Posted by
Jonathan, Augusta GA on October 19, 2008:
I concur wholeheartedly with Randy's comments about TopFive. Although I have not (yet) met Chris White, he has always provided excellent, personal customer service, and I was sorely disappointed to learn he took the site down for a breather.
I have been a premium subscriber to TopFive for many years and even upgraded to a Lifetime Membership. When I found Chris needed to take a break, I offered to provide him additional financial support and mailed him a sizable (for me, at least) check in September. I feel that we will all lose some great sites - and contact with great people - if TopFive and ThisIsTrue disappear.
Posted by
Andy - Los Angeles on October 20, 2008:
I agree in principle that people should support sites they like BUT I went to this site and found nothing funny or worth my time. Maybe the site failed because to many people agree with me that it was not a good site. Just as businesses fail in a free enterprise system, sites fail if not able to develop and maintain a large enough client base. For you to call this site closing a tragedy is silly. What happened to you recently when you were cut off by some ISP's because of stupid people reporting you as spam instead of unsubscribing was a tragedy.
---
If you didn't take a moment to look at the content on the site, you are making a judgment without information, which is "silly" (to use your word). The content is great; the presentation sucks. You simply didn't give it a chance. That's your loss. -rc
Posted by
Steve, Guelph, OntarioCanada on October 20, 2008:
I've been a Club TopFive member for about the last 6 years and joined Club Rum (the Deep Thoughts type list) almost as soon as it started. I can't say enough good things about both subscriptions. I was a fan of TopFive for a time before I signed up and my reaction was similar to many people's reactions to Premium True -- that being why didn't I do this sooner?
I also can't say enough good things about Chris. I haven't talked to him many times, but any time I've needed him or simply had a question or a comment he's always been very nice and very helpful.
Everybody support TopFive any way you can. It would be horrible to see the same thing happen there that seems to be happening to Ray Owens from JokeADay, another fantastically entertaining and great guy. No disrespect intended to True, but his letters page used to be the highlight of my week.
---
Indeed, Joke-a-Day seems to have faded away. All the addresses I had for Ray now bounce, so my inquiries have gone unanswered. It's really sad to see the old, independent sites dying off. -rc
Posted by
Brian, Atlanta GA on October 21, 2008:
I have Randy's first green hardback "Deputy Kills Man with Hammer" book. If my hard drives hadn't crashed, I'd have TopFive lists dating back to around then as well. They're both top-notch sites and I'm so glad that Randy's supporting Chris in the latter's attempt at reorganization. Cheers to TRUE!
Posted by
Donna Burton, Schenectady, NY on October 21, 2008:
I found Top 5 through True originally and have been a subscriber to both for several years now. I have several reasons for hoping to see Top 5 resurrect:
1) I enjoy the lists and marvel at how Chris can come up with such creative topics 2) I absolutely *love* participating when he has a reader's submission topic and seeing my name "in print" if he uses my contribution; 3) the wacky websites people come up with for "Too much fun links of the day" 4) I'd hate to see Chris stuck living in his parent's basement *forever* and last, but not least 5) I just bought a "lifetime" subscription--not having any idea said life would be cut so short...
Posted by
Mark, Ridgewood NJ on October 23, 2008:
Randy, I want to thank you for reminding me of this site.
I had been a subscriber for a number of years, but I changed ISPs a few times and lost track of it. I even have a folder in "Outlook" where I kept some of my favorite columns.
I resubscribed using one of my web based addresses so I'll get it as long as Chris keeps sending it. I will be forwarding a few (free) columns to friends and family so they can enjoy it and hopefully subscribe themselves.
Posted by
Doug Frank, Crosby, Texas on October 25, 2008:
And thank YOU for your support, Randy! ThisIsTrue and Top5 are both wonderful sites, and are great examples of the empowerment of the internet that allows creative individuals to make their mark (and a difference for others) in this crazy world. I think the fact that both have been online since 1994 (pause and reflect on that: NINETEEN NINETY-FOUR, kids!) testifies to their basic soundness and importance. The loss of these (or other sites like them) would be truly tragic.
And to paraphrase a wise man: the only thing required for this tragedy to occur would be for "...good men to do nothing". Guys like you and Chris White are the standard-bearers providing hope for the rest of us, and reminders that independent/small business is the backbone of America.
Keep up the great work, and good luck! Oh...and screw mega-corporate mediocrity and homogeneity!
