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Cokie Roberts: The dark side of media democratization [Free Republic dissed]
metrowestdailynews ^ | Oct 19, 2008 | By Cokie Roberts and Steven V. Roberts

Posted on 10/18/2008 11:49:07 PM PDT by Jim Robinson

Yada, yada, yada.

~~snip~~

The growing power of rumor is part of a much larger transformation in the way that voters receive information about politics. The old model was a vertical one, where professional journalists delivered their reports to a largely passive audience through television or newspapers. The new model is horizontal, where folks get information from each other and actively pass it on, through e-mail, text messages and viral videos. Everyone is a potential broadcaster.

This "democratization of information" has many benefits - more sources, more perspectives, more choices. In a forum Steve moderated for The International Journal of Press/Politics, Mark Jurkowitz, associate director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism, offered two examples: the incendiary sermons of Obama's pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and Obama's speech on race and religion.

"Millions more people will see and observe and analyze those incidents online than would ever tune into a newscast showing the clips," Jurkowitz said. "So you are dramatically expanding the universe. (And) people can make up their own minds without any kind of media mediation whatsoever."

But there's also a dark side to this horizontal system. Without "media mediation," without the persistent truth-telling, fact-checking efforts of well-trained professionals, falsehoods can flourish.

The "he's an Arab" smear reached so widely that the New York Times devoted a front-page story to its origins. Its conclusion: After the allegations first appeared in 2004, they were picked up by the conservative Web site FreeRepublic.com "and spread steadily as others elaborated on its claims over the years in e-mail messages, Web sites, and books."

Said Danielle Allen, a Princeton professor who has studied the episode: "It's an example of how the Internet has given power to sources we would have never taken seriously at another point in time."

(Excerpt) Read more at metrowestdailynews.com:80 ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Free Republic; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cokieroberts; danielleallen; fr; husseinobama; internet; lindyboggs; media; msmdeathwatch; obamatruthfile; opabc; opnpr; steveroberts
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"Since the Internet will only expand as a source of information, a key question facing democracy is this: How can the Web's enormous advantages be reconciled with a greater sense of accountability?"

Yes, Cokie, I see your point. We private citizens should just sit down and shut up and let the truth telling professionals of the left stream media decide what's fit to print.

By the way, Free Republic is not a newspaper. We did not write the story in question, nor did we "pick it up," or vouch for its accuracy. We are a noncommercial discussion forum open to the general public. Apparently, the story in question was a press release that a member of the general public posted to FR in 1994 for discussion purposes. And it languished in the backwater archives of FR until some dimwitted, but sharp-eyed left stream reporter "discovered" it via google. Doubt it had any influence on the raging Barak Hussein Obama was born a Muslim rumor whatsoever.

However, as it turns out, our young Barak Hussein really was born to a Muslim and raised in his early years as a Muslim. It's in all the papers. Must be true.

1 posted on 10/18/2008 11:49:07 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
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To: Jim Robinson
Without "media mediation," without the persistent truth-telling, fact-checking efforts of well-trained professionals, falsehoods can flourish.

Oh yes, the almighty truth-telling fact-checking mainstream media. I have two words for them. "Dan Rather".

-ccm

2 posted on 10/18/2008 11:58:41 PM PDT by ccmay (Too much Law; not enough Order.)
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To: Jim Robinson

LOL!

Some now very irrelevant yearnalist has his knickers in a knot!


3 posted on 10/18/2008 11:59:38 PM PDT by Fichori (ironic: adj. 1 Characterized by or constituting irony. 2 Obamy getting beat up by a girl.)
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To: Jim Robinson

Because the professional journalists do such a thorough job.

The Internet has exposed their fake, but accurate brand of reporting. And now we are documenting your bias in the campaign for your Metrosexual Messiah.

You people are scum and are staring down the end of your house of cards. You traitorous frauds.


4 posted on 10/18/2008 11:59:43 PM PDT by Harry Wurzbach (Joe The Plumber & Rep. Thaddeus McCotter are my heroes.)
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To: Jim Robinson
Without "media mediation," without the persistent truth-telling, fact-checking efforts of well-trained professionals...

