DUmmy Pedro Picasso, the number three cartoon boy on a staff of three at a tiny Connecticut junk mail mill, wants all his fellow DUmbasses to get two things straight: 1. He has an iPhone. He doesn't say so, but he probably has a Coach manpurse and a Chanel fanny pack, as well, and, 2. He is a faithful contributor to Skimmer and his halfwit sidekicks. Now, as the number three cartoon boy on a staff of three, restricted to drawing blank speech bubbles, Pedro can't afford any of that stuff, but his wife can, and that's all that matters.
Atman (1000+ posts) Tue May-17-11 09:19 PM
Original message
Why do I contribute to DU but won't pay for NYT online?
Serious question, especially to those concerned with monetizing a web site, and to the print media in general. What does a site like DU offer that makes it such a draw to me? I have a couple of news apps on my iPhone (paid for by Mrs. Pedro) , and I use them, but when I'm looking for the absolute latest news, DU has it first. It is (LBN in particular) an aggregate of news sources, posted in real-time by people from all over the country -- and the world, actually.
Blah, blah, blah, suck up to Skimmer, blah...
I don't know how this helps traditional newspapers like the NYT, currently pushing a paid subscription service. Why should I bother with them? DU let's [sic] me pay what and when I want to, or not at all. There is interaction. There are lots of posts, but not unmanageable (try following a DCCC or Media Matters thread on Facebook). There are links aplenty so I can check sources for myself. Frankly, no newspaper or news site I know of offers so much content in such a well designed, easy to use site. NYT and even Mr. Murdoch could learn a thing or two here.
Oh, wait...except for that DU needs sources like the NYT and traditional news outlets for much of its content. Damn.
Thanks, Skinner, Elad and Dave. Happy to help out.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1123460 I guess "Dave" is Lord Marblehead's name for DUmpmonkeys in the know. But Pedro made a huge mistake in his suckup effort by listing the enigmatic Elad ahead of Lord Marblehead. I wouldn't be surprised if franksolich has already pointed this out to Skimmer.
NNN0LHI (1000+ posts) Tue May-17-11 09:24 PM
Response to Original message
1. The Judy Miller fiasco is enough to prevent me from ever sending money to the NYT
Or trust the paper.
DUmmy CapsLock still believes Karl Rove was indicted.
DUmmy CapsLock also has failed to contribute to the DUmp's current fund drive. I feel compelled to point that out, since coach is giving the DUmmies some space, hoping they'll someday soon resume their normal, hilarious patterns of behavior, and stop stalking the Sandhills.
Rabblevox (400 posts) Tue May-17-11 09:31 PM
Response to Original message
2. Despite the frequent noise, DU is a much better investment...
I see a lot of crap and garbage here. I also see the stories that MSM refuses to cover, and brilliant, insightful posts that change my mind. I'm not opposed to paying for what I use, but I don't have a lot of money. DU is one of the few sites I'm willing to support financially.
DUmmy Rabblevox has also failed to support the DUmp's fund drive, leaving Skimmer $10 short of the amount necessary to outlaw the Republican Party.
Donnachaidh (1000+ posts) Tue May-17-11 10:19 PM
Response to Original message
4. DU is very much a community - and that makes me contribute too
Even -if- I'm tempted to snark at some, there is a flow here that you don't find in other places. As broke as we've been lately, I'll still find the cash for here first. the NYT can suck it if they want me to pay for their online paper. For that matter, I wouldn't pay for online with the AJC either.
DUmmy Donnachaidh is not a contributor to the current DUmp fund drive.
Generic Brad (1000+ posts) Tue May-17-11 10:24 PM
Response to Original message
7. DU is participatory
We are willing to contribute to this forum because we are the forum. It would not exist without us.
I don't feel that from the NY Times at all. They just want our money and our opinion does not matter.
DUmmy Generic Brad thinks Skimmer cares about his opinion. He has also not contributed a dime to the fund drive.
Fumesucker (1000+ posts) Tue May-17-11 10:27 PM
Response to Original message
9. DU is one of the faster loading sites as well..
With a primarily text based interface DU is usable on dialup, which a surprising number of Americans still have.
The only DUmp democrats on broadband are the hobos and winos who cause that strange odor in big city public libraries.
Well, Pedro has broadband, but his wife pays for it.