservative" is?
I would really like to know!
These days, you don't say,
"talking to myself," you say,
"Quiet, I'm blogging!"
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The trolls are half the fun. You're going to take away our hunting privileges?
LOL!!
I loved the restaurants there and in downtown.......
A little judgmental, are we?
"Since this is not your site and is not run by majority rule I suggest you contact Jim first and get his view. It's the only one that counts. He might even consider this meddling. If you want your own little site where you and similarly minded people can talk (just like DU) then maybe you ought to start your own site and add all the little bells and whistles you want. Maybe you could call it "Idiots are us"."
Okay, now we know what the cheapskates think. I knew there would be a few of you.
In the spirit of entrepreneurism, start your own subscription forum and see how it goes!!
P.S. What would the questionnaire look like, to weed out "undesirables?"
Both have good points.
FReegards!
No fooling! I think my feelings should be hurt!
I agree with stinkerpot65. This is the best consevative blog around. It is easy to follow and has easy ways of posting messages, graphics and other items.
You and I aren't often on the same page, JR, but in this case I have to agree with you.
I would rather read a series of pithy one-liners from FReepers busy in their lives than long, lugubrious laments from folks with time on their hands complaining of how misunderstood they are.
Just eliminate the "key words feature" -- the source of the greatest abuse. Why throw the baby out with the bath water?
The freerepublic is one of the most successful gatherings of rational thinkers and good writers -- and the mainstream media and lib/left/Dems would love to disrupt that success. As for keywords, how many really access forums in that manner?
Freerepublic is more a general clearing house/marketplace in which the best way to use it is by surveying the landscape randomly for new ideas and information -- rather than just limiting one's input to the old ideas of what it is and confirming what one already knows and thinks.
A subscription audience/participation limits those possibilities greatly -- and then we become another New York Times protecting their writers into obscurity.
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