Posting troubles

Dear Mr. Spencer:

I don't know the "various reasons" for your hesitation in taking ads, but I suggest that you don't, lest you become dependent on the money and become "unduly influenced."

I am not trying to suggest that you are "for sale". But sh*t happens; let me give you an example. I frequent a certain left-wing site and the guy that runs it used to use a lot of curse words a la the "common American vernacular". One day he found out that he has some kind of cancer and can't get life insurance. So in order to better provide for his wife after he's dead, he has been "forced" to censor himself in order to attract more donors. Has he "sold out"? No. But is he "unduly influenced"? I daresay yes and don't blame him. He doesn't even have kids... if he did, he might be even more inclined to "be more financially correct".

Another thing to consider is the possibility that you may one day "sell" or "turn over" the site to someone that will replace you. If JW and DW are seen as "just" a way to make money, mightn't your successor be inclined to sugar-coat the complaints about certain factions that sponsor and encourage terror? There is also a chance that he could be a "stalking horse."

Those brave Muslim escapees over at secularislam.org and faithfreedom.org seem to get by without sponsorship... of course, this site is much better, with more up-to-the-minute updates, "comments", archives, etc. I am sure that Typekey registration costs you some money; maybe there is a cheaper alternative.

I know I'm not your favorite fan. But I hope you can tell that no matter who controls our government, come jihad or highwater, I respect you and appreciate these sites... I will always tell you the plain truth as I see it.

On the remote possibility that the truth about Islam could be watered down here, as it is in so many other facets of our culture, my vote is: NO.

KJ

Take the ads, Robert.

Mayhap you could seek out a steady, committed donor, a single individual or group that would pick up some of the costs of operation. It seems to me that you have mentioned at least one regular "comment"-er who you suspect is soon to start his own weblog. Lest you said it in passing, I won't mention any names here. Maybe you could take on a business partner... or maybe write more books. Have you ever considered starting a non-profit organization?

WAIT... I KNOW. Reconfigure the site to excuse all Muslim atrocities through history as reactions to the MUCH MORE EGREGIOUS behavior of the Jews, the Israelis, and the Zionists! Then you'll have no problem getting a nice grant from, well, you know. The kinds of guys that fund chairs and bestow endowments on "Palestinian Studies Departments" at major universities. (I can't say who they are, someone might think I'm a racist.) But if you do, you'd best watch out. Al Aryan will tell you, it's a tough business. LOL.

Actually, Keith, Jihad Watch will soon be (and may already be) a 501c3 non-profit, and a lot of things are in the works. But I shouldn't go into them until they are finalized.

Also, I forgot to mention: merchandise? Jihad Watch t-shirts? (Don't everybody throw tomatoes at once!)

Best regards
Robert Spencer

Go for the ads, Robert.

KJ
sut up and give the man some money I did yesterday!!

You said you had a job?

The thing i was upset about the max they would let me give was 50bucks?

after all this is more fun than a movie?

Part of the American Tribe
Squirrel Hunter
Spider Killer
God Bless the USA and her Fighting Forces and ALL who Fight with her give them Strength,Wisdom and Courage to stay the course to Defeat the Islamic Terrorist and All who Support them Open the Eyes of the World to their Threat Amen

Ads..... I would be curious to see who might be willing to do that here. It would be seen by some as a sign of their 'agreeing' with you on the world situation. I have no problem with that: the more who appear to be speaking out (by advertising), the wider the readership of this site will become.

...coffee mugs? I'll take 2.

Robert:

Take the ads. You always have the final say on which ads to allow and which are not suitable.

Now it is true that you may be beholden to an advertiser and subtly alter the character of this forum. That is always possible. However, the advertiser by being on this forum, is also affected, and in some ways agrees with the contents of this forum. This in itself is an advertisement of our cause to others.

Take the advertising, but before you do decide on a clear policy that will guide you and be consistent with your policy for the broader site.

For example, will the policy emphasise free speech, or will it ban certain kind of ideological or political advertising.

etc.

I personally would not like the adds, but, on the other hand, 'ya gotta do, what ya gotta do...'

And I trust the judgment of the folks who do such a fine job running this wonderful site.

MR SPENCER
Take ads -there's no disgrace as all media sites do this and you can choose what to display. Jihad Watch is the Best of Blogs and doing a very important job informing the Public.Have found last two days extremely difficult to get on site :
suspect Islamist hackers are trying to sabotage this Forum.

T shirts, coffee cups, and above all, watches. Jihad Watches.

LOL, Miss Moneypenney!.....Jihad Watches!.....Gotta love that.

Mr Spencer, I would hesitate over the ads, but merchandising sounds like a great idea. Selling T-Shirts, coffee mugs, key rings: all that would be great.

