Oh, this is going to be a fun thread.
I think it's panning out to be a sickening thread. It's revealing of how mean and ugly and small many self-described "conservatives" are on Free Republic.
Michael hasn't even posted since 2010, and a quick browsing of his posting history shows JUST the kind of FReeper I value, the kind of voice I come to FR to read. He's a German, a thinking person (obviously), and brings a nice addition of perspectives to FR.
It is a very sad reflection on the pigheaded stupidity of many FReepers that they allow themselves to read ludicrously sinister meaning into the word "data" from a native German speaker using English, and THEN to insult him with absolutely ZERO cause.
"Ugly Americans" abound on FR, and threads like this bring them out of the woodwork.
Michael, thanks for sharing your thoughts on FR, I hope you do more of it in the future, and know that many FReepers are embarrassed by and apologize for the shameful behavior of our compatriots.