Cheap Treat
Doug Kimball ·
April 27, 2012 at 9:43pm
Ricochet has a very, very low protective wall which consists of two very small bricks, but these bricks are sufficient to keep the barbarians at the gate. Yes, I’m talking about our latte sized monthly fee and our code of conduct. Quite frankly, if Ricochet did not require any fee and simply asked for contributions, it would likely raise significantly more money. And as for the code of conduct – the Ricochetoise don’t really need it. Never has there been a more congenial, polite, respectful group. Our two little bricks are not there for us. Without our little wall, I’m sure the left would invade our conversation and attempt a hijacking. Deterred by the cost of a coffee and a promise to be civil. Amazing.
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Comments:
Re: Cheap Treat
By coincidence, I was just at lunch with Peter R, where I asked him about membership levels. I leave it to him and the other poobahs to decide what they want to have in the public domain, but it turns out that there a lot, lot, lot more lurkers than members. And it isn't those two little bricks, in Peter's opinion, that keeps folks from joining, but instead the intimidation of putting your thoughts out there on a website that features the active participation of ... I guess the term I want is "giants" ... such as Richard Epstein and Paul Rahe. (At least, I find those two intimidating.)
For any lurkers who read this and think, "Yeah, that's me," come on it. The intellectual waters are fine, once you take the plunge.
Edited on April 27, 2012 at 10:40pmSep '10
Re: Cheap Treat
Hey, please join! You don't have to be THAT civil. Heck I just got called a "rotten Republican" and it wasn't by a Democrat. I think that's a first for me. I'm used to hearing that from Dems, and I tell them calmly, I'm not a Republican, I'm a libertarian conservative. I might still be rotten.... Read my posts and find out.
Nov '10
Re: Cheap Treat
I admit I've been a lurker. Does that make me a shirker? I'll try to gird up my loins and join the fray more often.
Mar '11
Re: Cheap Treat
Hm. Most who agree with this thought will be afraid to say so... and folks like me who are not intimidated in the least already do post. So perhaps this claim is not falsifiable?
Mar '11
Re: Cheap Treat
I have a rule: I only comment/post if I think I have something original to contibute. That saves me a lot of time!
May '10
Re: Cheap Treat
I've proposed several times (never with any response) that the Powers That Be add a tip jar.
Mar '11
Re: Cheap Treat
Interacting with a winner of the John Bates Clark Medal could also be perceived by some (such as yours truly) as intimidating.
However, I think some hesitancy to contribute to Ricochet is a positive feature. My comments are always heavily revised before posting, and I delete about half of my comments before clicking the button, to avoid saying something stupid (alas, a task destined to fail).
Even the most gifted authors write several drafts before final publication. A sense of intimidation about meeting the standards of other Ricochet members provides a strong incentive to put forward your best material, thus maintaining the high quality that has become this site's calling card.
Having said that, I would still encourage all lurkers who are interested in posting to join up! Just start slowly and you'll be fine. We're missing your opinion!
Edited on April 27, 2012 at 11:04pmMar '11
Re: Cheap Treat
Instugator
Hmmm. I went to his profile page and he hasn't posted since Jul 2011 - just ended, and there was only 1 CoC violation in the final comment thread.
Um, that may have been my fault ;-) The lesson for me was not to post while drinking wine...
I never learn.
Kenneth was, of course, a Gary Johnson fan - before he became famous for recycling a Rush joke at a debate. How did that work out for ya, Kenneth? (a rhetorical question).
May '11
Re: Cheap Treat
I read the comments on some other sites when my medication gets low. It makes the dues we pay here seem like the best membership dues I have ever paid.
Apr '12
Re: Cheap Treat
I like to read the comments, even those written in haste and tinged with wine. I read many blogs, left and right, and the right are smarter, kinder, wittier and capture life in its little moments too. Ricochet has a wide range of people all trying to make sense of how to make a great country for the next generations. For those of us outside of America, you are exceptional and you have been a leader and control to the rest of the world. Even if your silly leader does not want you to be the light and example to the world, you are. Ricochet proves it.
Sep '10
Re: Cheap Treat
I like to read comments too, and this one is my favorite today!
Aug '10
Re: Cheap Treat
the low,low price of the annual membership is the best deal of all.
equal to almost 25 cups of coffee (Gavina arabica) at McDonalds (with their level pricing ).
That is real value !
Dec '11
Re: Cheap Treat
I was a lurker for a long time myself. In fact, I lurked here so long my Twitter handle is actually "RicochetLurker". But I'm glad I joined the conversation as a birthday present from wonderful wife.
Feb '12
Re: Cheap Treat
Absoutely right! I agree
Re: Cheap Treat
Heck, if some don't post, it's not because they're scared off by the marquee names, it's because the regular members can be so good.
Nothing can be so despairing for a professional writer than to see brilliant little lines or solid well-reasoned posts from someone who's doing it for fun. Stop that!
Dec '10
Re: Cheap Treat
I remember that when I first took the plunge, I was extremely reluctant to post for fear of sounding stupid. Then someone pointed out to me that I'm probably not deterred from sounding stupid around my friends in the non-cyber world. True enough! So now I blather away freely.
And you know what, I have had disagreements with some in here on occasion, but with the exception of the aforementioned Kenneth, I've never completely dismissed someone in here. I find that even reading those in Ricochet whom I consider unhinged, I often learn something.
Edited on April 27, 2012 at 11:52pmMar '11
Re: Cheap Treat
Kind words indeed and I am glad you took the plunge to join so you could make them. Welcome to Ricochet.
Jan '12
Re: Cheap Treat
I think a Ricochet membership has tremendous value, even if you rarely or never post. I think I probably only comment a handful of times each week because of my busy schedule and also because, like iWc, I try to comment only if I have something new to add.
But even if I never commented, I would still want to be a member. We get some great posts on the member feed, not to mention the members-only podcasts, which I listen to in the car and at the gym. I can't believe I waited as long as I did to join. I knew about Ricochet from its beginning, but never joined until this year.
So lurkers, take the plunge! There's something here for everyone.
Sep '11
Re: Cheap Treat
Wow. Excellent value for money, encouragement for civil behavior and personal responsibility. That could catch on.
Apr '12
Re: Cheap Treat
I never knew this was the reason for the fee, but it obviously works well. I have to listen to brain dead liberal commentary all day long from certain friends of mine and most of the mainstream media (Fox excepted), so a "safe haven" is a must!