"If FR dies, that’s that." - Jim Robinson

[NHSparky]

"If FR dies, that’s that." - Jim Robinson

LINK TO FR THREAD

Here are statements from Jim about the future of FreeRepublic.com for those who missed them. They are quite serious.

===

"Well, I can say that there are definitely two things that will never happen. 1) Banner ads. 2) Oracle [a completely new database system.] And a third is a total replacement [of the current damaged system.] Don’t have the financial wherewithal."


"To those who wish to leave because of it, see ya."

"If FR dies, that’s that."

===


[To: paulycy]


Hey, you want us to get an all new system with all new software and add a few more pricey techs, system programmers and database administrators to keep it all working 100% of the time 24/7/365? Well, start coughing up the big bucks.


It’s going to take tens of thousands of donations and many with at least three zeros each after the comma to accomplish the task. And that would be EVERY month like clock work to make the payroll. Once you take on a big load of expensive overhead, there’s no going back. As it is, we get a couple thousand donations per quarter averaging about $30 bucks each and there’s no guarantees we can cover this quarter’s expenses much less next quarter. We’re on a pay as we go system and we have zero employees.We just ask for enough to pay the bills.

Throwing more money at the problem won’t solve it. [This latest glitch] was a technical issue and we just had to keep troubleshooting until we found it. And no, we’re not going to invite a bunch of strangers in to get their hands on our secure systems. John has been programming since he was 14 and he’s pushing 40 now. He built these systems and he’s an expert in them.

And no, we are not going to throw out our software and rewrite it and no we’re not going to move on to some other database system. There are no guarantees that any other system can do a better job and not without hiring a staff to build and maintain it and that’s for sure. And we don’t have the financial wherewithal to do any of that anyway. Maybe if we had a couple million bucks at our disposal and a couple years to do it in we could build an iron-clad system. And maybe not.

All I can say is, if someone else can do it better and cheaper, then please step right on up and get ‘er done!! I’ll bow out and retire. Thankyouverymuch.

Hit it boys:

https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/


And no, we have no plans of taking FR commercial. I like it the way it is. Not sure I could handle getting rich.

===

- Jim Robinson

============================================

So, am I to correctly assume that JR is going to let the servers "run to failure" as it were, then walk away?

[thundley4]

The DUmmies are rejoicing.

KittyWampus   (1000+ posts)             Tue Jan-11-11 08:56 AM
Response to Original message
2. what a weird contrast: DU is a cutting edge website with awesome features
   
FR is an antiquated and unreadable.

Does anyone send JR money for that website ever?

[Ralph Wiggum]

DU is a cutting edge website with awesome features

[Odin's Hand]

We need a dope-smoking smiley again for the admiration of that monstrosity of a forum architecture.

[zeitgeist]

It's Dead, Dead, Jim.  I'm just a Country Doctor, not a COBOL programmer damn it.   (Or was that Perl they wrote it in? )  Must say it has stood the test of time.

Oracle?  Nope. Can't say I blame him.  One Real Asshole Called Larry Ellison?  Coincidence?  I think not. 

[DumbAss Tanker]

I've looked at it a couple of times, never been tempted to read it regularly let alone join.  Not because it lacks a sexy interface, there are just too many bombastic, self-righteous pricks on it for me.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I've looked at it a couple of times, never been tempted to read it regularly let alone join.  Not because it lacks a sexy interface, there are just too many bombastic, self-righteous pricks on it for me.

I think I signed up for it a very long time ago, but was completely turned off by not knowing how to navigate the damn place.  So I gave up, found CU then CC, and the rest is history.

And there are plenty of self-righteous pricks everywhere. 

[Ptarmigan]

I've looked at it a couple of times, never been tempted to read it regularly let alone join.  Not because it lacks a sexy interface, there are just too many bombastic, self-righteous pricks on it for me.

There are a lot of self-righteous people there. I have been called a troll, despite posting non-political things there.

[Max]

"If FR dies, that’s that." - Jim Robinson

LINK TO FR THREAD
 
============================================

So, am I to correctly assume that JR is going to let the servers "run to failure" as it were, then walk away?

That sounds like the threat.  They lost me with the last round of silliness, but it is a good place to find articles to read.

I had no idea it cost so much to run.  Maybe living in a vaccum isn't the way to go....just saying

[Rebel]

I cannot stand their format.

[IassaFTots]

I cannot stand their format.

Me neither. 

[Ptarmigan]

I cannot stand their format.

Same here.

[formerlurker]

That sounds like the threat.  They lost me with the last round of silliness, but it is a good place to find articles to read.

I had no idea it cost so much to run.  Maybe living in a vaccum isn't the way to go....just saying

That's just it -- it can't cost that much.   Paying the bills for Jim is paying HIS bills, not the site's bills.   

Let it die already then.

[debk]

I cannot stand their format.

Me neither, which is why I have rarely gone over there.

[DixieBelle]

Yeah I can't stand the forum layout. It's a shame because I know there is good stuff there.

[thundley4]

Yeah I can't stand the forum layout. It's a shame because I know there is good stuff there.

I only go there when someone links to something over there.

[Duke Nukum]

I've been there for a long time, from when Drudge used to link to it as Whitewater Report, or something.  I still go there quite a bit, look at the headlines and am on the sci-fi and PJ's lists.