My, they think highly of themselves. What absolute BS.

5 posted on 10/19/2008 12:00:15 AM PDT by ItsForTheChildren
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To: Jim Robinson

Good one, Jim. God bless you.

Cokie used to at least exhibit
a semblance of reason and sense.

Wonder how she feels, as a Roman
Catholic, whose own mother was U.S.
Ambassador to the Vatican, about
Obama’s determination to legislate
the medical neglect, unto death, of
those innocent babes who miraculously
survive an abortion.


6 posted on 10/19/2008 12:00:39 AM PDT by STARWISE (They (Dims) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war-RichardMiniter, respected OBL author)
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To: Jim Robinson

Now I’m really confused. I read a liberal piece the other day that said Obama’s father was an Arab. Does anyone REALLY know who the hell Obama is? Or what his middle name really is? I guess I’ll just start calling him “The Mystery Man.”


7 posted on 10/19/2008 12:01:07 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (If Obama is the answer, it must have been a pretty stupid question.)
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To: ccmay
I have two words for them. "Dan Rather".

I have two more words... Fifth Column.

8 posted on 10/19/2008 12:01:07 AM PDT by ItsForTheChildren
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To: FlingWingFlyer
Or what his middle name really is?

Steve.

9 posted on 10/19/2008 12:01:52 AM PDT by ItsForTheChildren
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To: Jim Robinson
...a key question facing democracy is this: How can the Web's enormous advantages be reconciled with a greater sense of accountability?"

The audacity of these people grows exponentially every hour.

Hope you're doing well Jim.

FMCDH(BITS)

10 posted on 10/19/2008 12:02:18 AM PDT by nothingnew (I fear for my Republic due to marxist influence in our government. Open eyes/see)
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To: ItsForTheChildren

LOL!


11 posted on 10/19/2008 12:04:20 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (If Obama is the answer, it must have been a pretty stupid question.)
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To: ccmay
persistent truth-telling, fact-checking efforts of well-trained DNC Monkeys like me

"Only people with urnialism degrees can see and tell the truth. The rest of you idiots, just shut up and listen."

12 posted on 10/19/2008 12:04:37 AM PDT by FlyVet
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To: Jim Robinson
How can the Web's enormous advantages be reconciled with a greater sense of accountability?"

we could ask the same of the mainstream media whom without Obama would still be a state senator from the hood.

out here on the internet, the info media is more often than not pretty open about the political posture whether us or even the kossacks

the blind arrogance of these pompous arses is insulting....and Cokie is a pox on the fine state of Louisiana.

13 posted on 10/19/2008 12:05:31 AM PDT by wardaddy (Sarah Palin is descended from Bodicea)
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To: Jim Robinson

What’s this!? Cokie is using “In the tank for Obama” Danielle Allen, the “AA Genius” Professor of Princeton as a resource!?

This doesn’t speak well of Cokie’s journalistic discretion.


14 posted on 10/19/2008 12:06:22 AM PDT by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists, Call 'em what you will, they ALL have Fairies livin' in their Trees.)
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To: Jim Robinson
My goodness..how dare we challenge the all mighty, all knowing MSM. They are so darned reliable.

Sounds like Cokie is having a tiny tantrum.

15 posted on 10/19/2008 12:06:50 AM PDT by berdie
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To: Jim Robinson

“But there’s also a dark side to this horizontal system. Without “media mediation,” without the persistent truth-telling, fact-checking efforts of well-trained professionals, falsehoods can flourish.”

So She and steve (don’t you just love the intimacy?) now hold the gatekeys to the mysteries of spin in a world suddenly brought flat again at light speed times keyboard angst; how to hold these wild thoughts, some spewed, some measured out one dose at a time, all squeezing together in the millisecond of eternity between headline and epilogue - at bay until Cokey and steve tell us what it was that we couldn’t possibly have had time to read, let alone analyze.

Guess what, She has said it before, each time someone foolishly let her too close to a keyboard for the world’s own good, this child of privilege, this smiling southern spit of a sweet young thing clinging like the last peach after the first hard frost, it’s dewy softness turning overnight into mush, mewing sweetly in our ears one last time - look at meee!, please???


