Is Free Republic a Fraud? Is it time for Free Republic to go away?

Free Republic | 11/28/01 | Jim Robinson

[mykdsmom]

FR has changed my life Jim. I'm no longer afraid to tell others (mostly liberal in-laws) what my views are. After all, they've always felt free to tell me theirs.

The difference is that now I have the facts and education provided by FR to back up what I have felt all along. They have neither, only their "feelings" which we all know change by the minute.

My husband says he enjoys hearing what I've learned from spending so much time on this forum and that I'm so interesting to talk to when I talk about politics. Of course I never go to bed at the same time as him anymore, he's not real happy about that ; )

He even finds himself quoting me to co-workers and is amazed when they say "Wow, I've never heard that before" or "I never thought about it that way".

I would be lost without my fix of FReep every day. Because of FR I've become more politically active and have protested for what is right and what I believe in, before I found FR I truly (sad to say) hadn't given a lot of thought to what I believe.

I don't EVER want FR to go away. I'm grooming my kids to be FReepers some day.

I will be putting another check in the mail this week to help FR to stay alive.

Thank you for all you do Jim and John, I hope to meet you some day. I can't imagine what a tiring, thankless job you have. You are doing a GREAT job, keep it up.

MKM

[hubel458]

Keep up the good work.I know projects like this can keep you behind the 8-ball.Mine, building a TV network for gun owners, working with Johhny Roland has done that to me.Never give up.Ed Hubel

[PackerBoy]

JR - What a mean, rotten thing to do. I have trouble enough sleeping and then you go and give me something else to worry about.

Seriously, if expenses exceed revenues/donations, charge people. I have made donations, but would be happy to pay a reasonable monthly fee.

How's $1,000,000? (Just going by what it's worth to me!)

[Vigilanteman]

FreeRepublic, as far as I'm concerned, is the most worthwhile site on the web. I've often thought it might be nice if it charged a small amount like a nickel per post.

That way, nobody could claim the Robinson brothers were ripping anyone off. Not that I think they do-- I would venture that most of those who make such claims have never contributed a plug nickel to keep this board.

The enemies you've made mostly read like a Who's Who in Scatology and you can be proud of the list. Every now and then, someone gets bounced off the board who shouldn't or gets their tail feather ruffled. Rather than working it out like civilized people, unfortunately some of them prefer to go ballastic. This isn't your problem, it's theirs.

A wise old Oriental gentleman told me:

He who takes offense when no offense is intended is a fool, for they have made an enemy needlessly in their own mind.
He who takes offense when offense is intended is an even greater fool, for he has given their enemy satisfaction.

That having been said, let me say that the greatest value of Free Republic is research-- many of the original web-sites take down their articles after only a few weeks or even days. We have some very knowledgeable people on this board whose brains aren't easily picked anywhere else.

[GeronL]

We won't let you go away Jim

you got handcuffs??

[RebelTex]

KEEP FR SITE UP & RUNNING!

Thanks, Jim, for all you & yours do.

FReegards,
RebelTex

[VA Advogado]

What is wrong with JohnHuang2? I love his posts.

[Registered]

I wonder Jim, if we all made a pact not to ever visit or pay attention to the naysayers, I'd say they would simply eat away at each other. You can count on my support of Free Republic, in spirit and wallet.

[StormEye]

Keep this site running. It's been too successful against the liberal DemonRATS. That's why it they hate FreeRepublic so much. If it takes a monthly fee to run it, then so be it. And thanks for this terrific conservative site! On to more conquests!

[nopardons]

Keep it going, BUT ( you knew there was going to be a but, didn't you ? LOL ) , bring it back to where it used to be. What do I mean by that ? Bring it back to being a POLITICAL form, and not something that is closer to a chat room. There is NOTHING of political, nor cultural value, in thread after thread of why Harry Potter is Satan, and Christians who read / allow their children to read the books, are going to burn in hell. Threads about which music FREEPERS have lifed fromthe net, doesn't constitute political action, news, nor anything else, that is stated as a goal of this site, either. I can continue with the list ; however , I think that you know what I am talking about.

Yes, anyone not interested in these things CAN ignore them. Since you have posted how much bandwidth costs, I am posting this reply, as a suggestion on how to cut costs , and still keep FR vital, important, and on line.

[The Real Deal]

Jim:

I for one can't express what Free Republic has meant to me over the years. I am very grateful to you for going to all the trouble and heartache that you have gone though to keep this site on the web. I LOVE YOU.

Paul

[2Jedismom]

Like I said above, if it is time for Free Republic to go away so be it.

I nearly had a seizure when I read this. . .

Someone mentioned Free Republic being like Paul Revere and that's just how I see it. Except Paul Revere goes by several names, JH2 and Kattracks just to name a couple.

[My Favorite Headache]

Well since you put it that way...sheesh. So we have sleepers at FR. Ok then. Everyone gets knocked down 10 bucks on the spending list for Christmas and my donation this Jan for the year is doubled. Simple as that. Anyone have an issue with this site can come take it up with me and my 10,000 other family members here.

FreeRepublic...We Have Assumed Control...We Are In Control.

[LJLucido]

Urgent ping!

[sinkspur]

The gutless poseurs who are banned from FR, or, worse, those who stay here, and who go to Anti-Freeper sites to trash Free Republic should have no say in the future of your creation. I'm one of the meanest SOB's on this site, and I know enough to avoid getting banned.

We've got a war on, and the family you've created is more important than ever.

I'll up my ante to stay in this game. It's the only one worth playing.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Is there anyway to develop a monthly pledge system whereby we all make monthly commitments to xxx dollars and send that in or have it placed on automatic withdraw? Thank you Jim! 30 posted on 11/28/01 8:39 PM Pacific by zeaal

Yes. Select "Donate by secure credit card" on the FR HomePage, and choose "monthly" as your gifting selection. I have used this arrangement for... more than a year now, at least... and have never had a single problem with the monthly credit card debiting-arrangement.

If you can commit even $10 a month to FreeRepublic, this will cover $120 per year of Jim's Costs.

Of course, if you feel that FReeRepublic is worth more than $10 a month to you... feel free to give more.

Best,
The Orthodox Presbyterian

[is_is]

Either go none profit and charge dues for posting privilages like DCBryan1 said or start selling Ad space. Fox wouldn't buy because we all already watch but CNN and others might buy trying to woo some new watchers lol.

[piasa]

Sorry to hear that. These are not your friends, but your enemies.

Maybe some donations could be had for banning certain posters... make people outbid their 'enemies' in order to reinstate their account.

A Banning Auction... ; D

[The Real Deal]

Jim:

I'll give you my donation in person on Saturday.

[PatrioticAmerican]

The most inviting way I have found for getting me to pay for anything is to have a YEARLY, not monthly, payment of say $15 to $35. I have given several times before, but doing so, and the thousands of other things I have to do every year, gets burdensome. I would have no problem shelling out $35 each year, as I have given far more than that already and have no regrets. This site is worth it, even with our current moderator “issues”. As someone else already said, this site is the “Rush of the Internet”, and that is not a stretch by any means. Besides, maybe paying for it may allow the site to be a little more private, while being completely inviting to the public, and allow a more flexible content.

As far as the detractors, give 'em a raspberry, this Internet thing must be working.