Regarding Terri Schiavo Stories, the BN Sidebar, vanities, and newcomers

[Lead Moderator]

Hello everyone. I hope you are all having a good evening.

At various times today there have been upwards of 8 different stories at the same time posted to breaking news, and it does not seem like we go more than a half hour before yet another goes in.

We are all thrilled that progress is being made.

But it really is not helping matters to overwhelm everything in the forum with every new detail. So please, let's try to keep the new posts to the breaking news sidebar to a reasonable level.

Along the same lines, just like any story that is emotionally charged, we are getting a significant number of vanities on the topic. The rule of thumb on vanities is that they should be substantive, original, and relatively infrequent. Many of the vanities we have seen today probably could have, and should have, been made in reply to an existing thread rather than starting a new one.

And finally, this story has brought many new Freepers on board. To them, I extend a hearty welcome (hoo rah!). However, (speaking to the new folks now), some of you have been a little over-emotional, and are crossing the line when it comes to disagreements and engaging in personal attacks and flaming rather than debating. Please keep it clean, and realize that due to the nature of the beast, newbies are not given as much leeway as more established posters.

Now back to our regularly scheduled Freeping, already in progress.

[UCANSEE2]

I noticed the slight abuse of FR that has gone on yesterday and today concerning Terri Schiavo.

I think (having investigated all the details) that it was completely worth it.

I also think that those that participated, and newbies as well, should LEARN from the experience, and LEARN from this REQUEST to be more careful and conservative about proper usage of threads on FR, in the future.

I start with me.

[UCANSEE2]

Your smartaleck reply is not appreciated.

[Eastbound]

"What is the litmus test that lets you move up to a true freeper?"

When you, yourself, declare that you are a FReeper. It's like standing up at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and saying, "I'm an alcoholic."

[Eastbound]

Heh Heh. Just kidding. All you have to do is include your favorite name for the Hildebeast in one of your replies.

[headsonpikes]

...I feel like a maroon.

Some are born to looserdom; some have looserdom thrust upon them!

Make youtr time!

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

While this may not come under your jurisdiction, but the Terri advocates need to realize that people can be pro-life and still question the actions of the State of Florida. I have found the actions of the legislature questionable from a legal point of view. Those that raise this perspective are characterized as pro-death and flamed mercilessly.

As a result, I have lost alot of interest in the threads and welcome any thread consolidation plan you might propose.

[Stentor]

Hope you are remuffed as soon as possible.

Scamp.

[deport]

BTTT

[Rebelgrrl]

Looks like he already lost his muff over it. How many World Series ago was that again, Laz?

Hmm. I think we should take up a collection to get NautiNurse a new muff since she's been demuffed. It does get pretty chilly even in S. Florida during the winter. I could possibly afford a nice raccoon muff for her, but if someone could step up and afford chinchilla, that would be a right nice present. 'Twill keep her nether regions from getting frostbite like so many unprotected oranges in the groves down South. If someone finds her muff, please call 1-800-LOST-MUF. Thank you. (Which celebrity endorser should we get for this...Winona Ryder? She may be who's demuffing everyone. I don't know if that's a good idea.)

I guess this is why Laz and NautiNurse shouldn't watch baseball or read all the threads here. I wonder where all the demuffed muffs go? Do they get eaten up by the dryer like our socks? Is there a home for wayward muffs beyond the dryer vent? I may want to put a lockbox on mine. How about a Muff Club to keep it from being stolen or otherwise shifted into demuffed status.

[NautiNurse]

The term is dismuffed.

[ruoflaw]

I appreciate all of your updates and I appreciate you!

[PeyersPatches]

Well, back to Terri....

I nearly dropped my teeth when I found out that Michael is still her guardian and has done a news blackout on her, put her once again in solitary confinement, as he has been allowed to do for 13 years now, barred her family from seeing her, probably has "God" control still on refusing all meds except the feeding tube, etc.

Why under God's green earth, would he still be allowed to be her guardian with the truckload of conflicting interests following him around like fleas?

Does anyone have any updates? What else can WE do to help this situation? More calls, emails?

Can anyone provide current news from her family? For all the teeth-kicking and soul-torture Terri has had to endure from that monster over the years, she must be rescued from his vile grip of death.

If she ever is taken off feeding and killed, for God's sakes folks DO NOT let that b*astard have the pleasure of doing it. Hasn't he done enough to that family already?

[Ohioan from Florida]

Having been watching Terri's story closely since before Labor Day, may I recommend that we start making a new monster thread devoted just to Terri and updates on it only? It was quite successful with the first two monster threads. The problem becomes that for newbies, going through 5000+ posts or 2500+ posts is difficult. I recommend that we start a new monster thread whenever the amount of posts starts getting pretty high, my guess would be at the 500-1000 level. We can provide a link to the next monster thread every time a new one is started. Freepers should provide links whenever possible or else copy and paste the info so we don't have to go looking all over. And providing the same keywords would be helpful. Some might be Terri, Terri Schiavo, Schiavo, Schindler Schiavo, euthanasia, prolife, comatose, and Florida. What do you think?

[Rebelgrrl]

Mea culpa. Now that I have received a small dosage of sleep I now see the error of my ways.

Still the intent is there if you'd like a fundraiser. I don't want anyone to be dismuffed for Christmas. :-)

[solitas]

I am dismuffed.

The result of an overanxious technician doing a Brazilian bikini wax on nautinurse?

[SeattleTiger]

Oops. Mea culpa. I just posted an article about an agency investigating the spousal abuse allegations. Pull it if it adds unnecessarily to the mass of stories.

Just personal preference, but I really don't like monster threads. They make it difficult to sift through commentary -- which is always interesting, but gets voluminous -- for news.

[UCANSEE2]

Thanks. Now I have these pictures I can't get out of my head.

[NautiNurse]

In your dreams.

[Maria S]

Mr. or Mrs. Lead Moderator -

Ha! I'm on to you! I checked out your website...and are you FULL OF BULL! LOL!

[Endeavor]

That was very thoughtful of you. Thanks.