16 posted on 10/19/2008 12:07:28 AM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, then writes again.)
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To: Jim Robinson

Thank you Jim! Thank you.

Mrs. Roberts is only mourning her prior days of relevance.


17 posted on 10/19/2008 12:08:50 AM PDT by AmericanGirlRising (Joe the Plumber is a Lesson for Every American! -- www.protestthemedia.com - Oct. 21)
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To: Jim Robinson
The "he's an Arab" smear reached so widely that the New York Times devoted a front-page story to its origins. Its conclusion: After the allegations first appeared in 2004, they were picked up by the conservative Web site FreeRepublic.com "and spread steadily as others elaborated on its claims over the years in e-mail messages, Web sites, and books."

Am I missing something? "After the allegations first appeared in 2004 ??? WHERE DID THEY FIRST APPEAR??

I like the way they try to demonize FreeRepublic. A forum where people discuss everything. Did the front-page story of the New York Times determine where the "rumor" originated or not?

BTW Did the New York Times locate Barack Hussein Obama's original birth certificate yet??

18 posted on 10/19/2008 12:09:00 AM PDT by missnry (The truth will set you free ... and drive liberals Crazy!)
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To: FlingWingFlyer
I guess I’ll just start calling him “The Mystery Man.”

I just call him Bill Ayers' friend, Barack.

19 posted on 10/19/2008 12:09:39 AM PDT by jellybean (Write in Fred! - Proud Ann-droid and a Steyn-aholic)
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To: berdie

This is reminiscent of the attempted Communist coup against Gorbachev. At that time, Western reporters were able to get the word out via e-mail and satellite phones. The coup plotters tried sending power surges out to try to disable reporters’ PC’s but ultimately they were unable to stop the truth from getting out—and in.

Today’s MSM hate the Internet for precisely the same reason: it lets the truth both in and out and prevents them from completely brainwashing people with their Marxist agenda. They would shut us down if they could. That is the extent of their integrity (which is to say, they have none at all).


20 posted on 10/19/2008 12:09:48 AM PDT by Windcatcher (Obama's propaganda is being fashioned by COMMUNISTS. That's enough for any American to stop him!)
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To: Old Professer

Very poetic. And true.


21 posted on 10/19/2008 12:10:18 AM PDT by berdie
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To: Jim Robinson

Hey Cokie and Steve! Where’s your License????????


22 posted on 10/19/2008 12:10:29 AM PDT by petitfour
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To: Jim Robinson
without the persistent truth-telling, fact-checking efforts of well-trained professionals, falsehoods can flourish.

Ha ha ha. Who is "Cokie" Roberts?
23 posted on 10/19/2008 12:12:18 AM PDT by caveat emptor
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To: Jim Robinson
The media scum are complaining because they don't have complete control of what gets out to the public. They're incensed about this because according to their agenda, they and they alone should be the ones shaping public opinion.

Reading Cokie's incredibly arrogant and clueless remarks just strengthens my resolve to do my small part in overriding the media's BS whenever the opportunity arises.

Thank goodness for sites like FR where there are so many members knowledgeable in a wide variety of subject matter who can cut through the unmitigated trash we are fed by the major news outlets day in and day out.

24 posted on 10/19/2008 12:13:24 AM PDT by Allegra (NO giving up, NO quitting, NO doom and gloom, NO drama queens...Keep up the faith)
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To: Windcatcher

And what scares me, is if Barry is elected with a full court of legislators, the good ole Fairness Doctrine will shut things down.


25 posted on 10/19/2008 12:13:40 AM PDT by berdie
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To: Jim Robinson; =Intervention=; adam_az; an amused spectator; bert; bitt; BlessedBeGod; ...
Without "media mediation," without the persistent truth-telling, fact-checking efforts of well-trained professionals, falsehoods can flourish.


Based on an amused spectator's list
Send FReepmail if you want on/off MSP list
The List of Ping Lists

26 posted on 10/19/2008 12:14:08 AM PDT by martin_fierro (I Am Joe)
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To: Jim Robinson

Cokie, you ignorant slut.


