Posted on 08/11/2015 6:16:36 PM PDT by Zeneta
I've been hanging around FreeRepublic in since 1999 in one capacity or another and I wouldn't change a single thing. I love this place.
Recently, however, it has struck me that my attempts over the years to recruit others to join have been complete failures and I honestly don't know why.
I am curious to know the experiences of my fellow Freepers regarding this in order to learn what I can do differently.
I understand the issue of "trying too hard" and the natural push back that people have. I tried the "soft", "check it out" to the hard push for certain people but it seems that my efforts are in vain.
These are not the casual conservatives you may meet. These people, IMHO, have a ton of knowledge and experience that can contribute to FR. Extraordinary knowledge and resources that would embrace our forum but for something that seems to keep them away.
Some have expressed a concern that their comments are being "monitored", others, well I'm not really sure.
I guess, I'd like to know if any other people here have had the same experience and what if anything they were able to do or say to get your like minded friends to participate.
( ( (( smiles )) ) )
More fear of being attacked by the NSA, DOJ, etc.
As with any site, you have to lurk for a while to get the lay of the land. I think some find that, and the sheer mechanics of using the site, intimidating, although really it is thoughtfully constructed to be easy to use.
I had one friend who kept posting vanities because she hadn’t bothered to observe what the site is for. Another kept insulting people, some of the most revered freepers who had been around for a long time. Some I think just felt behind the curve and quit.
I stopped lurking around the time of the March for Justice because it seemed that everyone knew everyone else and it would be hard to become a part of it. Someone urged me to try again, and I’m forever grateful.
FR is my conservative Fight Club. I don’t talk about Fight Club outside of FR.
I am used to it but the nasty is very high here.
And that's why there is an abuse button. Granted, the race wars fomented by the DOJ and Zero have perhaps contributed to a spike in discussions of same, but there is no excuse for mocking people's looks or speech patterns in ways I hadn't seen since the 50s. If you see something really tastelessly racist (as opposed to butthurts over inconvenient facts), hit the abuse button and let the Moderator know.
I understand there was once a lot of abuse directed at "the joos", but you do not see that since the first year or two it was nipped in the bud by Moderators. Lately, JR has lowered the boom on some of the religion wars here between Protestants and Catholics, as well he should have.
We're better off self-policing by flagging abusive statements as soon as we see them, and being aware how damaging some of the loose-cannon remarks can seem to an outsider either lurking here with the possibility of joining, or worse, some lefty just looking for a reason to believe FR is evil.
A frequent feature of the comments on this and other forums is, "Did you even READ the article?" when people ask dumb questions already fully answered in the text.
Another of my pet peeves is people asking for facts or definitions that they could easily google, and thereby avoid holding up the conversation expecting to have their needs met by others on the thread.
I'm not naming names here, but his initial is... h...
Ahh, a Free Republic Witness.
hahahahaha!
Amen! I only copied a small portion of your great post. Worth clicking back to, people.
Yes, humblegunner is unnecessarily very rude. His arrogance doesn’t help anything and is a turn off.
You naughty kitten! (heheheheh)
:)
It’s the truth.
The ole saw about do not discuss politics or religion, seems to be at base. Too many have bit by bit turned from truth or do not realize they are believing lies from the medias day by day. It all seems to be angled to dis the conservative view point. What happened to Sarah Palin is a perfect example, the attacks were many and contrived to make her seem inadequate. I disagree. Political correctness is destroying the foundations of our nation!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Would you like a tissue into which you may weep?
I use paper towels.
There was a time when I wouldn't post an opinion about an article I didn't read, but might still post a response to another post about the article. Now I just click through and read the articles. It's not about sending a message by denying them a click anymore.
-PJ
I assure you, I flag.
Excellent! I wrote that for the benefit of the many freepers who may not know how important it is to hit "abuse" when they see racism, or any other rule-breaking. Again, writing to the many.
Thanks AW!
Thanks KB
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