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.
Ive 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.
Those who think conserving our God-given freedoms (all of them) are not important enough to fight for are more than welcome to leave. RINO begone!!
You should be Zotted for destroying Our Eyeballs with this!!! (sarq) Yuk!! The perfect picture of an America, Freedom Hater and Leftwing Moonbat terrorist whose wretched knarded Body reflects the same personality underneath that physical outside horror!!!!!! Barf Tsunami!!
Jim does not give freedom from consequences of that speech.
This site is Jim's private property, and you and I are under no obligation to contribute, yet all enjoy equal treatment courtesy of our host Jim Robinson.
The key word is: courtesy, and Jim puts up with far more than I have seen at any other board or blog comments on the net.
Quit whining, or build your own to whine on.
zot
I would venture to say that 85% of Utah residents do not understand the concept of "free will offering". When someone sees salvation something to pay for it's understandable.
In your introduction you seem to believe that your "credentials" entitle you to dictate what someone else does with his property. Are you a Bishop, along with all your other titles?
I haven't seen so many "I's" since Obama's last offering.
there’s one down....
Looks like he made the point of JIm's web site, Jim's rules rather clear.
So once the government started taking my money I am the sole owner of the US Government?
One post says that we have right to jury trial. The 60+ comments are the jury here with the guy that owns the computer as the Judge!
Settle down, take a day or two off and come back a little more reserved. I'd hate to see you get the permanent boot.
I have a problem with all the purges because I see in them an intellectual laziness and unwillingness to defend one’s point of view in the arena of ideas. That being said, I do not see this as a freedom of speech issue. The bill of rights pertains to limits on what government can do and has nothing to do with what a private sector organization can do.
Jim has every right to set the rules on his website, that being FREEREPUBLIC! GOD BLESS Jim for all he does everyday to advance American Conservative Values and Ideals!
I am a little sad also about JimRob zotting policy but NOT for the same reasons.
I agree that this is JimRob’s site and agree with his reasoning for zotting the folks in question.
However,One of my primary joys of this site is watching infiltrators from DU along with other lefties attempting to spew their propaganda regarding the homosexual agenda(a front for child sex),abortion(killing and eugenics squared) and big government(socialism), get absolutely SCHOOLED by some of the very intelligent posters on FR.
The intelligent posters on this site with their outstanding responses to the lefties, give me ammo for my daily dealings with lefties here, in Austin. Furthermore, I WANT to know what the left is thinking. Finally, the great responses often educate some of us who are not as well read in the ways of conservatism as many folks on FR. Many of us are STILL in the learning stages.
JMO folks...
Mohammed had sex with a 9 year old child, when he was 53.
fact. (my Imam admitted it.) He had people tortured and murdered. He had Jews killed, and took one woman he had just made a widow, for his property.
Muslims teach, Mohammed was the most perfect man, and he should be emulated.
Islam teaches, that NO government should be above Islam, or Sharia.
that is seditious by definition.
Where do you stand on free speech and freedom of religion, relative to Islam?
...if you (correctly) agree we should not permit a seditious religion that permits killing Jews and Gays, and sex with children, then you agree there are limits.
I applaud the limits here. abortion is murder. and Gay rights is helping to destroy this country.
We are still a Christian nation, and especially here.
That said, i DO wish, that people here, would not be vicious in attacking the supporters of Romney, etc.
We can condemn the sin, and still talk to people here with a measure of civility.
We need ALL of us, including the supporters of Romney, etc., to rally around a true conservative, to take back our country.
We should be vicious to progressive liberals, who violate our Constitution and destroy our country.
Not to each other!
What did Laz say with his #8 comment? FReepmail me if you must. Thanks!
The fact that this tread is still on my screen is proof that Jim Rob is fair and balanced.
your sister is made of cheese?
sorry, but I tend to side with JimRob. you are' of course entitled to your opinion, but you're still wrong.;-)
*snort*
The whole sign-on date, “I’ve been here a day longer than you have” is sophomoric crap.
People are either assholes or they are not. Time has nothing to do with it.
I support FR and Jim and always look forward to see what the news is and what fellow freepers have to say about it. I can remember when I first started on FR we had a lot of trolls and liberals here attacking other freepers or even ganging up on them especially on issues like immigration. Thanks Jim for giving conservatives a place to come to and visit with friends and new acquaintances.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.