Good-Bye Cruel Free Republic

6-16-02 | wasfree

[magnum opus dejure]

Well, it's been 4 years since I first found Free Republic. I have always felt like I belonged here and have really enjoyed the banter back and forth between us members. I am afraid all this is now over. I am really suprised and shocked at it's suddenness. Before I leave I want to thank a freeper from Michigan who sent me a DVD player last year to give to my kids for Christmas. You reaffirmed my faith in humanity.

I know this thread will be deleted before many people get to read it, but I just can't go without saying a final word. Every since 911 the 'vibe' here at FR has been decidedly hostile. I guess it was a matter of time before the newbie moderator got around to weeding me out for my sometimes unpopular views. So I join the ranks of A+Bert and so many others who gave FR a interesting flavor. I will miss coming here 20 times a day and keeping up on things. But without posting priviledges there is just no point. I must go find another conservative group to try to be a part of.

In the future, when a freeper who has been a loyal member since August 1998 crosses the line, how about a note instead of banning? Would that have been too much? I may have gotten out of line, how is beyond me, but if such a tresspass would have been pointed out I would gladly have refrained from doing so again. It is just not right to just ban an account with no explaination. Especially when the freeper has been here 4 years. I have no idea what I am going to do with my days now that I no longer have FR. Well, I guess I have said my part. It is a sad day when one has to leave family and friends. I feel like some of you were just that. But apparently I am no longer wanted around here. I bid my good day to you all and hope that karma pays it's respects to those who do injustice.

[Howlin]

Wanderings? I happen to read all the posts about Bush; and if I post on them, it's usually to put to rest the gross distortions of posters like you.

BTW, what's your excuse for being on those threads? What's the difference between me being on them to defend Bush, and you being on them to bash Bush? Would you like me to just shut up and let you post whatever you want, whether it's true or not?

Oh, don't answer that: I already know the question. I imagine that the reason you so ill all the time is because of exactly that, you're not free to post whatever garbage you like unchallenged.

[rintense]

Again, you jump to conclusions. My point is that if those who have been banned are crying because they were banned for saying things on the DitL threads, then perhaps they have nothing to say at all. Anyone who reverts to what I call 'typical liberal flamming' instead of participating in civil discussions will only get flammed in turn. And anyone who unfairly attacks freepers with unmitigated slander, well, they will get their just reward.

For the umpteenth time, it isn't what you say, it's how you say it. And posting, for example, a picture of Nazis (not sneakypete, BTW) instead of actually stating their views in a respectful manner is nothing more than a coward.

[carenot]

There are a MILLION anti-freeper sites out there.

Sure are!

I am registered at Arator's site. So is JOHN ROBINSON!

[zip]

Here is another guy getting BANNED: Toby Keith’s new song too patriotic for ABC’s Peter Jennings Toby Keith says the producer of an ABC 4th of July TV special rescinded an offer to have the country singer perform his current hit after the show's host, World News Tonight anchor Peter Jennings, heard the song and vetoed it. Peter Jennings-the moderator 147 posted on 6/16/02 9:38 AM Central by It'salmosttolate

Apples vs oranges? What's your point?

You KNOW this is not the same thing. For shame.

[WRhine]

BTW, what's your excuse for being on those threads? What's the difference between me being on them to defend Bush, and you being on them to bash Bush? Would you like me to just shut up and let you post whatever you want, whether it's true or not?

Thanks for proving my point. You honestly do believe in a double standard.

[zip]

See post #193 and explain that away as racism....if it's still there

No it is not racism, only idiocy on your part. You should thank God that someone has the guts to stand up to terrorism and not live the dream world of the pacifists.

[pyx]

There are a MILLION anti-freeper sites out there.

I humbly disagree with you. The GOP has NEVER been monolithic in the opinions or views of its membership. Likewise, all of Freeperdom has never been in complete and total agreement on any topic.

What I have observed is that there is a small, very exclusive clique of Freepers who deem it upon themselves to be part of the "in crowd", much like one might find in a highschool in the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's. (Such things may very well still exist.) A clique of people who have taken it upon themselves to include or exclude others based on what they perceive as "hip", "cool" or "in". Its completely arbitrary of course, but that matters little. Such a clique, typically elects itself to a position of authority. And yet, others have not ceded authority to the clique. Anyone with a dissenting opinion from the clique is charged with heresy and immediately outcast and marginalized. Similarly, on FreeRepublic someone who might dissent with the prevailing political opinion of the clique is labled an "anti-freeper" and is simply either banned or has posting privledges revolked, all for for the unforgivable reason of being UNCOOL or UNHIP. Compassionate, tollerant bunch, ain't we.

