It really wouldn’t, and that’s part of the problem.
I know it’s difficult to understand, but Boing Boing wouldn’t be here as an independent publisher if we did anything differently than we are, because of the very monopolistic and oligarchic forces controlling revenue streams for independent publishing.
And in large part because we help educate folks on the benefits of adblockers, we are cut-off from the very revenue source needed here disproportionately more than others. And no, before you ask, the most successful online membership program ever for an independent blog would not come close to covering costs here. We’d very much like to do it as a service to readers who wish to browse without ads, but the very act of creating such a system requires a significant outlay of funds to begin with.
Do you wonder why there are so few independent news blogs anymore? Go read the article again. Realize who controls the purse-strings here.
I’ve partnered with the Authors as Sysadmin for sixteen years, and I can say without reservation that they would - to a person - jump on any real opportunity for an alternative revenue stream that was less invasive. One does not currently exist at the scale of BB. So, here we are.
The answer is simple. We’d very much like to continue to be a brand, thank you.