27 posted on 10/19/2008 12:14:19 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps !"~~)
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To: Jim Robinson
From the 2004 post...........

"Fiction: Obama was given an 'African' name. Fact: Obama is a Muslim who has concealed his religion. I am a strong supporter of the Muslim community, and I believe Muslims have been scapegoated. Obama has a great opportunity to be forthright. Instead, he has treated his Muslim heritage as a dark secret. His grandfather was named 'Hussein.' That is an Arabic-Muslim, not African, name. Hussein was a devout Muslim and named his son, Barack Senior, 'Baraka.' Baraka is an Arabic word meaning 'blessed.' Baraka comes out of the Koran and Arabic, not Africa.

28 posted on 10/19/2008 12:15:15 AM PDT by hole_n_one
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To: Jim Robinson
I think Cokie probably knows Dan Rather well. He can tell her how we operate. We may get some rumors here, but we always get to the bottom of all of it.

"It's scary how much power they do have. They can take down someone single-handedly and I don't think Americans are aware of that." - that dixie chick

Yes, we got it going on.

29 posted on 10/19/2008 12:15:21 AM PDT by babyfreep
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To: Jim Robinson
But there's also a dark side to this horizontal system. Without "media mediation," without the persistent truth-telling, fact-checking efforts of well-trained professionals, falsehoods can flourish.

10 million fact checkers cannot uncover the fact that "well -trained professionals" distort the news by falsely manipulating the selection process.

A few score fact checkers can however expose lies of omission as well as commission.

A properly trained professional need never actually lie, like Dan Rather, to commit his falsehoods. There is a very sinister side to the top-down vertical system.


30 posted on 10/19/2008 12:16:14 AM PDT by nathanbedford ("Attack, repeat attack!" Bull Halsey)
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To: Jim Robinson
Cokie Roberts is a fitting poster girl for the smugly self-important and factually irresponsible side of media monopolization.
31 posted on 10/19/2008 12:16:21 AM PDT by mojito
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To: fieldmarshaldj
"Cokie, you ignorant slut."

More like the Communist version of Tokyo Rose. In 1942 she would have a red armband with a swirly-thingly on it and would be telling our troops how great National Socialism was.
32 posted on 10/19/2008 12:16:25 AM PDT by Windcatcher (Obama's propaganda is being fashioned by COMMUNISTS. That's enough for any American to stop him!)
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To: Jim Robinson

Hey, Cokie, when you start reporting news as a journalist, rather than an arm of the DNC, perhaps we may pay attention again. Until then, you know what you can kiss.


33 posted on 10/19/2008 12:18:02 AM PDT by doug from upland (8 million views of .HILLARY! UNCENSORED - put some ice on it, witch)
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To: Jim Robinson

Cokie Roberts, member of the “narrative is right but the facts were wrong” crowd lecturing Free Republic on accountability????

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Who’d a thunk it that Cokie was such a joker!


34 posted on 10/19/2008 12:18:05 AM PDT by kb2614 (Hell hath no fury than a bureaucrat scorned)
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To: Jim Robinson

Do you have a link to the original?


35 posted on 10/19/2008 12:21:12 AM PDT by woofie
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To: Jim Robinson

36 posted on 10/19/2008 12:22:36 AM PDT by nralife (www.gunbanobama.com)
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To: Jim Robinson
But there's also a dark side to this horizontal system. Without "media mediation," without the persistent truth-telling, fact-checking efforts of well-trained professionals, falsehoods can flourish.

So I, a poor American slob out here in flyover country, cannot read or hear or see a 'raw' news story and figure it out myself--it's got to go threw the 'blender' of journalistic review and editing before I can truly understand a story?? Journalism=baby food?? Sorry, Cokie, the days of your ilk dumbing down/modifying news stories to YOUR qualifications is over-done-ended-kaput. FR is the future of journalism, welcome to the 21st century!! We don't need no steenking middle-man telling us what happened when we can determine it ourselves! *big raspberry at Cokie*
37 posted on 10/19/2008 12:23:48 AM PDT by pillut48 (CJ in TX --Soccer Mom and proud Rush Conservative voting for the McCain/Palin ticket now!!)
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To: Jim Robinson
How can the Web's enormous advantages be reconciled with a greater sense of accountability?"

