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).
"As Rush says, "Fight them in the arena of ideas, and Conservatism will win every time."
Doing what you advocate will get us into the "MoveOn.Org" echo-chamber mentality. And I do stress "Mental.""
I've been seeing this suggested so let me answer to this here. I do not want to post with people who think exactly like me. But I do want to post with people who are like-minded. Since we are talking about a political site, it really doesn't take much for people to step out of bounds and become unreasonable in regards to having a fruitful debate or exchange of ideas.
What I would like FR to be is what Jim says he wants FR to be and that is a forum for Conservatives to be like a Conservative think-tank where the Conservative agenda is advanced.
Now don't get me wrong I'm not saying this place completely sucks and is useless. I am just looking for a way to simply enhance what Jim has started. Because yes, I do happen to think that undesirable elements could actually become a danger of drowning out Conservative ideas on this site, given enough time.
" This thread has provided a pleasant excuse to stay inside on a hot day, hasn't it."
More like an excuse not to do yard work!!
BTW! It only got to 78 deg here today. (Upstate NY)
Re the title: No.
Re this: People can easily abuse the "add a keyword"
And this hurts the site how?
I find it an entertaining and sometimes enlightening facet of the amazing place called FreeRepublic.com.
If your goal is to cut down news dissemination and discussion, then charging for access to a site that is run by donations would be a whale of an idea.
We barely hit 70 today, central WI.
Thanks. Discovered that. It's done me good to take time off as well. So, I'm ok now. Now my question is...do you mean all of us should take a couple weeks off...or MadIvan taking a couple weeks off...does us all good. ; ).
It's a personal thing, when it get's hard for me to freep, I take time off (my self imposed time out). You know, when you hear the same sick lib crap over and over, and it seems as if the trolls are posting in force. Or when I'm on the verge of posting an opus. Believe me, I've thought of it, but I don't want to close that door, because FR seems to have it's good times and bad. For me, taking a break does me a world of good. I get in my funk, the libs are out of control, it seems as if every other post I read support the lib position, etc..... So, I'm not saying anyone in specific. Just relaying my personal experience.
"FR would instantly lose 90% of the audience..."
I disagree with this 90% number. Certainly you would lose a large percentage of people who would never contribute anything under any circumstance, donation or subscription-wise. I think for the most part you would keep people who are donating because I don't see why people would stop paying when they are already paying. People who are reluctant to contribute because of quality concerns would be more inclined to comtribute and thus subscribe.
So right there you are keeping and even adding people that are paying. And the people who refuse to pay have never been contributing anyway, so that is really no loss. And like I pointed out, it's not like Free Republic is ad-based revenue, so it really does not matter how many clicks they are getting. Thus quantity for sake of quantity really doesn't make any good economic sense.
Ya know....
If that would get the Mods off my back, I'm there!
I've not posted a thread in months because I keep getting suspended.
I use FR. I would like to go back to my heavy user status and I will gladly pay the top subscription fee.
I have no problem throwing money in to what I actually USE.
If you pay me $20.00 a month, I tell you when you can and can't access the system.
that is it, they can choose to pay money rather than be forced to pay money.
how is everything in Boston?
Send some of that global warming here.
Thank you for your valuable input.
Perspective is good for the soul. Always.
This is still the best place on the web. Of course, I may be saying that just to excuse my own addiction...but still...
What part of "knock it off" do you not understand? I have had that warning more than once. Know what, I knocked it off and backed away. Pretty basic. Almost 8 years and not one suspension.
Sorry, but I disagree with your suggestion. Just when we need this forum to share thoughts, ideas, and voice the TRUTH to America during this critical election season...a subscription site would play right into the liberals hands to curtail the flow of Truth to America. I say a resounding NO!
Do you speak for Jim Robinson?
I have been clear on my point on foreigners which is to focus on this being a political site for American Conservatives. If it were let's say a hobby site that would be another thing. You focussed this on one person although I made it clear it is not personal. Yet you insist on making it so.
And I notice that you make no mention of the other examples I gave, namely pro-homosexual/lesbian and liberal trolls. Probably because that would expose your point of view as being "retarded".
I was never suspended for making a comment.
All my suspensions have been for posting threads.
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