Should Free Republic become a paid subscription service?

Vanity | 6/23/2006 | Berlin_Freeper

[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).

[frogjerk]

People can easily abuse the "add a keyword" There goes my fun :>(

I did this once and Jim Robinson yelled at me... :(

[beezdotcom]

Gotta disagree. I understand your sentiments - but the best way to keep disruptors in check is simply to pounce quickly. I'm here now, and I donate - but if I had been forced to do that up front, I probably wouldn't have joined.

[G.Mason]

News is all over the internet.

Posting to a posted article is a way of expressing ones self, whether about the article, the pro / con of the author of the piece, or the response from another Freeper.

Should Free Republic begin to charge for that pleasure, and they have every right to, there will certainly be some big changes.

Personally, I doubt that I will see them.

[backhoe]

Nothing personal against you but I *despise* the idea of hiding Free Republic's content behind a subscription wall. As someone who started participating in FR in its early days, I'd have to say that such a move would undermine what I thought the whole point in launching it was in the first place!

Pretty well sums up my opinion.

As for "the site being antiquated," in my opinion it is still superior to all the other forums & blogs I belong to ( and they are legion ) for getting a really fast picture of "all the news, stories, and opinions you need to be aware of to get up to speed."

The closest thing to it is our Canadian sister site, Free Dominion, and even its "bbs-like" format is not as fast for comprehension.

One thing I keep lobbying for and would love to see is an "Ignore" button.

FD has one, and it really cuts down on the flame warfare and circular arguing.

[dighton]

A bad idea, IMHO, and features not implemented as you’d prefer (e.g. keywords) are not “antiquated” on that basis.

[cripplecreek]

Um...thank you?

[FearlessFreep]

You know you can't come on here without being able to take a flaming. It wouldn't be a public forum.

A lot of people keep there lamethrowers ready for any possible chance to use them.

[Indy Pendance]

I think he's been drinking pulque.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Absolutely not.
We have many excellent members who might not be able to pay, or may not wish to... why would you want to lose them. I can contribute, and I do.

Tijeras_Slim, dollar-a-day Freeper for about 3 years.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

What for - the quickest one liner off the top of your head? Fine

Oh, sorry I touched a sore spot?

[Mo1]

This site is way easier to navigate than the new stuff out there. Try following a discussion on yahoo or whatever forum,

Those kind of sites make my eyes cross

I hate reading them ... I'll stick with FR's format

[stinkerpot65]

Currently, the site is very antiquated.

I disagree, this is the best message board system out there, and one of the keys to success.

[Yaelle]

Um, there is a reason it is called FREE Republic.

Just like the country, freedom means that people whom you don't agree with abound, and even crazies can slip through the cracks, like Charles Manson and Ted Bundy among many. We all know that we support true freedom even if it means the free won't necessarily do things we like. And there is plenty of "justice" on FR to take care of anything "illegal."

[don-o]

Which is supposed to be a thinktank for Conservative Americans and not some kind of general open door chitchat forum.

You should know better than that. Did I not see you on the World Cup (chitchat) threads? We can do both at the same time.

[sissyjane]

So-you only want to read the posts of people who totally agree with you? Try a conservative version of DU!!

I enjoy the divergence of opinion.

[beezdotcom]

We have to have restraint. Believe me, if this was my forum, I'd be talking to myself.

Brrrrrr...what was that chill? Did the sun go behind a cloud or something? ;-)

[blu]

If FR goes to pay, then how am I to get my daily education in any and all subjects? This sounds kinda socialist, doncha think? Is that how they do things over there?

[Al Gator]

"The problem with this is that FR has a very specific "target audience" and purpose. Which is supposed to be a thinktank for Conservative Americans and not some kind of general open door chitchat forum. My idea is trying to enhance the intended audience and thus function for Free Republic. So yes, there are people who do need to go as their ideas and opinions are detrimental to the Conservative cause."

Whoa, now this I have a major problem with.

Conservative "think tank"? It is that by default. Closing the doors to free flowing ideas would kill the goose so to speak.

You sure you aren't trying to surreptitiously shut this down?

[Obadiah]

Undesirable elements??

You mean like me?

[JeffersonRepublic.com]

[To be honest, I think a troll once and a while for a nice ZOT is fun.]

It's like throwing fresh meat to the lions.