[vannrox]

I thought that this was a good review.

[Glenn]

Not bad!

[Focault's Pendulum]

As reviews go I'd call that a keeper.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

I have read posts stereotyping of women and blacks a few times (which perhaps got through only because of the sheer volume of posts.)

How can you possibly consider this article fair? The only real criticism of FR in it is tempered with a simple explanation which puts it in context! Obviously a right wing puff piece!

</sarcasm>

[waxhaw]

Let's freep Flak Magazine! (just kidding)

[Gramps]

You can expect the usual Republican Party apparatchiks and Bushies,

"Hey honey, they mentioned me in a magazine article and again on the internet. Kewl"

[Ligeia]

Then there's TLBSHOW, king of the vanity posts; _Jim, much-hated government apologist; Michael Rivero, conspiracy hunter du jour; Inspector Harry Callahan, who believes the moon landings were faked and is FR's resident extreme right-wing wacko and Murraymom, FR's best-known and best-loved liberal gadfly.

Heads up!

[Pharmboy]

Yep, he must've hung around a while to get this much accuracy in the review. Thanks for posting.

(One question though: will Registered's head be too swelled now to get through the door?)

[Texas Tea]

Hmmm? I wonder if Barton Wong left out Hitlery on purpose?

Not a bad piece at all and very fair to boot. I especially like the paragraph about Dowd.

Thanks Barton Wong!

[WIladyconservative]

Wow! Not bad - bump for our side

[Copernicus]

It goes a long way to explain many aspects of Free Republic that have confused me in the short time I've been registered. Maybe this should be included in the Welcome Newcomers thread? Best regards,

[Caipirabob]

Ahh-hem...

WE RULE!

[f.Christian]

That a forum like FreeRepublic can survive and thrive(at a time where most political pundits say that public views of political discourse in America today has reached an all-time high in cynicism and apathy)is good news for all Americans.

The audience-wisdom-participants seem small---miniscule!

[snippy_about_it]

Nice review. Well done.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Is this a re-print? Seems like I read it several months ago..... anyway - it is a good article and nice publicity for FR

[M Kehoe]

Some people get all the press. Sheesh.

;^)

5.56mm

[bubbafree]

Pretty good.
Shows the diversity of opinion and beliefs.
More emphasis could have been made on the esprit de corps, in that, though we often disagree on tactics, we will muster our troops when called upon.

Hi...My name is Bubbafree and I'm a Freepaholic :^)

[rabidralph]

Apparently you didn't see this the first time it was posted in August?

[ScreamingFist]

Excellent.

[newslady]

I believe that this is a reasonably accurate description of Free Republic, for a change.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

A lively and controversial discussion of what direction Americans want their country to take is needed now more than ever, and agree with the Freepers or not, political Web forums can provide a great public service.

At the very moment that Bill Bradley was wailing about "the poor man's soapbox" being overwhelmed by "the rich man's wallet" FR and the others were rising to prominence. TV and radio ads are the venue of "the rich man's wallet"--but FreeRepublic enables any interested individual to read my insightful posts without charge. ("He that tooteth not his own horn getteth it not tooted.")

Why Broadcast Journalism is Unnecessary and Illegitimate.

[LibKill]

Thumbs up!

[RightOnline]

Nice piece, Mr. Wong, and pretty darned accurate. However, there is one aspect of FR that you missed (NOT criticizing, mind you...); probably the single most important point, IMHO.

FR represents what I call "the way news will be 'viewed' in the future". As you've stated, articles, vanities, rants, etc. are posted.........but then cussed, discussed, analyzed, flamed, praised, dissected, and otherwise commented-on in real time. It's this immediate feedback that truly separates FR. It matters not the content of a post; there is, invariably, at least a handful of FReepers who are FAR more knowledgable on the topic than the author. It's an amazing thing to see, an amazing thing to watch. It's akin to watching, say, CNN or (gulp) Dan Rather while sitting in a huge auditorium with thousands of fellow citizens, the newscasters' words being ripped apart for accuracy, spin, etc. on the spot by this housewife over here, this retired "spook" over in the corner, an Army Colonel here, a computer programmer from the Bay Area on this side, a stock broker or two, a journalist or two or three, maybe even a CongressCritter or three............at the same time. In fact, I find it very frustrating to watch news on TV (well, except for Fox News Channel) due to the lack of real-time feedback and analysis that FR brings to the game.

This also results in something unusual: action. FReepers act, they don't just talk, and it's a direct result of this immediate-analysis environment.

THIS, IMHO, is what separates FR from the rest.......and it is this that makes FR truly revolutionary rather than merely an Internet-spawned evolution. The intelligence, insight, experience, humor, and common sense of my fellow FReepers never cease to amaze me, and it explains what has kept me here for nearly three years.

God bless.

[He Rides A White Horse]

...many liberals appear to genuinely believe that much of the conservative movement is actively involved in a gigantic, worldwide plot of frightening proportions to deprive everyone except themselves of all that is good in life.