Another Independent Content Site: RIP? - Comments
Posted by Jonathan, Augusta GA on October 19, 2008:
I concur wholeheartedly with Randy's comments about TopFive. Although I have not (yet) met Chris White, he has always provided excellent, personal customer service, and I was sorely disappointed to learn he took the site down for a breather.
I have been a premium subscriber to TopFive for many years and even upgraded to a Lifetime Membership. When I found Chris needed to take a break, I offered to provide him additional financial support and mailed him a sizable (for me, at least) check in September. I feel that we will all lose some great sites - and contact with great people - if TopFive and ThisIsTrue disappear.
Posted by Andy - Los Angeles on October 20, 2008:
I agree in principle that people should support sites they like BUT I went to this site and found nothing funny or worth my time. Maybe the site failed because to many people agree with me that it was not a good site. Just as businesses fail in a free enterprise system, sites fail if not able to develop and maintain a large enough client base. For you to call this site closing a tragedy is silly. What happened to you recently when you were cut off by some ISP's because of stupid people reporting you as spam instead of unsubscribing was a tragedy.
---
If you didn't take a moment to look at the content on the site, you are making a judgment without information, which is "silly" (to use your word). The content is great; the presentation sucks. You simply didn't give it a chance. That's your loss. -rc
Posted by Steve, Guelph, OntarioCanada on October 20, 2008:
I've been a Club TopFive member for about the last 6 years and joined Club Rum (the Deep Thoughts type list) almost as soon as it started. I can't say enough good things about both subscriptions. I was a fan of TopFive for a time before I signed up and my reaction was similar to many people's reactions to Premium True -- that being why didn't I do this sooner?
I also can't say enough good things about Chris. I haven't talked to him many times, but any time I've needed him or simply had a question or a comment he's always been very nice and very helpful.
Everybody support TopFive any way you can. It would be horrible to see the same thing happen there that seems to be happening to Ray Owens from JokeADay, another fantastically entertaining and great guy. No disrespect intended to True, but his letters page used to be the highlight of my week.
---
Indeed, Joke-a-Day seems to have faded away. All the addresses I had for Ray now bounce, so my inquiries have gone unanswered. It's really sad to see the old, independent sites dying off. -rc
Posted by Brian, Atlanta GA on October 21, 2008:
I have Randy's first green hardback "Deputy Kills Man with Hammer" book. If my hard drives hadn't crashed, I'd have TopFive lists dating back to around then as well. They're both top-notch sites and I'm so glad that Randy's supporting Chris in the latter's attempt at reorganization. Cheers to TRUE!
Posted by Donna Burton, Schenectady, NY on October 21, 2008:
I found Top 5 through True originally and have been a subscriber to both for several years now. I have several reasons for hoping to see Top 5 resurrect:
1) I enjoy the lists and marvel at how Chris can come up with such creative topics 2) I absolutely *love* participating when he has a reader's submission topic and seeing my name "in print" if he uses my contribution; 3) the wacky websites people come up with for "Too much fun links of the day" 4) I'd hate to see Chris stuck living in his parent's basement *forever* and last, but not least 5) I just bought a "lifetime" subscription--not having any idea said life would be cut so short...
Posted by Mark, Ridgewood NJ on October 23, 2008:
Randy, I want to thank you for reminding me of this site.
I had been a subscriber for a number of years, but I changed ISPs a few times and lost track of it. I even have a folder in "Outlook" where I kept some of my favorite columns.
I resubscribed using one of my web based addresses so I'll get it as long as Chris keeps sending it. I will be forwarding a few (free) columns to friends and family so they can enjoy it and hopefully subscribe themselves.
Posted by Doug Frank, Crosby, Texas on October 25, 2008:
And thank YOU for your support, Randy! ThisIsTrue and Top5 are both wonderful sites, and are great examples of the empowerment of the internet that allows creative individuals to make their mark (and a difference for others) in this crazy world. I think the fact that both have been online since 1994 (pause and reflect on that: NINETEEN NINETY-FOUR, kids!) testifies to their basic soundness and importance. The loss of these (or other sites like them) would be truly tragic.
And to paraphrase a wise man: the only thing required for this tragedy to occur would be for "...good men to do nothing". Guys like you and Chris White are the standard-bearers providing hope for the rest of us, and reminders that independent/small business is the backbone of America.
Keep up the great work, and good luck! Oh...and screw mega-corporate mediocrity and homogeneity!
Read the article that everyone's commenting on, or post a comment about it.