Posted on 10/26/2009 4:32:01 PM PDT by Admin Moderator
This is a public service announcement from your friendly neighborhood Admin Moderators (Sidebar gave us some attitude so we shoved him in the closet for a while. He never recovered from the Yacht incident) For a while, we have noticed some things happening that we need your help with. The Free Republic community is strong; we are almost a family, albeit very dysfunctional at times. Like any community, we have new members joining us daily. Unfortunately, the air of suspicion and the desire to keep things “the way they are” has fostered a feeling of distrust with new members. Almost every day, we see new members join, then, because of comments of suspicion, they often don’t return. For any community to thrive, it must grow. Because of this, we are asking for your help. Here are some important things you should know:
The Internet has changed greatly since Free Republic first started. When we formed, few people had their own websites, now, everyone has their own blog. With this, there is an attitude change where someone who doesn’t understand how our community works may be more interested in self-promotion than we have been used to in the past. We don’t want to change the overall feel of this site- it is about our shared values, not about self promotion, however, we don’t want to drive people away simply because they link to their own blog. There are blog “pimps” who want nothing more than to promote their own sites, but for most people, it is simply how they start out sharing their thoughts on a matter. Encourage these members to take part in existing discussions.
Many new members may not communicate well what they believe and it gives the appearance they are not 100% kosher in their Conservative beliefs. This may have nothing to do with their Conservative credentials but simply how they are communicating their beliefs or how the media/pop culture has told them what to think. Be an example and discuss what you think is wrong. A liberal troll’s true colors will reveal themselves while a new member who is honest, but may not communicate well, may learn from the conversation.
Remember, how you respond to a topic not only reflects your thoughts, but also is a reflection of the community and Conservative values. We need to be an example of positive conservative values when responding to members, especially new ones. As mods, we make a strong attempt to screen all new members. Every new sign-up goes through a period where their posts are reviewed. This helps us eliminate most trolls, porn and commercial spammers, and those who don’t fit in with our Conservative values. This isn’t a perfect system, but it does help us make sure that by the time a new member reaches the community, there is a greater chance this person is the type we want around. Some slip through, yes, and you can always help us by hitting the abuse button. (of course, we do let some world class morons through every once in a while as “Live Chow”- after all, the kitties have to have toys.)
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With all that said, we need to grow. We need to be far more welcoming to new members and guide them into how to use our community best. With this said, we are issuing a challenge to our long time Freeper family. We would like to start up a ‘welcome wagon’ type of ping list or group whose job it is to welcome new members, show them the ropes, and guide them through our community. This could be as simply as giving new members a kind welcome, guiding them to how to post topics or replies, or just making the experience pleasant.
As this is your community, we would like your thoughts, ideas, and most importantly, for some of you to step up and help us with this.
We are passing the ball to you. What do you think?
Not good. I hope tomorrow will be better for you.
As long as I can be upright and moving forward, it’s a good day!
With luck, I’ll get some batteries for the camera that Santy and Mrs. Santy gave me. Then I can show off my...my photographical prowessess. Or something.
Hopefully!
Going away for a bit...
And I’m off to beddy-bye!
Have a good night!
Good night. I dropped a roll of film at Walmart today, will have prints on Saturday.
Frank is doing an impersonation of Ash, like Vlad used to do with Wednesday.
I need to say something so I can remember where here is.
Drop off pictures, I remember doing that.
I remember having developed film myself and making prints.
In a former life I made the proofs for mainly wedding photos. The job had me in the dark.
Richard Nixon was in one of them. I knew what wedding it was at the time.
What? Next saturday! They won’t be done by the time your done shopping or the next day?
I could pay for one-hour processing, but I’m too cheap. My mother liked Richard Nixon.
Does Frank lie on his back and drool also? I thought that was normal.
Frank makes the high-pitched whine and desperate yip noises: “I need to go outside right now! I haven’t been fed in ... minutes! I know you have meat in there!”
He’s not much for lying around drooling ... too many places to go and papers to chew.
Wow. That’s a good disguise! I really had to hunt to find that cat! I thought you were teasing.
MOrning! Catz are very clever, as you know.
Frank went to the doctor this morning. He’s fine. 19 lbs. 11 oz. He had three shots and just looked bored.
LOL!
I don’t like shots. Ever since my accident, way back when.
At least Frank didn’t make a scene.
I love the cleverness of catz.
With all the blood tests of nine pregnancies, I’ve gotten so I don’t care what they do. Frank doesn’t have to go back until after his birthday (end of May) unless he gets sick. Vlad will need some shots after he turns four, end of January, and we’ll have to check James’s records.
I stay away from doctors as much as I can. When it comes to CFIDS, I know more than they do. ;o]
I’m off to the post orifice, then to Walmart. I’ll be back later!
We must rewrite Hamlet to include such barbarities!
*ominous voice*
IT..MUST..BE..DONE!
*crickets*
Well, yeah, that is a stupid idea.
Well, I did accurately describe how 99% of the male population does laundry.
(Which is why the missus won’t let me do laundry.)
Hi all, bye all. Off for the last haircut of the Oughties.
Well, Ash does chew plenty of papers. And then carry them around looking pleased with herself because she Got In Trouble.
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