"Accountability"? Like when Dan Rather and CBS were held "accountable" by "the Web" for trying to pass off a forged memorandum in a brazen attempt to fix a national election? That kind of "accountability", Cokie?

Man, some people just don't know when they're washed up and should simply go away. These "mainstream" Democrat news mice all make me throw up in my mouth a little.

38 posted on 10/19/2008 12:24:34 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: woofie
Columnist Says Barack Obama 'Lied To The American People;' Asks Publisher to Withdraw Obama's Book
39 posted on 10/19/2008 12:24:42 AM PDT by hole_n_one
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To: Jim Robinson
they were picked up by the conservative Web site FreeRepublic.com "and spread steadily as others elaborated on its claims over the years in e-mail messages, Web sites, and books

Good Job Jim

40 posted on 10/19/2008 12:25:00 AM PDT by eyedigress ( My first 4 wheeler was on the rocks in Fairbanks)
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To: Jim Robinson
After the allegations first appeared in 2004, they were picked up by the conservative Web site FreeRepublic.com "and spread steadily as others elaborated on its claims over the years in e-mail messages, Web sites, and books."

I want a link to this article from 2004

41 posted on 10/19/2008 12:25:23 AM PDT by woofie
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To: hole_n_one

Thanks


42 posted on 10/19/2008 12:27:04 AM PDT by woofie
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To: pillut48

threw=through

Sorry, sleep deprivation with the twins strikes again!
But you knew what I meant. :-)


43 posted on 10/19/2008 12:28:02 AM PDT by pillut48 (CJ in TX --Soccer Mom and proud Rush Conservative voting for the McCain/Palin ticket now!!)
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To: pillut48

Typical liberal arrogance on their part. They think they’re enlightened and smarter than the rest of us.

My message to Pyongyang Cokie? I have a 149 IQ and a pair of Master’s degrees. She can kindly bite me.


44 posted on 10/19/2008 12:28:05 AM PDT by Windcatcher (Obama's propaganda is being fashioned by COMMUNISTS. That's enough for any American to stop him!)
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To: woofie

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1189687/posts


45 posted on 10/19/2008 12:29:55 AM PDT by Jim Robinson
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To: babyfreep

If it wasn’t for “the Web” we would never have known that Hussein Obama is nothing more than a crack-smoking homosexual Muslim street-thug from Chicago.


46 posted on 10/19/2008 12:30:24 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: Jim Robinson
In Soviet Russia a joke said there was only two channels on TV .

#1)Nothing but propaganda 24/7

#2 ) A menacing figure appears, points right at you, says your name and then "You should be watching channel 1!"

Sorry Cokie but I'm done with watching channel one

47 posted on 10/19/2008 12:33:24 AM PDT by Nateman (You only need to fool half of them every 2 years.)
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To: pillut48
” So I, a poor American slob out here in flyover country, cannot read or hear or see a ‘raw’ news story and figure it out myself—it's got to go threw the ‘blender’ of journalistic review and editing before I can truly understand a story?? “ .... in other words.... the KGBDBMSM is only allowed to shape our opinion or world views.
48 posted on 10/19/2008 12:36:10 AM PDT by Prophet in the wilderness (PSALM .53 : 1 The FOOL hath said in his heart, there is no GOD.)
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To: Jim Robinson

Thanks Jim ...


49 posted on 10/19/2008 12:37:10 AM PDT by woofie
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To: Jim Robinson
Notice that the source link for the 2004 post is now dead.

Had the article been excerpted rather than posted in full, we would have probably not been able to ever view it again in it's entirety.

That's why needless excerpting on FR should be discouraged at all times, and, when excerpting is necessary due to restrictions by the source, rather than using the auto-excerpting feature, posters should excerpt (snip) the most relevant details within the article so as to ensure the posts worth as a research aid in the future.

50 posted on 10/19/2008 12:38:30 AM PDT by hole_n_one
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