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One dollar per month would cover everything if 10% of our readers would reliably put it up.

Dear Jim,

Please read this carefully - its all well-intended, every line is important (or a little humor, possibly stupid) but I believe worthy of your consideration ... a little long ... sorry. ;-)

Not gonna say I told you so. Nope. No way. I'm not even gonna make you search for my previous suggestions - I'll just summarize a couple of the easiest, least intrusive but likely very effective previous suggestions.

I will note however that fairly recently I suggested it was time for you to cash in! You've had more than your share of health problems, you're not getting any younger, the little lady probably would appreciate a nice dinner out (Arby's doesn't count), maybe even a nice vacation or two a year - Fresno as a destination doesn't count either. ;-)

You've built a tremendous resource for conservatives, who reportedly are a bunch of rich bass turds, let's hit them up. You should not be begging - FR should be a cash cow. You deserve it. Do it. ;-)

FReepers go into withdrawal when you're down for an hour - myself included. Please consider the two suggestions below - easily implemented as a start and see how they do before taking the banner ads and your loss of control.

Thanks for everything,

Charlie

PS: I'm pinging some of your fund-raising slaves and a few others for input - they work so hard, they're creative and a quarterly fund-raiser should only last a week or two - just time enough to pick up some new monthlies/newbies into the system!

Highlight current donors as appreciation for their support

1) Monthlies or anyone who donated in the last quarter has their name in their post set to perhaps the color green

"18 posted on Thursday, April 19, 2012 8:50:48 PM by PosterNameHere (Donate or die ya jerk! ;-)".

Ask John - its a trivial check against your "paid" list and added when you get the poster's start date - included automatically with every post.

With this technique, any contributor's support status is noted without establishing a "class system".

In terms of psychology, if its clear who supports FR and those that post regularly but do not contribute then there's pressure on the non-contributor - if his/her opinion is so important why can't they help keep it online?

Its also a reward for those who contribute and post to have it noted that they're part of keeping the best forum on the internet up and running.

I did suggest one time that for each post, a contributor's status could be followed by a small gemstone gif (like an asterisk) with perhaps a diamond signifying more than a dollar a day, emerald = dollar a day, ruby = $10/quarterly, whatever.

This technique does set up a "class system" but arguably those who contribute more than dollar-a-day, the dollar-a-days, etc. deserve a little extra recognition.

Non-contributors might even think twice about their snarky response when addressing a Diamond contributor - making their pathetic opinion possible. ;-)

Limit number of posts by non-contributors per quarter

2) Anyone with a current quarter donation of $5 or better has unlimited posts. Non-contributors get 20 "free" posts per quarter. Bumps included.

Note: New FReepers should have 6 months unlimited posting privileges. Once we have them hooked then you limit the posts of non-contributors.

Thus even those on the most limited resources could share their most important thoughts. You'd have to decide on the free post limit.

I used to have links to FR stats showing daily post stats but they no longer work so I lack any useful data.

When they hit their limit on "free" posts AND they try to post you just send them to your PayPal page! ;-)

I'd go with #1 first ASAP. Its easy and might be all that's necessary. Give it a shot, give it a while. Let's see what happens. I know you want FR open to all and # 2 allows that but would force the regulars to pay a modest amount to share their wisdom with us - remember you set the level of "free" posts 20, 50, 100 per year, your choice.

If a FReeper would like to contribute but simply can't then a simple FReepmail to you or a Mod requesting a dispensation would be easily allowed.

So there you go, easy changes, no ads, just getting support from those that use and appreciate your creation.

Either or both keeps you independent, ad-free and hopefully with a little something in your retirement/vacation account.

One last thing. Please, please, please figure your contributions required to include server upgrades necessary to stay up 24/7. Thanks!