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?
The only way you can make out with Greyhound is if they have a slump in sales and offer a $49 one-way ticket anywhere in the country. Or some ridiculous fare.
I won two one-week passes several years ago and only used one of them. After working for Greyhound for five years, I finally realized it was a sucky way to travel.
You probably have an earthquake coming. They always know.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Harry Chapin thought so too.
I've ridden it at least once, but it was so long ago I don't remember where from, where to, nor why. All I remember is sitting by the window and watching the driver kick(!) a large cardboard box up a ramp into the cargo area. I'm just glad that box was not mine...
I like trains a lot more. Especially with a cabin for overnight travel, even if they're the cramped "Superliner Roomettes" Amtrak has. Better views, you've got privacy, you can lie down to sleep, you don't keep everyone else up with your snoring... *\;^)
This has been a rather rough year of a lot of folks.
Hope 2010 brings better news with it.
Don’t forget that it’s Moving Day, Pippin! We won’t be here much longer...
I'm ready! :o)
Happy New Year to you and yours Pippin.
A better year to us all.
For the positive: our 10% furloughs ended some weeks ago. Pay checks are back up.
For the negative: I have 2 new committees and about 3 or 4 new subcommittees to deal with, on top of the... 4 committees and ? subcommittees I already have. All this comes with more airline travel in a stoopid new travel regime, thank you Janet Napolitano.
I can't wait to see the back end of 2010. *\8^|
LOL~!
Barf!
Napolitano thinks transportation safety is setting water mules in the desert every 10 miles so the illegals don’t die of thirst on their way to our welfare and social security.
But don’t wind me up on THAT!
And, according to Tom Hanks and "The Polar Express", they have delicious hot chocolate!
Now that I’m older, they aren’t so funny!!
Yes, room temp is a little warm for me.
That was a pretty awesome movie. I’m still trying to find a bell that big...
Room temp is a little cold for me, unless the room is 90.
All I needed to hear...
Well, yes.
But how does one thaw a nanite infested frozen dead guy?
I didn't try the hot chocolate my last time on Amtrak... I think it was December 1980. Did we have hot chocolate back then?
Room temp is way too warm for me, unless it's 64. But the meds are changing that. I now need it to be 65.
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