[sinclair]

It is important for all who participate on this forum to remember that the capacity for or the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs or practices of others (otherwise known as tolerance) is a requirement only of Caucasian-Americans. All others have free reign to speak their minds no matter how intolerant or offensive as long as they preface their remarks with a statement which identifies them as a member of a so called persecuted minority.

If you think I'm out of line with these statements you obviously haven't been here very long. Now it is important that everyone understand that I'm referring to being banned from the forum not simply being chastised for their erroneous beliefs by other posters.

[Constitution1st]

If this refers to a man I know who did object to the nightly fest (I'll defer from using the adjective as it is offensive, but describes the tone rather well) he did it with wit and intelligence. Never had to use foul language, and provided a hearty laugh to the toes for those of us who found the Bush threads offensive.

The man was not banned; he took a step back from Free Republic, when someone hit the abuse button. I left, and have never made a donation since. JimRob pulled the thread, and as I contacted him about it, he wrote to tell me that he was up to his ears in people hitting the abuse button. He was hot under the collar, and not a little fed up with people who cannot handle things without hitting the abuse button.

As for the saying "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" imagine where we would be if we followed that admonishment!?! Will refrain from saying what I truly think about it. Ther would be no America if that were the case, now would there?!? Sooner or later you develop the ability to handle such things wih wit and class.

Suppose when you decide to call rintense you call everyone involved? All people do appreciate the chance to respond and defend themselves. Especially when not all the details are revealed. And though I detest the word, no one was "b!tch slapped" or whatever that offensive term was used by rintense.

[Freedom2specul8]

"That's right,pile on. You must be one of the "amen chorus" around FR who never questions "authority". I've been banned myself for HorseHillary "reasons" that had more to do with pissing-off one or more of the "in-crowd" than the subject matter of my posts. The thing that makes you (or me,anyhow) is that all your posts are deleted when this happens,and you can't even make posts to defend yourself against attack from the weasel that had you banned. "

You have to admit, don't let the door hit your clymer on the way out was pretty funny..check your freepmail..

[Constitution1st]

Bump for reply #290. I think you may have been talking about the man I am; he never used any foul language, and was witty and humorous, correct?

[hole_n_one]

lol!

[Constitution1st]

Nobody was banned. A few of us chose not to return, and took our news hits and donations elsewhere.

[Howlin]

Anyone with a dissenting opinion from the clique is charged with heresy and immediately outcast and marginalized. Similarly, on FreeRepublic someone who might dissent with the prevailing political opinion of the clique is labled an "anti-freeper" and is simply either banned or has posting privledges revolked, all for for the unforgivable reason of being UNCOOL or UNHIP. Compassionate, tollerant bunch, ain't we.

You quite simply do not know what you're talking about. You haven't been here long enough to KNOW what an anti-Freeper is, unless, of course, you're yet another recycled disruptor.

To characterize the way Jim and John Robinson and the moderators run this site as you have above just goes to show how little you know or have realized about what goes on around here.

It also sounds like you have some "issues" with other people disagreeing with you, and instead of considering the fact that some of YOUR views are wrong, you'd much rather insinuate that the rest of us are shallow and are here to chat.

[zip]

excellent idea

[Howlin]

And you are so blind that you cannot see that there IS no difference, although you continue to insist that what I do is "worse" than what you do.

All that aside, I'm happy that I am not as miserable as you apear to be.

[Howlin]

I left, and have never made a donation since.

Why is it that you all always manage to show up at donation time and post silly remarks like that.

Nobody cares if you left; but now everybody knows you don't mind coming on here and griping as long as you can do it for free.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I pinged rintense because she is the author of the Dose thread and thought she deserved to be notified some were here on this thread talking about the Dose. I also pinged a few of the people that rintense pings. I don't have the names of others involved.

Regarding the admonishment that you and others should not say anything at all, I think that the actual intent was to suggest to you and others that (like the pro-V-chippers), they can just choose not to look at what upsets them (viewing the thread in this case). There is nothing to be gained by posting on that thread with the intent to criticize those who participate in it. So why do it? Is it just the pleasure of being a prolific poster?

[toenail]

"Someone who has been around as "long" as you should know that racism is not welcome here. I suppose that we could warn you to not be a racist, but honestly, we would rather racists not be here at all instead of being here holding their tongue."

High-brow racism, to my continuing surprise, is tolerated here all the time. Just watch the threads about standardized testing and education, welfare, and population control.