Posted on 10/04/2004 2:33:37 AM PDT by borntobeagle
I am appalled.
I want you "old-Timers" take a good hard look at how each and every one of you are welcoming the "newbies" to this very Site called FREEREPUBLIC.
Isn't the very idea of enlightening the public to the ideas of conservatism of any relevance to you? I witnessed a fellow Freeper downright insult a "newbie" on this board by telling the poster to "take a hike".
Is this how you want to represent the Republican/Conservative ideas that we adamantly believe are better for our Nation? Simply stated, it is both offensive and insulting to anyone who may wish to learn more, use what they learn, and become involved.
Yes, I too, am considered a "newbie". I have lurked here since 2000, but recently added my screenname to make a few comments and get added to ping lists of importance to me. But don't be decieved by thinking I am ignorant or any less valid than any old-timer. I proudly served in the Gulf War 1 under George HW Bush. I work diligently campaigning for Bush's re-election. I consistenly walk the turf to register new Republicans to vote, and remain active with HSLDA's Generation Joshua to raise a future generation of Americans with conservative values. And I avidly fight any legislation that affect my rights to homeschool my children.
A newbie by adding a screen name here, yes. A newbie to the world of conservatism, maybe not, you just cannot determine that by the date a person registers to Freerepublic. But invalidating our efforts and intents by telling us to "take a hike" because we are new should be scorned by all.
Many of you have locked yourselves into a "Freeper Club" mentality, which could prove to becoming rotten fruit in turning away those who want to become part of the process, instead of part of the problem.
I highly suggest that as more of us "newbies" come, you can feel honored in knowing your message is getting out. And now that you are getting them here, please show the consideration of welcoming, training, and acknowledging their questions and concers. Any good Conservative should feel blessed to have the opportunity to do so.
Newbies who are really interested in being part of FR, that is.
But ya'll go on with this one. Over time you'll find they're a retread or troll, and you'll have wasted time conversing with someone who really has no interest in your politics or opinion.
Nor should they be! Free Republic is billed as a "conservative news forum." That makes things pretty clear. It is also privately owned. Not all free speech is free; this forum comes with a price tag.
Welcome to FR, by the way!
Why, thank you so much for your service to our Republic.
Where did you serve and what did you do?
Yes, indeed. The best thing is to offer them Li'l Debbies.
Mr Cold Blooded American,
You haven't even read this entire thread, have you? I posted because another person was attacked on another thread. I was ashamed for the person who attacked the newbie.
In regard to my Husband's SN, I have always read on his, never needed to have my own till we moved up in the world to Office XP. I haven't been one to post here, I have other more impending places to work/post on for homeschool legislation. But I have always loved getting my sources of info here, because it is not spin.
I am sorry if this has threatened your manlihood, or your authrority complex, but give people the benefit of the doubt until they prove otherwise.
If you continue to call me a troll, I will not forget your name.
Are we clear?
I think this is, essentially, the reason why many newbies get flamed. What have we learned thus far about our new friend beagle? Is beagle pro-life, pro-2A, pro-family? Does beagle believe in a free, unfettered, market driven economy?
Most importantly, does beagle know how to treat moose bites?
"I proudly served in the Gulf War 1 under George HW Bush"
I was in telecommunications, USN, on a ship south of Oman, then back to comstat on Midway.
One thing I thought unwise when I first joined was to post a Vanity to lecture the members about their manners....JMO
In fact, none of them are. Add your thought to an existing thread.
Don't sweat it. There are a few jerks here just as there are anywhere. Rest assured that there is no "old timer's" mentality here, despite what some may think. Just isn't so; we need all the new members here we can get.
By the way........welcome aboard.
Knock off the personal attacks and profanity
If you continue to call me a troll, I will not forget your name.
ROTFLMAO! Ever since Zell Miller had that chat with Chris Matthews, everyone wants to throw down the gauntlets. Thanks for the early morning laugh!
Constitution Party, anyone? ;)
I think it was a lot worse back in 1998 during the Clinton/Lewinsky affair. The groupthink was horrendous, people believed every wild rumor, no matter how implausible (I think a good portion of them were floated by Clinton operatives, to discredit FR and other sites), and ten or fifteen posters pretty much controlled the daily discussion. As FR has grown, it's gotten much better at welcoming newer people and divergent points of view under the larger umbrella of American conservatism.
So, welcome! And don't let anyone intimidate you into not posting if you feel you have something important to say.
I've actually been treated more than nice on here. I'm a newbie and I'm glad they know it cause I struggled and introduced myself as a newbie right away. Someone taught me to use the private reply and I do use that. In the beginning I couldn't understand the difference between this and a chat room. Now as I've watched and read I'm beginning to get the basics. I even am on some ping lists now and I'm having a blast because some people are beginning to recognize my name.
At the very least beagle needs some cheese to go with that whine.
I think part of the problem with the giant influx of new folks is that with the whole 60 minutes thing it suddenly became "cool" to be on FR. Something like... "In the future, everyone will be Buckhead for 15 minutes."
Most of our other periods of rapid growth came at times of struggle (like yourself, I signed up during the election fiasco) because we needed the community of like minded brethern. 9-11 is another example.
FR is always changing, with continuity provided by a shared history and the work of many great FReepers. This is just another bump in the road.
If we made it through the "All your base..." phase, we can survive anyhting. :)
Knock it off!
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