I joined in Nov 2000 but was lurking some several years before that. I think we should not have advertising. I give a little each month. If all active freepers gave just a little we could avoid it.
I loved the long research posts - I miss those. We still have them but I don’t see them as often - maybe they are off on a hidden area or something. If any of you are in the super secret classified research group and would invite me to join I promise to just be quiet and listen! :-)
I also loved the funny threads, inside jokes etc. Laughing helps us keep our sanity in these crazy times.
I have learned so much about conservatism here. Read so many books recommended by knowledgeable freepers. I wish we could condense the knowledge here to teach our younger generation.
I thought I’d post some links to some funny, sad,and informative FR threads:
Do not post to me Repost http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2356290/posts
How addicted to Free Republic are you? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2370662/posts
Free Republic Lexicon – with definitions and allusions to lots of inside jokes, flame wars, popular (or infamous) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2077468/posts
Freeper Memorials. Interesting to see that Tony Snow and Andrew Breitbart were both freepers (we old timers knew that but some newbies might not) from way back along with many other dear Freepers that we miss so much.
http://www.freerepublic.com/memorial/memorial.htm
Master ping lists (I’m not sure if this is the most up to date) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1811878/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1162751/posts
And finally , just for fun, the infamous stuned beeber post
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1162751/posts