Thanks for saying what's needed to be said.
I well remember my first post here in 2010. I'm an old guy (about to turn 74) and have developed a thick skin both in real life and on the web. My response was on a thread that mentioned the HillBuzz (now gone) website and I commented that such a homosexualist site ought not be held up as a reliable source in spite of their apparent support of a few Conservative values. The pile on was enormous -- "n00b", "troll", "poe", "troublemaker" and other terms were flung my way. The boss was contacted urging a ZOT. I stood my ground and now HillBuzz is gone after being discredited over time.
Had I been zotted as so many wished, my regular financial support of Free Republic as a member would have been unlikely. Yes, I think it's prudent to be cautious of a newcomer but being so eager to usher someone away from the forum only serves to ensure the numbers here won't grow. And quite a few from the 90s here are aging (like me) and the infusion of new blood -- so long as it's sincerely Conservative -- is good for the future of FR!
Yes. It does get out of line at times. Sad to say.