Posted on 05/27/2011 10:36:25 AM PDT by Dr. Zzyzx
Freeper Friends,
I was saddened by JimRob's imperious pronouncement yesterday, and the ensuing comments & zots. Here's why. One of this site's primary pillars is the Bill of Rights which calls for Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Right to a trial by jury. We believe in those things. We believe in them to the point of being willing to sacrifice our lives for them. And yet on this site, when a JimRob cuts people off for what they say or believe Freepers cheer him like Baghdad Bob would cheer Saddam Hussein! That's not America folks!
"He owns the site!" you say. Tell that to Steven Jobs who got dumped a few years ago from the company he started because he created an IPO to get financial support from others. Once JimRob started taking YOUR money, it became YOUR site. YOU provide the content, YOU provide the financing. Without YOU, Jim would be a lonely guy staring at a monitor in his den.
How can we say we want freedoms out one side of our mouths, and stand by and cheer as Jim zots dissenters in a way that would make medieval Europe's most dictatorial tyrants proud?
John Stuart Mill had the right approach--let all the ideas fight it out in the arena. If they're foolish ideas, they will eventually be seen as such. We don't have anything to fear from hearing someone else's point of view.
Now. In case you're wondering:
My membership date is actually one and a half years earlier than the November 1999 date shown. (Had to re-enlist because of computer and email trouble)
I was raised in Arizona but live in Utah. I fly the Arizona flag on my profile because I'm proud of their stance on immigration.
I’ve told anyone that will listen that I think Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman are shifty weasels.
I served on the city council and as the mayor of my community.
I played a part in the grassroots effort to throw Bob Bennett out of office, and hope soon to do the same to Orrin Hatch.
I waged a pitched battle in the newspapers and amongst my fellow teachers against the president, officers, and organization of the Utah Education Association, an arm of the NEA.
I became disenchanted with the Republican party after some of the things George Bush (though I admire his courage and determination) did that I felt were harmful to the financial well-being of America.
In other words, I'm not a newbie troll. I just have a genuine concern with how members are treated here, and you should too.
To save you the electrons of posting replies, I'll post them for you:
Jim owns the site, he can do what he wants.
ZOT!
Put on your asbestos suit.
Put on your tin foil hat.
Viking Kitties!
Don't let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya!
A cheese-eating moose bit my sister.
Anyone get Zotted recently?
You have clearly shown that as a guest, you consider yourself superior to the owner. That is a false belief; JR can run this place anyhowever he wants, and you can either accept that or get out.
Jim Robinson views are similar to mine. If I didn't agree with what he's stated, I would have left, its just that simple.
The sad thing is that there are so many limp wrist republicans or some so called conservatives that cave towards social pressures. You can find a dozen or so of those kinds of sites on the net. If that's the kind of person you are, go to those sites.
Scythian - Since Dec 29, 1998 (A real ol’ timer here)
I hear ya and know how you feel, I’m no Romney fan but sympathize with you.
Intellectual laziness? Really.
Exactly how many times do we have to state our opinions on morals and values?
How many times do we have to refer disruptors to Jim Robinson’s threads and posts about the nature of this site?
How much DU vitriol, garbage, porn, marxism, and other error do you think he should allow?
How many time should we sit by and watch some troll ask the same questions of us over and over, getting cogent, well-thought-out, serious answers that are ignored?
Get in the trenches and fight, or stop criticizing.
You missed a good one last night. Eurotwit got drunk and posted that Lance Armstrong cheated and that us yandks were liars and cheats. After he posted it he beg the mods to pull it. They had pity on him and did, no zot.
Are you a detail and research guy? Good homework!
JimRob's negatives are too high.
JimRob hasn't held elected office before.
JimRob would be better suited to be a kingmaker, not a king.
JimRob should be head of the RNC instead.
JimRob lacks the executive experience.
Jimrob went into a bank once, and therefore must be a patsy of the global elites.
You only support JimRob because he's beautiful.
No to Kristinn. We need someone who can balance the ticket more.
The VP candidate needs to fire up the crowds and Kristann just can't do that.
Kristann doesn't have enough gravitas.
Why not Kristinn / JimRob?
Did I miss any?
Well stated. It is a shame that our politicians don't follow JR’s example.
BTW, you’ve been around long enough to know that vanities are frowned upon as a general rule (there are exceptions, of course, but only for things that add specific value). I see no reasons why your concerns should not have been posted in the relevant existing thread.
Yeah, but it's not like JimRob and Laz are neighbor's and Laz sold him half his yard, then ended up in deep, deep super secret hush hush prison somewhere...
Which reminds me, has there been any news of Mr. Rezko lately?
Well said!
ZOT9000 advanced systems protocol engaged, Jim! All beebers set to stuned! Oscillation overthrusters running at one billion jiggiwatts with Flux Capacitor capacitating flux at maximum two tons per second! Defliberation Laser Transmogrifier speed set to...um... spork-weasel!!
May I refer you to posts 24 and 64?
Get in the trenches and fight, or stop criticizing.
AMEN!!!!!
lol
I was a bit put off by Jim’s post as well
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