Replies

Stick a sock in it.

Let me reiterate: about 1000-1200 people here support Free Republic quarter to quarter. We have around 3300 distinct posters every day ... so I'm extrapolating but approximately 8 or so people use this forum during the week for every one person who finances its existance.

And, I know something about human nature. Let's take two threads ... one is the Freeper Canteen, one is an illegal alien issue thread. I am fairly confident if there are 15 poster in each thread ... 14 of the Canteen posters support FR financially, and 3 or so of 15 anti-immigration contributors pay. See, if you support something, if you are postitive and engaged and an optimistic builder ... you invest. If you are negative and univolved and destructive and disillusioned ... you're along for the ride.

It's not on the plate, but FR needs to charge a $25 entry fee here. A cover charge. Just to know that everyone on the forum has made an investment in FR's ongoing success. Let the Good Times roll, GOP, Libs or Reform, let's yakk it up. Anyone unwilling to pony up $25, we'll watch your Civil War and Immigration Debates on Community Access.

No sock in it, the grievance here today was embarassing ... but some folks have no shame. Whatever. If you are a proud and dignified human - and you are being humiliated, hurt and injured on an Web portal ... hit shutdown, open the front door, hug your wife or kids and enjoy life. Take your little boy out to the country and be cluelessly bonded in the most sanctified manly way with him. "That smell is pig shit son." Don't stay logged into here if it's a perpetual pummeling to your principles. If you don't want to take something, don't take it!!!! Change it, or leave. If you are willing to take something, be honest and understand the tradeoffs you've accepted.

Jim and John Robinson are NOT attacking Freepers with anything. They aren't trying to isolate, muzzle ... they've got bigger priorities. I sit and watch threads like this in a surreal amazement. What manner of person could craft an emotional and overwrought opposition to a change in the software interface of a Website? I don't believe it's real, and my annoyance is that I KNOW that the bulk of the noisily upset here don't contribute to the team.

You know, I've been watching you all day try to walk the line between "bad manners indulgence" and "good old buddy"persona. Do you REALLY know WHO the actual donors are to FR.....and the amount of their donations? Or are you just using the 'donation' issue as a strawman to divert the attention each and every time you decide to indulge your bad manner tendencies--and someone calls you on it?

I would HOPE that ALL donations and donors to Free Republic are private.....and, excuse me, none of YOUR business?

"It's not on the plate, but FR needs to charge a $25 entry fee here. A cover charge. Just to know that everyone on the forum has made an investment in FR's ongoing success. Let the Good Times roll, GOP, Libs or Reform, let's yakk it up. Anyone unwilling to pony up $25, we'll watch your Civil War and Immigration Debates on Community Access."

Wow. Mark this as the first time I might not completely agree with something you've said. LOL

I do agree in principle that everyone ought to contribute. But if by forcing a "cover charge", you mean something like The Well, or what Salon did... It would shut off too many people at the pass. It would be a practical and fair solution to require a registration fee to enable posting and more complex preference settings... Is that what you meant?

"It's not on the plate, but FR needs to charge a $25 entry fee here"

when I read all of your comments then I begin think you are on a mission to destroy FR. For one thing FR cannot legaly do that. It would ruin there fair use claim. For another thing you have no idea what the spirit and purpose of this forum used to be and the great things that were done from it. For another Not many are going to pay for this site now that it is so awful.