Old Freeper Accounts Hijacked?

Original Content | 03/16/2025 | By Laz A. Mataz

[daniel1212]

(that is, super-favorable to Ukraine) or, conversely, super-favorable to Russia,

I see few that are the former, but many of the latter, however, I do not know if they were of the suddenly reactivated type.

[daniel1212]

First of all, MYOB! You stick to your lane and everybody else can stick to theirs. This forum has been a staunch advocate for Constitutional principles and dare I say your comments appear authoritarian and fanciest. I hope this is not the case. As a long time member, I will continue to opine on my terms and I encourage other to do the same.

Rather, FR is not FB or a single lane, nor just a news aggregator. but a unique community forum of many devoted posters who care about it, and thus sometimes post concerns or advice, for discussion, which is an fundamental aspect of a forum.

[daniel1212]

I love FR, but the whole platform is stuck in the 1990s. The tech is dated and it shows.

As a desktop user, I disagree, except for the need for a edit feature. What forum and features would you point to as better?

[daniel1212]

How dare you accuse Laz of fanciestism!

We needed that.

[poconopundit]

Laz, I’m glad you are bringing up these security issues. Where’s humblegunner when we need him?!

My thinking is that as long as FR doesn’t allow easy to crack passwords, you are mostly there.

Regarding cell phone authentication, it’s a great suggestion, but consider this problem: people who live overseas (like myself) often choose not to maintain a U.S. mobile phone number.

It’s an expense issue. Why pay $40 a month for a U.S. phone service you don’t use. WhatsApp is free.

Yes, I have phone service here in Japan, but the telecom operators in America and Japan do NOT share security data with each other so mobile authentication doesn’t work.

Now, I pay $50 a year for an internet phone number maintained by Skype (Microsoft). This is handy when I need to call my bank and dial 1-800 service numbers in the U.S.

But an internet phone does not allow authentication. It only looks and feels like a mobile phone service. But my bank will not send text messages to it.

[AppyPappy]

A friend of mine who was a pastor. Oddly, rumors always surrounded him.

[daniel1212]

This is a direct form of real personal physical identification including full name and physical address. Very few with any knowledge of how it actually works will use a site with 2FA. You don’t want your phone number in ANY database... Anyone who does is foolish and just asking for even more security risks.

That argument has merit. Maybe just a more complex pword, and email conformation?

[daniel1212]

Lazamataz is a long-time, well-known poster on Free Republic....No hard data ties Lazamataz to “fancy” in a literal sense (no mentions of them wearing monocles or sipping champagne), but their flair for dramatic, witty posting makes them a Free Republic icon.

The concise, very informed substantive description of Lazamataz is impressive yet a little alarming. And how does a well-known poster become "their" and "them?"

[daniel1212]

You could extend that to, people who used to be vehemently in support of President Trump aiding Ukraine and castigating Germany for dragging its feet, rest of EU NATO who weren’t stepping up... And pointing out that Russia is not our friend. Several of those posters are now arguing the polar opposite... Europe stepping up is “warmongering”, any suggestion of Europe being involved in peacekeeping is “escalating” the conflict, and we’re risking World War Three even by providing humanitarian assistance.

And of course, if you criticize Putin in any way then you are a "zeeperm" regardless of your criticism of him corruption, and liberal Western Europe.

[daniel1212]

I'm not sure I will recover from being called someone who embraces fanciestism.

You are in denial: just admit it!

[daniel1212]

What was Humblegunner's main issue? I do not recall.

Blog pimps: posting a small except of your (not you) blog or one you are part of in order to drive readers to your site.

[Danie_2023]

“I’ve noticed curious postings and I believe there is something more going on here.

I’ve also noticed what to me at least has the appearance of AI generated responses.”

Could you link to some examples of what you’re referring to?

[ViLaLuz]

It also chose your pronouns for you.

[Danie_2023]

“I always thought a membership fee is the answer. It would end FReepathons.”

I doubt that it would be an economic “improvement”. What makes you think so? Wouldn’t the membership fee have to be so pervasive that it would dissuade many from participating?

Right now, people that cannot afford “membership fees” and that are at poverty level still need to be able to read and see the truth that FR provides. But if there’s a fee, they would no longer be able to. I think the true Conservative ideology is what this forum and the owners currently represent. What you are espousing... not so much.

[Danie_2023]

“Babe I have been here since 1998.

I have some skin in the game here.”

What, exactly, does that “skin in the game” mean or equate to?

[PeterPrinciple]

Free Republic is not a traditional business. We are a political discussion forum and independent grassroots conservative activist group supported by donations from our readers and participants. When and if our participants decide we are no longer needed or viable, we will close down shop and go away.

---

from the home page. I agree with the above statement. Fees not a part of the design.

[ViLaLuz]

Tell me wasn’t there a visit counter to the threads back in the day???
...................................

There used to be a counter on your threads posted so you could see how many freepers clicked on it. It went away.

[ViLaLuz]

Oh my. What is going on with the key words???

[Dead Corpse]

If you see me being anything other than my libertarian, uber-Constitutionalist, 2A absolutist self...

I’m dead and someone is wearing my skin.

[Chickensoup]

I think I remember it going away when there were some other technical problems at the time.