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
It's one thing to purge a batch of newbies that show up all at once from somewhere else on the net to post flamebait.
It's something else to ban long-term Freepers who have contributed (intellectually and financially) to this site for many years. In that case, it's not the posters who have changed, it's FR itself.
Here’s my 2 cents if anyone cares....
FR feels like s a horse n buggy in it’s last days. Here’s why I don’t donate: because I could give money out the rear and if I say just the slightest wrong word, such as “what the hell is with all the Mormon bashing?” there’s a good chance I’ll be banned.
If you want FR to survive you can convert to a new board format, add banners or KILL one of the friggin hundreds of other boards that take up space.
Beck, Lavin, Limbaugh, etc.........and all the others are already bombarded by lefties.
Statement by the founder of Free Republic:
In our continuing fight for freedom, for America and our constitution and against totalitarianism, socialism, tyranny, terrorism, etc., Free Republic stands firmly on the side of right, i.e., the conservative side. Believing that the best defense is a strong offense, we (myself and those whom I'm trying to attract to FR) support the strategy of taking the fight to the enemy as opposed to allowing the enemy the luxury of conducting their attacks on us at home on their terms and on their schedule.
Therefore, we wholeheartedly support the Bush Doctrine of pre-emptive strikes on known terrorist states and organizations that are believed to present a clear threat to our freedom or national security. We support our military, our troops and our Commander-in-Chief and we oppose turning control of our government back over to the liberals and socialists who favor appeasement, weakness, and subserviency. We do not believe in surrendering to the terrorists as France, Germany, Russia and Spain have done and as Kerry, Kennedy, Clinton and the Democrats, et al, are proposing.
As a conservative site, Free Republic is pro-God, pro-life, pro-family, pro-Constitution, pro-Bill of Rights, pro-gun, pro-limited government, pro-private property rights, pro-limited taxes, pro-capitalism, pro-national defense, pro-freedom, and-pro America. We oppose all forms of liberalism, socialism, fascism, pacifism, totalitarianism, anarchism, government enforced atheism, abortionism, feminism, homosexualism, racism, wacko environmentalism, judicial activism, etc. We also oppose the United Nations or any other world government body that may attempt to impose its will or rule over our sovereign nation and sovereign people. We believe in defending our borders, our constitution and our national sovereignty.
Free Republic is private property. It is not a government project, nor is it funded by government or taxpayer money. We are not a publicly owned entity nor are we an IRS tax-free non-profit organization. We pay all applicable taxes on our income. We are not connected to or funded by any political party, news agency, or any other entity. We sell no merchandise, product or service, and we offer no subscriptions or paid memberships. We accept no paid advertising or promotions. We are funded solely by donations (non tax deductible gifts) from our readers and participants.
We aggressively defend our God-given and first amendment guaranteed rights to free speech, free press, free religion, and freedom of association, as well as our constitutional right to control the use and content of our own personal private property. Despite the wailing of the liberal trolls and other doom & gloom naysayers, we feel no compelling need to allow them a platform to promote their repugnant and obnoxious propaganda from our forum. Free Republic is not a liberal debating society. We are conservative activists dedicated to defending our rights, defending our constitution, defending our republic and defending our traditional American way of life.
Our God-given liberty and freedoms are not negotiable.
May God bless and protect our men and women in uniform fighting for our freedom and may God continue to bless America.
~Jim Robinson
I think the last thing that I read a few years ago was 20,000 active posters.
I’ve been around for a long time. I don’t post much and almost never start a thread. But I read every single day. I donate occasionally when I can. Which isn’t much.
I have long thought that having ads would be a good thing. I have never been comfortable with the PBS model of generating revenue. Advertising done right would seem to solve the problem. Television and radio do it. Lots of competing websites do it. Why not FreeRepublic?
Before anyone jumps on me, I understand that this is Jim’s property. He can deal with the problem however he chooses. I just don’t think asking for donations is working very well. I would hate to see FR fold.
That could be fun.
I've always wanted an FR tee shirt but live in a blue state and this Grandma doesn't wanna get the snot kicked out of her. lol
That's totally different from wanting it to be that way. Again, Rove was dealing in reality, where a lot of folks here on FR do not deal in reality--they exist in a fantasy world--a world that will never come about here on Earth.
There are very few in this world more conservative than I but I have been treated very badly when I allege that we have to make the best choices possible.
Back to Rove and O'Donnell, probably if Rove had had the power to appoint one of those candidates, he may have actually wanted to appoint O'Donnell but elections don't work that way.
I would NEVER have selected McCain as our candidate but he was and I proudly voted for him as I know he is far superior to the 100% loser we have in the WH now.
The trick is to avoid politics for a while, initially. Stick with sports, popular culture, general interest, weather, earthquakes. That’s what they do here.
No FR is frightening.
I have seen no other bulletin board that compares to the FR format. It is the best. With the other boards I can never seem to figure out who is responding to who or what. I'll take this horse and buggy any day.
Marking...
I don't have to. I only need to quote you. And I did.
We disagree. That's the beauty of being conservative, we can do that. I STILL say Bless you for this thread! I also harbor NO ill will toward you. I know as a conservative that you feel the same.
I’d have no problem with some sort of ad placement. I’d be more likely to support any business that supports FR.
Funny thing is, forum users on one of my sites said the same thing but I introduced emoticons anyway as a test to see if those opposing change were in the majority. Guess what, they weren't and traffic to that forum and attendant revenue (donations and ad clicks) doubled. Users loved them and they helped moderate some of the more intense/sarcastic posts. Determining exactly when to adapt or die is never easy but it is always true.
When the left keeps shooting your horse, how fast are you going to go?
Yikes.
I once had an idea that the best (and funniest) writers and posters at FR could throw together a quarterly magazine (yes, on paper) and send copies to those who donate over a certain amount. It would be interesting anyways to see blog pimpers buying ads in the magazine, lol.
FRQ? Free Republic Quarterly? I dunno.
“FR should require a paid subscription to post any article.” I wonder if requiring a paid subscription to post comments and use messaging would be even more effective.
And some of us regularly post from mobile devices. FR works amazingly well in the default browser on VZW Android, and also quite well in Opera Mobile.
Don't "F" it up with candy-coated dreck.
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