[Windflier]

One can donate anonymously in regard to actual real world identity, and yet designate their FReeper screen name on the donation.

Then if they didn't like to see the banners, they could donate.

Exactly. Even someone donating cash through the mail can put their screen name on a sticky tab in the envelope. That would ensure that they didn't see the ads.

I hope that Jim thinks on this concept for a while, and chooses to explore it. The appearance and function of the site needn't change for donating members, but unpaid members would see the ads, and some would do business with the advertisers.

I believe that it's a good, workable, and capitalist solution that shouldn't be dismissed out of hand.

[Jim Robinson]

If we run ads we’re commercial. If we are commercial we run into more problems claiming fair use. We’d have to scrub our archives and really clamp down hard on our posters. I’d rather do with less income and retain more freedom.