Uh huh, that's what we do. At this very moment I am sitting here with an eye patch petting a Persian cat, planning and pulling strings for the sole purpose of depriving others of a decent living and their liberties. Especially the liberty thing. Can't let people have that, you know.

[TruthWillWin]

This guy (Barton) unfortunately will never fit in with the mainstream media. He did his research, was accurate, and did not let his opinions slant the article. He has obviously spent a lot of time here.

[It'salmosttolate]

It has been said that every successful company is nothing but a looooong shadow of a single man.

Ours is Jim Robinson

[IronJack]

All this because of one man's vision ...

Thanks again, Jim.

[Tunehead54]

Bump for Freedom - Thank You Jim!

[WaterDragon]

LOL! Great review of FR, and pleasantly written as well!

Free Republic, to me, is like a giant political rally with hundreds of discussions, disagreements, angry fights, quiet intellectual seminars, etc, all going on at one time and you can join in, if you dare, at any of them. Even with the thousands who do join in, you come to recognize and appreciate the regulars whether you agree with them or not.

Then there are the smaller forums, like the one at IronPants.com, which is more like a small town diner where regulars get together several times a day to discuss whatever is happening in the world, and voice their concerns and frustrations, and they are delighted to welcome the views of drop-ins or new immigrants.

I hop over to Lucianne often, first to check out "ShortCuts" which is always a treat, but also to see what articles have been posted that I've missed. A few very nasty posters pretty much made it imperative over there to ban chatting, but Lucianne has a regular weekend thread where the regulars can let it all hang out. Not much flaming going on there, though. What I so appreciate and cherish about all the news forums, but especially FR, is the opportunity for discussion and argument. I feel more free to say exactly what I think, admit my ignorance, share my knowledge, etc, in these forums than in any other life situation. And nowhere else do I find such a variety of opinion on every subject. For all of that I am eternally grateful.

[DCPatriot]

Bookmarked, buddy. Bookmarked!

[vista500]

This photo brought to mind the great American's on this Forum and the need for a "uniform" to show our pride...I think something similar to the jacket beret with Freeper colors/logo would be perfect for "walk-around" gear!!

[isthisnickcool]

Fair and balanced. This person took some time to do research and investigate the topic. Odd concepts for many "journalists".

[Valin]

Unlike Lucianne and Democratic Underground, FR management is surprisingly tolerant of "disrupters" who go against the forum's ideological bent, as long as they try to be "thoughtful" in their criticisms. If you are a liberal poster, though, expect to get nasty personal attacks as well as polite disagreement.

What I really like about this site. "Let a thousand flowers bloom".

This is even more remarkable given that the site is funded entirely by donations

Freedom isn't free....not neither is Freerepublic.

This shamelessly selfserving plug is brought to you by American Society of Steves.

[WIMom]

Great read!

dog, Thanks for the ping!

[mombonn]

Wow, all in all a very accurate analysis of our strengths and weaknesses.

Thanks for the ping, Dog. I've been gone most of the day.

[backhoe]

A bump for those who missed this.....

[CedarDave]

Came across this post in my bookmarks and thought I'd add FreeRepublic as a key word and BTTT. Except for the disappearance of some of the screen names mentioned, most of the article still rings true.

[rdb3]

...and last year's farcical Buchanan presidential bid...

[theDentist]

We shoud invite Mr. Wong to give a followup now that some 4 years have passed.

[NRA2BFree]

With at least 50,000 members (also known as Freepers,) it is the largest news forum anywhere on the Web. Its left-wing rivals, Democratic Underground, Bartcop and Smirking Chimp, do not even come close to FR's membership, though all four forums' members seem to enjoy flame wars about the merits of their respective sites.

This ought to make the DUmmies upset. LOL

Jim, how many members does FR have now?

[Mo1]

The content is a mixed and very lively bag. The size of the forum ensures that it is constantly active with posts and replies, with the busiest time being after 6:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, though the best time to read new articles before they get encumbered with comments is right after midnight on the East Coast.

The best news always happens in the middle of the night

[WestVirginiaRebel]

To paraphrase Spider Robinson, in the introduction to his anthology Time Travellers Strictly Cash, "Any place can become Free Republic, as long as responsible people start hanging out there."

[freepatriot32]

Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here

[GOPJ]

bump

[CyberAnt]

Well .. a few things have changed since October of 2001 when Wong wrote this.

[MinorityRepublican]

Whatever happened to TLBSHOW, Inspector Harry Callahan, and MurrayMom?

[Allegra]

There are at least a few Freepers who only post in the dead of the night,

Well, we might just be in oddball time zones. ;-)

[mewzilla]

A lively and controversial discussion of what direction Americans want their country to take is needed now more than ever, and agree with the Freepers or not, political Web forums can provide a great public service.

Everything old is new again. Our Founding Fathers argued politics in ale houses. We do it on the net. Only difference is we have to bring our own beer :)

[SeeRushToldU_So]

Bump for history's sake.

[Freee-dame]

bump

[Fruit of the Spirit]

Thanks for the post! This one is going into my favs.