Free Republic Sucks

Free Republic Sucks ^ | May 1, 2003 | By Edgar Hall, Political Editor

[Jim Robinson]

Well, well, well. And yet another anti-Freeper site springs up:

http://www.freerepublicsucks.s5.com/crackdownmay2003.htm

We must be doing something right to have so many Bush haters hating us so much.

Well, we wish you luck. You'll have plenty of competition from FR haters.

[don-o]

Each time you and your buddies hit the abuse button because you're unable to defend your ideas, it serves to reinforce the validity of those ideas you cannot rebutt.

It may be your perception that the abuse button is hit because folks cannot defend their position.

It is also possible, and quite likely, that the "winner" in the argument has gone out of bounds. The mods and JR make that call.

That is just the way it is. What is your alternative to the way things are done here? Give some suggestions.

[f.Christian]

owk ...

is to evaluate the ideas I purport to be truth, against challenges asserted by others.


fC ...

do your thingy --- don't hurt the flowers ?

[OWK]

Sure. FR began w/o moderation and grew to a certain critical mass. Those who were here when it became necessary to do something to get this place under control can well remember that it was becoming a potential cesspool. Since anyone could, basically post anything, well, they did.

There was a time when one might have successfully argued that better control of legitimate spam, profanity, and personal abuse were necessary on FR.

But "moderation" has become much more than that here. It has become an opportunity for those with their fingers on the button, to prosecute old grudges, control discussion, suppress ideas they can't defend against, and to generally sanitize FR against what they consider to be "impure thought".

Hence FR moves closer and closer to a mutual admiration society...

And then the infighting and backstabbing starts among the moderators themselves, as they struggle for power, and whisper seditious nonsense into Jim's ear.

Silly... but it happens.

[OWK]

It may be your perception that the abuse button is hit because folks cannot defend their position.

It is certainly more than perception.

it is fact.

As often as not, the most personally abusive posts on a thread stand, while those posts which support unpopular positions are zilched.

Personally I have no real beef with this....

Jim's board... Jim's decision.

But it's effect on the place is clear.

[don-o]

Help me out here.

If there is a better forum than Free Republic, why are you not there? Lucianne has hers, my wife likes that.

You have an ideal in mind. Why don't you create it?

Otherwise, quitchabellyaching.

[headsonpikes]

"do your thingy--- don't hurt the flowers?"

So, how was Woodstock for you? Besides the bad trip, I mean.

I guess it's true what they said about the 'brown acid', after all.

Peace....and flowers...;^)

[don-o]

But it's effect on the place is clear.

Help me out here, again. I need specifics.

What effect?

[OWK]

If there is a better forum than Free Republic, why are you not there?

I post at several locations around the net.

Lucianne has hers, my wife likes that. You have an ideal in mind. Why don't you create it? Otherwise, quitchabellyaching.

This "Love it or leave it" thing seems to be a common way to stifle dissent here these days".

But the validity of the criticisms remains.

[OWK]

Help me out here, again. I need specifics. What effect?

The mutual admiration society effect.

Dissent is discouraged, not rebutted.

A dangerous trend for the mind.

[justshe]

"But the validity of the criticisms remains."

Then why is not one of your posts addressed to the one you are criticizing?

[f.Christian]

Blow hardism (( nazis // anti semitism )) is better than 'sucks' (( fr moderation )) ? ?

How do you explain ... justify that --- hate (( free )) speech ?

[don-o]

This "Love it or leave it" thing seems to be a common way to stifle dissent here these days".

Well, you are still dissenting.

Give me something to work with on how you would fix things; other that OWK clones running the place.

Give me some specifics on what you mean by mutual admiration. I mostly hate everybody, but I try not to show it.

[OWK]

Then why is not one of your posts addressed to the one you are criticizing?

Jim?

He's heard these criticisms from me before.

And I'm sure he'll read these now (at least eventually).

[OWK]

Blow hardism (( nazis // anti semitism )) is better than 'sucks' (( fr moderation )) ? ? How do you explain ... justify that --- hate (( free )) speech ?

I'm sure that meant something important to somebody...

Somewhere.

[OWK]

Give me something to work with on how you would fix things; other that OWK clones running the place.

I'm not sure there IS a way to fix it that includes a group of moderators with the power to wipe away dissenting opinion based on disagreement with content, rather than form.

[f.Christian]

speck checker (( fr )) you ... in blindfolds (( LF ))!

Hypocrite !

[don-o]

I'm not sure there IS a way to fix it that includes a group of moderators with the power to wipe away dissenting opinion based on disagreement with content, rather than form.

One last try, then I quit.

What dissenting opinion gets the hammer?

Pretty please.

[f.Christian]

The buzz is, a cable network plans to re-run the series “Woodstock” backward so that all the burnouts will end up back in cosmic convergence ... to give it a happy ending --- or a happy beginning – whichever it turns out to be."

Link ... 'article' --- is there !

[OWK]

What dissenting opinion gets the hammer?

I myself was suspended just a week ago for questioning the existence of God...

And the posts were wiped from existence.

For example.

[lowbridge]

What dissenting opinion gets the hammer?

Go to libertypost.org and get an earful.