Posted on 07/25/2006 9:55:01 PM PDT by Philistone
As someone who was (unfairly?) zotted oh so many moons ago because as a n00b I didn't understand the point to which some mods didn't understand sarcasm, I would like to put forward the (perhaps heretical) notion that we shouldn't be quite so quick on the zot.
Recently, a FReeper put forward the notion of a "probationary period" before being allowed to post.
I would argue that as long as the posts are rated "PG" (I understand that this is a family chat board) we should allow ALL viewpoints to be presented here. There are a couple of good reasons:
1) Where ELSE can you have as much fun playing with a liberal? Trying to engage a liberal in debate on the DUmmie board will get you tombstoned.
2) Most of the zotties are simply stupid. Why not try to enlighten them? After all, if churches kicked out all those who weren't already believers, there'd be no new recruits!
3) Love the sinner, not the sin.
4) What do liberals accuse us of the most? "Stifling free speech!" So let's show them that we actually SUPPORT free speech (within the "PG Rated" limits noted above).
Just my two one-hundreths of a dollar...
Why don't you read up on these concepts:
Free Speech
Private Property
And then get back to us, mkay?
There are worse things than a ZOT.
Ask Arthur McGowan.
Happened to me that way. Happened to many ex-liberal Freepers that way as well.
Thanks...I need to get a new pic on the page...although I am seriously considering removing the kids' pics, due to some...shall we say, jerks, using them for cheap shots at me.
A-mennnnnnn.
I got banned when I first signed up as well.
It was back when Nick Berg was beheaded. I wondered in writing why a Jew was wandering around an Islamic war-zone by himself. A poster commented that Berg wasn't a Jew. I then posted a link that confirmed that he was indeed Jewish. The poster them posted my sign-up date and pinged the Admin. I was then banned.
Uh, that would be me: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1662832/posts?page=20#20
I think anybody who signed up before about 1999 should be free to post.
Your thoughts?
Waiting for me to stick my foot in my mouth? ;-)
While I quite agree that FR should maintain its status as a family friendly site and that anyone who discusses or posts pornography should be zotted, it should be remembered that there are two somewhat contradictory forces at work here.
On the one hand, is the force of exclusion and inclusion: the site is a conservative and should remain so.
On the other hand, Jim makes money off the site and the site gains notariety and press based on the number of users and visitors.
It is good manners to ping someone when you talk about them.
I wouldn't dream of imposing on Mr. Robinson's time for something this trivial.
Uhm... you said that out loud...
Uhm... you said that out loud...
yeah, does it really matter?
In the long run, no.
In the short run, depends on your sense of justice and fairness.
I have to admit that I haven't studied the finances of FR, but I have the suspicion that JimRob makes little to no money off of FR. The fact that we have quarterly FReepathons tell me that FR isn't quite the money-maker, and JimRob seems to like it that way...FR could have easily become a subscription site, but that wouldn't be as much fun for us troll-hunters...and it's likely that FR wouldn't be half the fun it is right now.
Just my $0.02 worth.
He earns a decent living through his salary as administrator, which represents the opportunity cost of him not pursuing some other venture; but this seems to be anything but a goldmine for him.
the site gains notariety and press based on the number of users and visitors.
FR gains notoriety and press based on its adherence to, and implementation of, Jim's conservative philosophy, which is what attracts its posters. By now, ten years into its life, any change to its exclusiveness, if that is what you are promoting, would drive away those many of us who come to FR as a conservative refuge from the liberal-dominated mainstream culture.
It won't change.
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