Posted on 11/28/2001 7:31:29 PM PST by Jim Robinson
FreeRepublic is most certainly not a fraud. As for this site going away, that is a decision only you can make, but I would hate to see that happen.
By monthly contributions, I pay more for FR annually than I pay for The Wall Street Journal online. Since I first found FR in early '98, I have come here daily, and appreciate all the work you have put into it, and all the heat you have had to bear.
Perhaps the time has come to make FR into a subscription site. I get sick of the whiners who cannot do anything other than criticize, while adding little themselves. If the disruptors want to pay up for the privilege accessing and posting here, let them, but I doubt they will continue to be interested, and will find some other location to spill their bile.
Regardless of what you decide to do with FR, it has had a great run, and has had a considerable impact on my life.
Thank you.
Amen Jim! Blessings, prayers extended to you and yours for a most happy, peaceful Christmas season.
BUMP!
Chuck Allen - "It was on this site that Bob posted a thread one night titled "Don't mention the Travel Agent Fee Split". Apparently some people had asked Seeking the Truth some questions about the cruise raising money. As a member of the committee I could not in good consciense continue to serve if the fact that raising funds was going to be concealed. Call me goofy or what ever, thats just the way I am."
Ok, you're goofy. Here are my comments to the cruise committee DIRECTLY from the thread you cite.
"Passengers DO NOT GET THIS REBATE on their room! This is OUR commission for booking the group! Gene mentioned that some people are expecting this to be applied to their room charges! BAD BAD BAD! If someone asks how we are making money on this, it is Ok to tell them that we are getting a bulk room booking rebate, but that this rebate goes to the NETWORK!"
So much for your quest for the truth and bringing it to the other passengers and Forum. What did you do Chuck, read the title, assume the worst and move on? There was never ANY intention to hide that this was a FUNDRAISER to help defray start up expenses for the Network. It was one of the 3 goals we set prior to embarking on it, and the fact is we thought it was so self evident (hundreds of groups have cruises to raise money)we didn't even think it about it. When it was brought to our attention, we added that phrase to the ad so people would know we were expecting to raise money. We also raised money through t shirt sales and a drawing for packages to next years CPAC. Are you telling me that under the sign where passengers bought tickets for the drawing, you would have insisted we add "BEWARE! THIS DRAWING IS A FUNDRAISER! IF YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE NETWORK RAISING MONEY IN THIS FASHION, PLEASE DO NOT BUY A TICKET AS WE DO NOT WANT OFFEND ANYONE!
The rest of your accusations are as equally ridiculous and unfounded. Everyone going on the cruise knew this was a fundraiser to help defray expenses in launching the FR Network. No one paid a dime more than they would have booking with RCCL separately. We don't have any final figures yet because we have not received a final accounting from the cruise line. When we do, a report will be made to the Network Board of Directors and then they will decide where and when to best use the money to the advantage of the Network and further the goals of FReepers in general. Your assertions that these summaries need to be made to anyone else is simply absurd.
I am deeply insulted and angry that you would accuse these people, people have been your friends and worked alongside you and NEVER ONCE HAVE GIVEN YOU REASON TO QUESTION THEIR MOTIVES OR THEIR HONESTY. You owe EACH AND EVERYONE of them a apology.
The Cruise Committee
Badjoe (Chief FR Fundrasier)
diotima (Chicago Chapter President)
Commonsense (South Carolina Chapter President)
Ms.AntiFeminazi (Dallas Chapter President)
Seeking the Truth (Florida Chapter President and winner of last years "Chapter of the Year" Eagle Award)
LurkerNoMore! - (Dallas Chapter Leader and about the sweetest girl you would ever meet!)
Ironjack (Tireless volunteer helping to make the FR dream come true)
MinuteGal - (Florida Chapter leader and tireless volunteer for FR)
abner - (Another wonderful girl and tireless volunteer for FR)
Syncro - (All around great guy and team member!)
BTW - I can't believe you're trying to mischaracterize my concerned call to you. In case you don't remember (which would really shock me at this point) there were some upheavels and bad feelings on FR and the FAB around that time. A couple people got angry and bolted (I think they've all returned now). When Joe saw you cancel your monthly, he called me knowing that you and I were friends and thought it may be best to give you call and find out what was wrong. You know as well as I do the only reason I called was to check on your welfare and see if there was anything I could do or explain. This additonal mischaracterization is just too much for me. I don't know what happened to you Chuck, but I sure stinks.
If I have missed it among the 2300+ posts point me to your introduction. You are interested in puting the truth out there?
10-5?
I need to look up the word pertinent.
I'll be back...
The more posts I read from the so called Libertarians on FR, the more I'm convinced they aren't true Libertarians.
Since 9-11, they've all dropped their 'open border' mantra. They've also finally begun to see through the cult of Harry Browne.
Now if they'd only have an open talk with any NYC cop about the end result of drug addiction...
The "creativity" results from the postings; the "music," as it were
This is where you are you are again in error...let me put it to you like this. Using your analogy above, I made the guitar and the amp. IOW, I created an appending forum on my own. I wrote the code, I created the Database, my code is handling a discourse that at times, is heavy. Not nearly as heavy as this place, but I have been sent email from my host that I exceeded my bandwidth.
So, moving on...I did not put this place down. I commented from the heart...you know, kinda like the Emporer has no clothes?
But it is obvious you do not see things in parrallel so, ta ta!!
SR
They wouldn't believe anythign that was posted. What's the point?
FR is the premier source for news and commentary on the internet. Keep up the good work!
Gal: You should be concerned…it bothers the hell out of me also.
BADJOE: Would you clear this up for us? Who besides yourself and JR has access to our personal info such as donation/contribution status? Does this information get shared with the Lead/Admin/Sidebar Moderators also?
You've got me thinking… Maybe the importance of the members and the request for donations are too out of place with the living room analogy. After all, we're not here for Jim or his nifty software.
But then if it's the people, why aren't we posting on talk.politics.misc, alt.politics.usa.republican, or alt.society.conservatism.
How about an analogy of a public or private nightclub? There's a donation or an entrance fee, and most anyone at a successful club will tell you that they're there because of the people. And if you ask that your C&W CD be played at a techno club, they'll refuse. Make a scene and they'll throw you out. Play it at your table and they'll tell you to get your own club. My God, a Cliché!
Even thought the people make or break a club, it's defined by whom is let in and how they manage the environment, even clubs with a suggestion box.
It's like you said, "FR is 'created' by ALL posters, but it's all posters that Jim lets in and how he manages them. That's what separates Free Republic from the user news groups above.
Now that I think about it, what's the difference between a club and a living room. You don't go to someone's house party for the architecture, maybe not even for the host. ALL the people that are invited define the experience. That make the donation issue kind of… hum, what was that word again?
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