"If FR dies, that’s that." - Jim Robinson [Jim's reply at post # 588]

freerepublic.com ^ | 1/11/11 | paulycy

[paulycy]

FYI -

Here are statements from Jim about the future of FreeRepublic.com for those who missed them. They are quite serious.

===

"Well, I can say that there are definitely two things that will never happen. 1) Banner ads. 2) Oracle [a completely new database system.] And a third is a total replacement [of the current damaged system.] Don’t have the financial wherewithal."

"To those who wish to leave because of it, see ya."

"If FR dies, that’s that."

===

[To: paulycy]

Hey, you want us to get an all new system with all new software and add a few more pricey techs, system programmers and database administrators to keep it all working 100% of the time 24/7/365? Well, start coughing up the big bucks.

It’s going to take tens of thousands of donations and many with at least three zeros each after the comma to accomplish the task. And that would be EVERY month like clock work to make the payroll. Once you take on a big load of expensive overhead, there’s no going back. As it is, we get a couple thousand donations per quarter averaging about $30 bucks each and there’s no guarantees we can cover this quarter’s expenses much less next quarter. We’re on a pay as we go system and we have zero employees.We just ask for enough to pay the bills.

Throwing more money at the problem won’t solve it. [This latest glitch] was a technical issue and we just had to keep troubleshooting until we found it. And no, we’re not going to invite a bunch of strangers in to get their hands on our secure systems. John has been programming since he was 14 and he’s pushing 40 now. He built these systems and he’s an expert in them.

And no, we are not going to throw out our software and rewrite it and no we’re not going to move on to some other database system. There are no guarantees that any other system can do a better job and not without hiring a staff to build and maintain it and that’s for sure. And we don’t have the financial wherewithal to do any of that anyway. Maybe if we had a couple million bucks at our disposal and a couple years to do it in we could build an iron-clad system. And maybe not.

All I can say is, if someone else can do it better and cheaper, then please step right on up and get ‘er done!! I’ll bow out and retire. Thankyouverymuch.

Hit it boys:

https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/

And no, we have no plans of taking FR commercial. I like it the way it is. Not sure I could handle getting rich.

===

- Jim Robinson

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2653583/posts?page=168#168

[Joe 6-pack]

Jim,

Thanks for all that you and John do...it's truly appreciated. As much as I love FR, I wouldn't mind going without for a few days so you could take it down for system maintenance (and a little well deserved time off for yourselves!)...Of course, I would hope that notice of planned downtime would be posted well in advance. Needless to say, I can only speak for myself, but I think many, if not most here would concur that ya'll richly deserve some time off, and it would give you time to play around and do some tweaking.

[onyx]

JIM JUST WROTE!


Woo hoo!!

And this just in:

$50.00 from Kentucky
$20.00 from Virginia
$200.00 from Tennessee
$100.00 from Texas
$50.00 from Virginia
$50.00 from Arkansas
$20.00 from Massachusetts
$25.00 from Pennsylvania
$10.00 from Never Never Land
$10.00 from North Carolina
$50.00 from Arizona
$10.00 monthly from Washington
$10.00 monthly from South Carolina
$10.00 from Never Never Land
$20.00 from Colorado
$25.00 from Florida
$100.00 from Never Never Land
$50.00 from North Carolina
$10.00 from Never Never Land
$50.00 from New York
$10.00 from Michigan
$20.00 from Texas

Thank you all very much!!

Woo hoo!! The first TWENTY SIX percent is in!!

[GailA]

You are welcome. I know people give me websites, then in a matter of minutes I forget them as my mind has moved onto many other things. That little business card is a good reminder.

I just try and make sure the person is a conservative before I offer it to them.

[onyx]

LOLOLOLOLOLOL
Consider your FABULOUS work, *borrowed*.

[glock rocks]

Though I mostly agree with your sentiment, it sure would be nice if someone would write an iPhone app for FR. That ain’t frills, that’s keeping up with the times.

[GailA]

Make your own. All it takes is a program that will do business cards or labels, those programs are dirt cheap any more. Print them out on plain copy paper. I print one sheet at a time. When I need more I print more (save the project once created). I put them in my wallet. You don’t even have to do the Logo, just do the Mission Statement and web URL. Your word processor will allow you to do that, just make sure you make them of a size to cut into business size cards.

It cost money to get cards printed, and is another chore Jim and John don’t need.

[metmom]

And that points to the other recent problem many are experiencing with FR. In my first 8 years here I had one real argument with another FReeper. We used to be entitled to our own opinions, and we accepted that our areas of disagreement were small. In the past year nearly every post I've made of substance has elicited a string of insults from someone who joined fairly recently.

I show up to check the headlines these days, but rarely bother attempting to discuss them.

You know, if someone is stalking you and harassing you like that, you could alert the mods to it. I'd think that they'd be interested in knowing about it. It's generally discouraged.

No noob with obnoxious behavior should be running off an old timer like you.

[Windflier]

I would support a simple Business Listing section benefit for members who donate.

What an excellent idea. I hope Jim considers incorporating that into the site.

[deks]

Your “coffee pots breaking down whenever there was a crowd of people” metaphor doesn’t work.

From the Free Republic Home page...

“We’re currently delivering over thirty million pageviews per month to over one million visitors.”

http://www.freerepublic.com/home.htm

[paulycy]

You must not be here very much.

[metmom]

You know, the business card idea is a good one.

Could some creative person on FR design one that meets with JR’s approval, and then post it so people could print out a pageful of them and cut them up to distribute as they can?

There could be a set up so that you’re not printing one per page, but maybe 8 or more, or however many would fill and 8x11 sheet of computer paper.

[RedMDer]

We ARE on a Roll Now Stanley!

[Admin Moderator]

"Can I look now?"

No. This one is going to take a little longer. First I have to unplug some things because I don't want anything to short out.

[deks]

I’ve been reading the threads here extensively for over six years. I have no complaints.

[presently no screen name]

And since they run the coffee/donut place, I’d say they know best for their own place. More activity w/anything, and a break is to be expected. Of course, being a local there somehow makes some feel like it’s their right to suggest a better way. Control.

[Admin Moderator]

LOL! That job description fits.

[paulycy]

I have no complaints.

That's fine.

[Netizen]

I use card stock, but, practice with paper. I use the Netscape composer for a template.

[paulycy]

Control

I'm curious as to just what your point is. That no "customer" should ever engage in "shop talk" with an owner because there is no possible way that the customer cannot possibly have useful information that could benefit the owner? Is that your position?

If so that's just plain nonsense. If not...well, that's why I'm curious.

[Windflier]

The only thing I can surmise is that they don't generate enough traffic and they aren't a 'threat', whatever that may mean.

Drudge is a major internet site, and he does nothing BUT link published articles, while displaying ads to pay the bills.

As far as I know, you can do the same on Facebook, and those pages all have advertising embedded.

Sites like CoastToCoastAM embed linked articles on their site, and they have banner advertising on every page.

These are all huge sites on the internet, and somehow, they seem to be getting along just fine with that combination.

Call me dense, but I just don't see what makes FR so different, that it couldn't use the same business model (aside from Jim Rob's stated reasons for not doing so).

...how is posting articles and or excerpts for others to see/read any different than the person that buys a newspaper, then leaves it in a restaurant for other customers to see/read?

It's not.

It's also struck me as odd that anyone would take issue with others posting links back to the original source page of a published work. Most points of origin on the net are commercial in nature, and host advertisers. One would think that those sites that host these articles would be thrilled with the increased viewership.