Uh... could you elaborate a little?
Go into detail?
Express, with emotion, your feelings at the time?
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.
Ah...
..but FINE wine is AGED!
Oh?
The style or the substance?
NO no NO!
Not SOCKS - underwear!
Uh... could you elaborate a little?
Go into detail?
Express, with emotion, your feelings at the time?
I’ll just jump in here - the newspaper sells you the paper and allows you to occasionally write a letter that may or may not be published - in addition to taking advertisements to financially support the newspaper - JimRob appears to secure all financial support from members here - no advertisements - therefore one can take the position that the supporters own the site but don’t control the site. Hmmmmmm.....
FR sounds, just occasionally, like a cult - members fund it, only one person controls it - absolutely. Alternate opinions (posts) prohibited through banishment.
I’m not complaining, just sorting out what has been happening around here (in my mind) for the past year.
Is there such a thing as a Conservative Cult?
Maybe the good doctor was on the clinic's computer at work, and is in traffic going home.
Perhaps when he(?) checks in again there will be some more input.
NO; they get warned before being cast into outer darkness.
It's the things they post AFTER the warning, that brings the smell of brimstone lingering in the air...
Can you grasp the concept of singleness of purpose?
Can we PROVE that the PLATYPUS was NOT designed by committee?
OTOH, our cult leader does NOT tell us to NOT visit other sites or to THINK other thoughts.
When he speaks the thinking is NOT done.
When Mom said, "No more backtalk or else.", did she REALLY mean it?
Wow. That’s unbelievable.
As you wish.
What is THAT about? Did you misdirect your comment (twice?)
Yikes! Hit the wrong button. My apologies.
Apology gratefully accepted. Thanks, Sidebar Moderator. :)
Thanks! You’re too kind ;)
Well, you’re free to leave.
You’re a sweetheart. :)
Bad Sidebar Mod!
Go to your room. No dessert for you.
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