Posted on 11/28/2001 7:31:29 PM PST by Jim Robinson
When you go out asking for money, you invite scrutiny. "Why do you need $60,000?". "How much are the Robinson's making? What are they paying the people bumping the fundraising? The more you pay, the less you're censored." People were challenging Jim's integrity in this regard back in the spring of '99. It'll never stop.
That financing model has to go. It was necessary during the litigation, but it is heavy-handed, unpredictable and does not force the linking of site use, perceived value, and user payment. Freeloaders have the same privileges and standing as those paying $20 monthly donations. The deadbeats don't cover the cost needed to fund their individual forum use. That's got to change.
Jim and John need to build a business model that involves subscriptions and window ads. Revenue needs to be linked to forum access, because the number of people with forum access will determine operational expenses. They have stats that can tell them what subscription price and advertising package they need to breakeven. It's not a shot in the dark, they need to find out who is willing to pay a standard annual fee up front for using this wonderful resource. I am.
The people who refuse to pay $30 or $50 per year don't value the forum in the first place. That's their choice. I don't want them around. Freepers who will post here can support Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Bush, Keyes or Buchanan, or no political party at all - but they have to support Free Republic. Many here don't respect or support the forum, they use it as a diaper for their releif of every oppression or as a platform to poison the view of Conservatives by fomenting ugly dialogue and topic selections. At least they'll have to pay up to do that in the future.
I don't care to see Jim Robinson have to go hat in hand to finance this enterprise, and I don't want to ever again see him have to defend the FR use of proceeds. He's above that.
Well said. At $50 per year the site would only need 6,000 members.
This bump is dedicated to the FReepers of the Jim Robinson variety!!! :D
Hope registered comes back soon.
Great idea. But does the 1000-1200 include us monthly donors? I skip the threads because AmEx takes care of FR like clockwork.
Our Republic has enemies; those who promote the agenda of distorting or undermining the constitution and the sovereignty of the United States. These same people find it necessary to attempt to squelch the font of factual information and conservative opinion that the Free Republic represents. Jim Robinson has effectively prevented these unscrupulous people from achieving their goals. I continue to support Jim's decisions and discretion in protecting the existence of the Free Republic from dishonest people who are determined to disrupt and corrupt the nature of this forum. Would anyone here continue to read, post and support a forum site like this if it descended into the vicious chaos of profanity, spam, and obfuscation that so many formerly popular political newsgroups have succumb? I wouldn't and am confident that few others would. Therefore, I completely support Jim Robinson's decisions to ban those who threaten the FR's integrity and quality. I hope everyone reading this understands this reality and continues to appreciate and support this wonderful contribution to the freedom of speech, discussion, and assembly that a private individual, Jim Robinson, has provided for his country. Thank you, Jim!
That's very true but that's also the way of life.... FreeRepublic has been through it's ups and downs, spats, people leaving and has survived and will continue to survive as long as enough want it. Others such as 'tlf' will serve a place for some and maybe they can be happy there. Rules will be different based upon goals, perceptions, agendas, etc. That was evident when the posting of the same material got two different responses from the two managements. One gave a suspension and 'tlf' gave a public rebuke. So be it.
Now that I've survived dozens and dozens of posts and comments under my new nick, I'm very satisfied. Unfortunately, I tried to make an ongoing donation on the last go around and had to rescing it when I was banned. I'm leary of donating to anyone that would ban a hearty, honest and good-natured conservative like myself.
I think I'll give that "donation" deal another try. If you ever need any marketing assistance, please let me know. That's my expertize and my background.
Isn't this the truth! I can't begin to tell of the number of times I've read articles, threads, etc. on FR in the morning, only to hear Rush, Hannity or Savage speak about the very same things later in the day on their radio shows. I say to myself..."they MUST have been reading off FreeRepublic!" (ha!ha!)
JR, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
Of course you don't represent these people but it is OK to have an opinion, isn't it?
And on the one and only trip I have made to LP I saw this sentence you posted here--at LP also:
I address this only because you stated :
Yes..it DOES make one wonder about intentions.
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