What's Happening to Conservative Websites?

vanity | 3-7-07 | Bob J

[Bob J]

I have diligently watched the rise in size and influence of conservative websites, including Free Republic, over the last 7-8 years. I have been shocked and concerned over the drop in traffic at the most popular ones over the last year or so. There was good growth up until 2006 but since then there has been a steady downtrend that would crash any other market.

Anyone have any ideas as to what is happening? I'm out of explanations. The deficiencies in alexa.com are noted, but even if the numbers aren't accurate you're still comparing off numbers to off numbers so the decline is consistent.

[Mark-in-Kentucky]

It's kinda funny...folks on this thread are stating opposite reasons as to why site traffic is down. The same thing happens when folks give their opinion as to why the Republicans were defeated the last go around, whether or not Rudy is electable, and so on.

FR seems to be every bit as internally polarized as liberals and conservatives are nationwide. I think it's sad when no middle ground can be found even between center right and far right conservatives. I think it's safe to say that most posters here have more in common politically than not, but even minor differences in ideology are exaggerated to an absurd degree, and result in insult-laden arguments.

Add to that a paranoid atmosphere—people are labeled DU trolls and zotted far too quickly, in my opinion—and a degree of elitism toward newer posters—will I have to be signed up here for four years or more before I can safely post my thoughts?—and you have a site that is a bit on the unwelcoming side, to say the least.

If FR is a microcosm of the state of conservatism nationwide, then I fear conservatives are in for some serious pain come '08.

[freedomfiter2]

And don't give me the pep talk. It's over.


Thanks for the cheery thought to go to bed on. :)

[dan1123]

FreeRepublic needs a web 2.0 makeover with a better comment system. The community is great but the interface is dated.

[RegulatorCountry]

"If you Alexa didn't see you last year it also didn't see you this year."

People have become much more aware of, and concerned about, spyware and adware, and an ever-increasing number of internet users are inadvertantly "zapping" Alexa as a result.

[Tribune7]

A number, myself included, were threatened with banning when we voiced opposition to the political hukster Alan Keyes,

I'm not sure what the context of your objection was but if it was the Illinois Senate campaign what would have been your point? He was running as a favor to the party. I don't even think he wanted to, and he got some real personal suffering as a result of it.

[ozarkgirl]

Same here, I still think it's the best. I suppose I could check out the "alleged" others, but I like the discussion here when the nags aren't slashing anyone. :)

[conservative in nyc]

1) As others have posted, the numbers are percentage of Internet users who visit the site. As there are more sites to browse yet still 24 hours in a day, the number of viewers to any particular site should fall. This is the same problem that has dogged network TV after the advent of cable.

2) Traffic on political-oriented sites tends to fall after elections. You see the same pattern with DU. They've been trending downward recently, too:


3) This forum hasn't changed with the times. For example, as far as I know, we can't post direct YouTube or video links in a thread. Even some of the dead tree sellers' websites have started to integrate video into their offerings.

4) Along the same lines, Free Republic has pretty much remained a forum and hasn't tried to branch out into other things, like adding personal blogs. Daily Kos' numbers have gone up a lot recently as they've added things like their Wikipedia ripoff. Keeping it simple has its advantages, though, and I'm not sure adding additional crap for the sake of adding additional crap is the right way to go.

5) There are a small but loud number of single-issue posters that try to bully those who dare question the party line on those issues. In particular, anyone who tries to explain that we're not at war with all Muslims, that the immigration issue isn't as simple as it sounds or that there may be a legitimate reason why a politician/judge/prosecutor is doing something we'd rather he not do usually gets attacked. And sometimes, the more you try to inject reason with researched and linked facts, the more personal attacks become. Those with thin skin or who have better things to do just leave the site and don't come back.

6) Conservatives have been defeated and are split. The so-called "progressives" have become better organized at researching and selling their spin while lobbing issue grenades that sometimes split the traditional conservative base.

[philetus]

All the old folks who believe in God and country are dying off.
A large portion of the younger citizens don't care.YET.

[tioga]

Perhaps REAL conservatives are not interested in threads about rudy, anna nicole, brittany or the dem leadership takeover....wait till the next election and watch the numbers.......

[lndrvr1972]

According the Dems they will be made illegal because they make fun of homosexuals.

[processing please hold]

Look at my signup date. rathergate brought me here as well.

[La Enchiladita]

It can be entertaining when it isn't happening to you, but it's basically pointless and I think the diversion is deliberate.

[quidnunc]

Tribune7 wrote: (A number, myself included, were threatened with banning when we voiced opposition to the political hukster Alan Keyes,) I'm not sure what the context of your objection was but if it was the Illinois Senate campaign what would have been your point? He was running as a favor to the party. I don't even think he wanted to, and he got some real personal suffering as a result of it.

The context was that Keyes is a political charlatan who runs for office not to win, but to use campaign contributions as his personal income.

[NewLand]

We are fully infiltrated with fifth columnists whose intent is to neutralized this, and all, conservative websites, They do this by pretending to be one of us. Like Norman Lear did with Archie Bunker. The intention of these phonies is to frustrate anyone who would like to participate, frustrate them to the point of ambivalence, or resentment. We're filthy with these scumbags.

Bob, I believe this to be very true, there are even some pretenders who have been here since 2000 that I still wrestle with.

Also, there have been some very devisive issues here (Terry, borders, Keyes, etc) and some new ones on the horizon (Rudy, Mitt) that will naturally drive some people away.

Conservatives are more principled than our lib counterparts, who will march in straight lines over the cliff together. Considering the amount of infiltrators and attacks we have had, it's a miracle we are still here and going strong. Credit to Jim for having the guts to stick this out, his way.

As you realized earlier, this is really a percentage of the available market, which keeps getting larger. FR is not growing along with the overall growth of the market, but the number of users is relatively stable.

Last, don't forget we are on the brink of 'Clinton II'...that should bring lots of activity back here as things get closer to crunch time.

[Tribune7]

We lose at every turn.

What are you talking about. The biggest conservative cause of the last generation was communism. Everyone -- including Whittaker Chambers -- was predicting it would win. It didn't, we did.

The biggest conservative issues of the last 10 years were abortion and 2nd Amendment. We've seen a sea change in public opinion in our favor on both those issues.

Dan Rather is gone, Katie Couric is in last place and the existence of media bias is accepted.

The only way to lose is to quit.

Bush stabs us in the back and is incompetent.

I guess you are still one of the few that get your news from the drive-by media.

The economy is doing well and we haven't been attacked at home since 9/11. We are winning the war on terror.

[SwankyC]

I'll bet LGF is up.

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

what mess?....WHAT MESS?....BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA...you still drinking the koolaid about the Iraq mess? BWAHAHAHHAHAHA! Dude, you are a dying breed. Nuke that crap hole country and draw a line in the sand and say to the isalmists "cross this line and we nuke another country". Its the only thing the crazies understand; brutal force.

[Kevmo]

Thanks for posting this. Fascinating graph. Bump for later.