No on the ads for now.

What, roughly, are your financial expenses for this site per month; and what do you get in donations per month?

First of all Mr.Spencer I have to say that JihadWatch and DhimmiWatch have opened my eyes to so much that is going on in the world. Your site (and books) have been an inspiration and made me realise that my friends and I weren't the only ones in the west who were worried about Islam and it's fawning acceptance by some of our rulers. None of us have had any trouble getting on to the site recently but as we are all in the UK maybe the problem lies in the States (can problems be localised geographically in cyberspace ??).
As for adverts anything that helps you spread the word would seem to be a good thing but I think you have to pick adverts that reflect the gravity and intellect of the site's message. I know there lots of great humour here but without getting too Lord Of The Rings about it JW is involved in the struggle for the survival of our civilization. Since it started taking adverts faithfreedom.org seems to me to have lost something. Maybe it's hard to take discussions about spirituality, faith, humanity etc when there are annoying pop-ups and distracting ads for screensavers. I'm sure as well that some disillusioned muslims visiting faithfreedom might miss out on the excellent articles because they are put off by flipant adverts.
Having said all that, I must echo the comment by JTF that I too trust the judgement of anyone who can create and run such a fantastic site.

You mean this site is NOT financed by mossad?...I'm out of here...

Seriously though you have to take the ads on, we all need to make money to live...or carry on with the things we like to do.

Mr Spencer.

I see no problem with adds on the site, however it would be prudent to choose those adds carefully so you are not demonized as being under the control of a certain political body/organisation. However adds for humanitarian organisations in contrast wouldn't be a problem but there wouldn't be much money in it. If you can find adds that are non political that would be optimal. The more non-political the better. McDonalds may be evil but is acceptable to everyone. Bin laden's kids eat fries. You could advetise books (your own) and others related material I think with no problem. That would just be complementary to the site. Look at what other similar sites that you admire do and ask them their expereinces about the advertising. Maybe an add for amazon books would be a good one...things along that line.

You are helping a movement working towards ensuring enlightenment in the world so I think you should use all tools at your disposal, as long as your message isn't diluted and site complementary and non-political adds would be fine.

Mr. Spencer:

As a general priciple I'm against the ads idea. Won't you be beholden to your advertisers to monitor the content of the comments sections? Mighn't there be pressure to oversee/approve of your editorial comments? Are there advertisers that you want to be associated with? Your credibility and reputation could be affected by the wrong associations. I feel that ads would cheapen and demean the integrity of a site such as this one. I would prefer that the onus be on us, the users of this site, to support it, rather than to rely on outside sources which could entail a whole host of complications.

Merchandising, however, is a great idea, and you can get lots of creative input (bumper stickers?) from readers.

And although it might be uncomfortable, a monthly "reminder" that additional funds are necessary to run the site would be in order.

Or we could hold a bake sale.

CGW

Mr. Spencer:

I want to make a donation, but since I believe that the site may have been hacked, I'm leery of giving my credit card information. What does Charles say about the problem? Does he think you have adequate security protocols in place? Have security scans/checks been done?

For some reason I keep thinking of that SteveUK guy from a few days ago. People like him know how to wreak a lot of havoc.

CGW

Dear CGW:

There is no doubt that something is wrong, but I doubt the site has been hacked: if it had been, wouldn't it be saying all kinds of things I don't believe?

Will:

Hard to quantify. In terms of my labor, and the time I take away from higher-paying work, it gets quite high. As for donations, they have been minimal.

Best
RS

P.S. do not become dependant on any one organisation for adds. If you don't keep your adds varied groups like CAIR might lobby that organisation to put pressure on you to modify your messages.

I can't see any risk with adds that are complentary to your site...like advertisments to your books/merchandise (which i wouldn't mind buying) and organisations that are likeminded to yours such as the websites/magazines that publish similar material to what you post here. I think that should be safe. Just don't get dependent on any one advertiser...keep it as varied as possible. There are advertisers out there who would be unlikely to bend to jihadists/islamists knocking on their door. Find as many of them as you can. Find true advertising allies.

Mr. Spencer:

BTW, I MUST have a Jihad Watch watch! I'll also buy T-shirts, mugs, and a whole host of things you haven't even thought of yet. You can also sell your books directly through the site (but you'll have to meet Amazon.com's prices). You can branch out into other merchandise - not specifically mentioning Jihad Watch, but items displaying anti-jihad slogans, etc. You could make up special "Liberals against jihad" items for Keith! :-) The possibilites are endless, and we have some really creative minds posting here, so you'd get a lot of input if you needed it. I'm ready to start buying! Where's my stuff?

