.............................................................."...in Aisle 2!"
Posted on 01/11/2011 5:28:06 AM PST by paulycy
FYI -
Here are statements from Jim about the future of FreeRepublic.com for those who missed them. They are quite serious.
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"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."
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[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.
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- Jim Robinson
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2653583/posts?page=168#168
“...this thread dedicated to an entirely other issue...”
It started when two Mormons gave their reason FR was in money trouble: because Mormons are not allowed to post Mormon doctrine without rebuttal.
Of course someone rebutted that, saying a poster who posts comments not true must accept a counter post. It’s been a back and forth since then.
God made them that way, so that the deaf could also enjoy them.
By Golly you’re right! I never thought of that! ;-)
Oh, edit isn’t the only feature FR needs and don’t be so quick to inaccurately judge and label people who are trying to help. There is a fundamental truth in all things, nature,technology, product and services: adapt and evolve or die.
This seems to be an expectation of the new, socialist generation. Why should anyone need to know every detail of the financial workings of FR in order to offer something to its owners in return for using it frequently? Neighbors help each other build their barns and fences. It's as simple as that.
FR is like a magazine or newspaper, only much, much better, in terms of being able to converse with like-minded people and obtain factual links and information readily on a huge range of topics of your choice. If you pay $35 or more for a subscription to a news source like the WSJ or large city paper, do you demand an accounting of the editors' expense accounts? No, you don't even give it a thought.
There is something about freedom, privacy and private enterprise that just enrages people. They want to tear it down without even realizing it. No one at FR is promising to use your money to feed orphans and then putting it in their pockets instead. If you are getting a benefit here, just pay something for it without feeling entitled to micromanage how that benefit is delivered. Trust Jim unless he proves he is untrustworthy. Since 1998, a core group of his beneficiaries have found his product/service of a value worth compensating.
FR is what it is, an invaluable news and opinion aggregator and virtual meeting place that reveals the daily, moment-to-moment pulse of the nation's grassroots conservatives. It costs the tiny staff all their time, hence they should be paid, and from the info given, they seem to be working considerably below the market value of their talents.
JimRob's and his family's contribution to the United States of America has never been adequately recognized and probably never will be; in no small part because of his dedication to the principles that made this country great, including personal responsibility, individual liberty and free enterprise without the overbearing intrusion of government.
FR is fine the way it is.
Amen!
It seems to work for public television and NPR, who have the frequent fund-raising program interruptions. We get that on our local classical music station and also many religious broadcasts that need donations. Advertising and fund-raising are facts of life for anything other than blatantly commercial operations that cater to mass mediocrity.
The endless freepathons, poor response time, lack of basic features, increasing lack of civility and threats from JR to let it die would suggest otherwise. Another (really) bad omen is disdain for people who would suggest improvements.
Jim routinely offers this information publicly on the forum. I asked for more, and for clarification.
Please note that asking for voluntary disclosure is very different from demanding that Jim open his books to us. That is not what is going on here.
Personally I do not feel our requests for clarification and amplification on current budgets that Jim has already provided in the past is not out of line for a community donation forum of this kind at all. It is all respectful and voluntary. YMMV.
You obviously have no idea what you’re talking about nor have you read pertinent information on this thread. But that won’t stop you from giving an uninformed opinion.
.............................................................."...in Aisle 2!"
Jim, you should all get paid for your time, and you should also have a pad for emergencies. You are publishers. Do not feel you have to answer to the chiselers, nosy nellies and long-time freeloaders. (As opposed to newbies learning how invaluable this site may become to their thinking after a year or two.)
You might want to consider the possibility that someone who owns a corporation with hundreds of wet sites, some of which have over 50,000 users and is profitable might have a clue but I humbly defer to your apparent genius and gracious response.
Btw, how many attacks do "your" sites fend off, hm?
wet sites,
?????????????
As a general rule, accusatory tone and lack of civility has been the domain of the left but it certainly has infiltrated here.
Just so you know, I am a staunch conservative, an activist, own a corporation that owns hundreds of web sites, have more than a little experience in high-volume, database-driven web sites and am quite familiar with DOS, SQL-Injection and other types of attacks. I came to this thread to make constructive comments and have been met with nothing but disdain.
In any event, it's no sweat off my back and I wish you all success.
Wow, with all that sarcasm, you should chug on over to DU and see if can't help them look even more less conservative.
Please don't let self-appointed individuals scare you off the site. There are no rules about who can post to whom, everybody is equal.
Your experience would be greatly appreciated as would your donations were you to become a regular FReeper. There are literally hundreds of thousands of FReepers and you just happened to find one that doesn't believe that any criticism of FreeRepublic.com is allowed. I disagree which is why I started the thread in the first place.
You are welcome here, FRiend. Please stay?
Woo hoo!
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