And none of this would compromise your integrity. Plus, it's good old-fashioned Western Capitalism - what better way to thumb your nose at islamofascism?

CG (May I call you CG?):

Thanks. Please note that I already sell my books through this site. Click on "books" at the upper left hand corner and you'll see them, and can order them.

Best
RS

I'll try again to comment. Yes to ads if absolutely necessary. However, if you can set up a donations link through amazon.com, that will be secure and will generate more donations.

As for a jihad watch(grin) try cafepress.com. You don't have to shell out anything on inventory and each item is made as ordered. You can set up as many different kinds of things as you want- shirts, hats, mugs, and a clock, although I didn't find a watch.

I only recently found your site and love it!

Dear libbysmom:

Thanks. There is already a donations link through Amazon.com. Look to the left.

Best
Robert Spencer

Mr. Spencer:

Sorry, I didn't notice the books for sale. I have them all already, anyway!

The donations link is with PayPal. (Pardon my ignorance, but are PayPal and Amazon connected? I always use a credit card directly and have never used the Paypal system.) Does the credit card one link to Amazon? I put in some fake info and followed it aways but didn't see any mention of Amazon. Maybe I missed it.

CGW

Duh, I see the Amazon section now. I was using the "Make a donation" button above it.

Not too observant today, am I? :-)

CGW,

On my screen there is a box on the main page that directs donors to the Amazon Honor System. It says, "Hello, Do you want to support Jihadwatch?" And underneath it says "Amazon Honor System." Please let me know if it doesn't show up on your screen.

Thanks
RS

Thanks. Obviously I wrote the last comment before seeing your last one. RS

You seem to be popular at Fox...maybe they could help though they do seem right wing....actually I am left wing but I like Fox News so that means i am "left-right wing". They do seem to be very interested in the sort of things (and your articles) posted here. Could you get paid to be a columnist/presenter for this or a similar org. You would educate the population at the same time. Maybe the same could go for talkback radio. Just an idea. But again don't get too dependent on any one such org. Your messages I rationalise are just logical/educative, not political or baised so maybe that is an option.

Mr. Spencer:

I'd rather support your great web site through donations and merchandise purchases as I am not a fan of ads. However, if it's a choice between ads and no Jihadwatch, I much rather have the ads.

Thanks for the opportunity to voice my opinion.

Merchandising is a great idea!!

Merchandising is a GREAT idea --- !!!!

Politically incorrect bumper stickers, anyone??

Seriously, though. There must be loads of people who visit this site who never post. We might reach many of them through merchandising.

Certainly, your credibility and reputation could be affected by innappropriate associations (directly or indirectly - as with the comment about CAIR impacting a sponsor).

However, this site is so well run (despite a couple posting problems) that I encourage you to pursue whatever avenue makes JW/DW prosper.

The JW/DW product ideas are terrific! I too would make purchases. A necktie(?) or coffee mug is a subtle but splendid way to introduce a difficult subject to associates. The watch idea is rich! Love it!

Up until 8/04 I was completely ambivalent about politics and social issues because of the constant irritation (irrational posture) of the media.

Add to that the current state of the UN ( those pusillanimous models of ineptitude)and I was thoroughly fed up.

It was clearly an accident that I found your impressive sites and I'm hooked.

One cannot understand something they know nothing about.

I'm getting a long overdue education. . . An education that may save civilization as we know it. Thank you.

Robert, how much money do you need to upgrade?
I'll take up a collection from my friends.

For everyone's info . . . you can give more money
than $50. You just have to go back and do it over again,and again, and again.

Mr.Spencer
Please don't sell out!!
I get Human Events, bought more of your books yesterday and your donate line is wimmpy cause they have a limit of 50 bucks The books i aready have and bought more to spread around!! if you need to advert just don't sell out and trust me it is easy to do when you have someone paying your bills ? stay STRONG!!

Part of the American Tribe
Squrril Hunter
Spider Killer
GOD BLESS THE USA AND HER FIGHTING FORCES AND ALL WHO FIGHT WITH HER GIVE THEM STRENGTH,WISDOM AND COURAGE TO STAY THE COURSE TO DEFEAT THE ISLAMIC TERRORIST AND ALL WHO SUPPORT THEM OPEN THE EYES OF THE WORLD TO THEIR THREAT AMEN

PS

Think of our guys Fighting in 140degress and Remember you fight helps them!!

Many people come to Jihadwatch to get a kind of supplement to the day's news. They know that stories will be posted here that they will not find elsewhere, or if those stories do manage to make it to The New York Times and other outlets, will do so in a form that is both abridged, and without the necessary remarks that put the item in context.

But one should also take the time to scroll down the list of past articles, in order to fill in what one has missed. If done properly, the determined autodidact can learn a lot about Islamic tenets, and begin to arrive at a more complete picture of what Jihad and dhimmitude are all about. In short, there is pedagogic value to this site that may be, by some, as yet unrecognized and unexploited.

And one more use for this website is as a place that students can go to to find out, for example, what the "jizya" is, and whether it is true that it is not more onerous than the "zakat" that Muslims are supposed to pay, and what the definition of a "dhimmi" is, and what disabilities a non-Muslim suffers under in a Muslim-ruled society.

If you wish to ensure that your own children, for example, are alerted to the dangers of Islam, there is perhaps no better site to direct them to, for www.jihadwatch.org links the news of the day (or yesterday, or last month) with the central tenets of Islam -- which, in other words, helps to provide the explanation for attacks in Thailand, or Sudan, or Madrid. No other website does it in quite this way.

If high-school teachers begin to frequent this site, and begin to educate themselves, if students do the same, they will be better able to withstand the apologetics and nonsense that is spouted by both Muslims and non-Muslims who prefer interfaith pieties to unpleasant home truths. So do what you can to make this site better known (perhaps even by blogging about it on other sites), and if there are those who understand the significance of this site, perhaps eventually those with deep pockets will help out -- as, for their own future wellbeing, and that of their children, they should.

Another idea. For merchandising it might be a good idea to have something humerous and mainstream. Jokes that anyone would laugh at. Bin laden dart boards with darts like bombs, a range of t-shirts and mugs with robert spencer kicking bin laden kung foo style (ok.. maybe a bad idea)...to appeal to the mainstream it needs to be funny. That way you will sell much more merchandise. Also always remember to keep Jihadwatch.org adress on all the items you sell. Everyone here could help you come up with ideas/slogans for these things. Maybe I am weird but I would buy that stuff. Actually I am weird but you can ignore that.

Aesthetically nice without ads....but it's your call.

Maybe something like:

"Punch the monkey to post!"

The TV show The Prisoner had the lead character say:"I'm not a number, I'm a free man." Why not, "I'm not a muslim, I'm a free man (woman)"?

Or "Put the slam into Islam".

Yes, ads that motivate and inform. The more people know the better off we'll all be.

Taking ads isn't selling out. This isn't a secret society or fashion show.

If it takes ads to keep going than so be it. I'm all for it.

http://www.opshiloh.com/

Robert,
I have a feeling Osama Bin Laden dart boards might sell quite well, or if you wanted to go a little higher than that , try full size Osama Bin laden punch bags (or for those with a more Iraq-worthy arsenal "rocket-launcher practice" bags- see what I did there?.... I changed the word "Punch" for "rocket-launcher practice"..... "hmmm yes Rik!Ingenius humour!" say the masses).

Osama dart boards?

Don't you folks know that that kind of thing is racist???????

http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/003153.php

Yrs
RS

Robert,
The only problems I have posting is ,sometimes, when I try to post the message "Submission Error, You are not currently Signed In" comes up (when I already, definitely have).

I then click on Sign In, go to the typekey screen, do my shit, submit and go back to the JW thread I was on previously.
I then go to my browser, click on back until I get the comment back on the screen (the one that failed , I hope your following this folks), click post again, and the comment is submitted flawlessly (mostly but not always).

So there's a tip for those of you that start allover again when you get a "Submission Error", try following my instructions above (if you can make out what the hell I was rambling about).
And Robert, it'd be a hell of a lot less hassle if I didn't have to go through all of that.
I think CGW may be right about a virus or something getting through.

Oh yeah soemtimes I sign in and the comments box is still not visible (and the red Sign Out link still reads Sign In I then log off, go back to google (or Whatever...) and try again, without sighning in, and the comments box miraculously appears.
(Please imagine The Twilight Zone them whilst reading that last line).

Rikki,

Charles of LGF, my indomitable web expert, tells me that TypeKey itself is having problems. Captain Ed and Roger Simon are having them too. There is nothing I can do about this except hope that the upgrade will take care of it and/or that TypeKey will fix it soon. But anyway it is not a virus.

Copy your message before hitting "Post." Then keep signing in and pasting it into the message box. Eventually it will post. I got one on the fourth try yesterday.

I apologize for the inconvenience.

RS

I vote that JW/DW accept advertising. It is a venerable American way. We can trickle in donations, but American capitalism can stoke the old fires far better--not that we won't want to donate if you advertise. The value of JW/DW is so great that I find myself spinning off in superlatives which sound obsequious. So, let me just say that if I hit the lotto, RS, you get one hell of a big check!