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.

[Lazamataz]

So, Laz, how many times have you been banned?

Each and every one of them! :o)

[Mo1]

Good comments, but honestly, if Free Republic could survive three months of Arnold debates, it can survive anything this hugh and this series

Understandable point .. but what happened on the Arnold threads and the attacks were also wrong

Yes, Terry and her case is an important one .. But I would hope that it can be dicussed and/or debated on an adult level and not attack other Freepers

Plus the LM does have a point ... with so many different Terri Threads it's hard to keep up on which thread is which

[pollywog]

I am dismuffed. I'll get over it one cold day in South Florida as I am shoveling snow and putting tire chains on the SUV...and the boat.

Have I rated a C- minus in the opus department yet?

LOLOL!!! Thanks NautiNurse!! you made my day. I finally broke into laughter for the first time all week. I needed that.......your great.....SERIOUSLY!!!!

[chance33_98]

Perhaps for those new folks - what is considered 'breaking news'?

[Catspaw]

Have I rated a C- minus in the opus department yet?

You need more fulmination.

And come January, I can send you PLENTY of snow.

[Ramius]

I am dismuffed.

Dismuffed? SAY... I LIKE that. This has potential to join the freeper lexicon. Can we conjugate that?

If it doesn't join the general lexicon... I think I'd be really dismuffed.

[Ramius]

what is considered 'breaking news'?

I can't define it, but I know it when I see it.

[Lazamataz]

Would need to inspect your papers. Carefully. I'll have my Muff Monitor contact you.

Have your Muff Monitor contact my Muff Attorney and we will arrange a Muff Paper Transfer.

(I just like saying the word "Muff")

(Muff)

[Keith in Iowa]

>>what is considered 'breaking news'?

Something that one of the Big3 networks would break into prime-time programs and do a special report on. At least that's what it ought to be. But it's not.

[Lead Moderator]

To be honest, it depends on how busy of a news day it is. However, breaking news should be new, should be important, should be something of interest to a significant number of freepers, should not be analysis or opinion, and something that isn't just a slight incremental update of an ongoing live event (live threads can be BN, and can have the title updated by polite requests).

On busy news days, the threshold for what can be in BN goes up. On slow days, it goes down.

[incindiary]

I definitely wasn't asking that. I was saying if the only purpose in posting on these threads is to antagonize, why even post? (if it's a topic that doesn't interest the person). What's the point?

[NautiNurse]

Have your Muff Monitor contact my Muff Attorney

Why can't we just leave the muffing attorneys out of this? It would save time, money, and a lot of paper [not necessarily in that muffing order].

[sarasmom]

No, you just agreed I should be shushed, because it made you "feel" uncomfortable.

When I scream on a topic, following basic internet rules, I USE ALL CAPS.

A LARGE NUMBER OF FREEPERS WORKED OUR ASSES OFF TO SAVE THE LIFE OF A WOMAN , TERRI SCHIAVO, WHO WAS UNDER COURT ORDERS TO DIE OF STARVATION, BECAUSE THE COURT DECIDED HER FURTHOR EXISTANCE WAS FUTILE. IF OUR LOUD VOICES ON AN INTERNET FORUM DISTURBED YOUR NET SURFING PLEASURE,WHAT CAN I SAY?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
EXPECT RECIPROCOSITY.

Happy now?

[Snickerdoodle]

The information I've found here has been very informative in keeping up with the case.

I'm very grateful for every post.

[NautiNurse]

On busy news days, the threshold for what can be in BN goes up

Sounds like busy includes World Series. I don't envy your job.

[Billthedrill]

...what is considered 'breaking news'?

Pretty much anything entitled "I Am A Bad American..." ;-)

[onyx]

THANK YOU.

[jrushing]

On busy news days, the threshold for what can be in BN goes up. On slow days, it goes down.

Hey, can't we add a new "Terri" sidebar?
Then the dozens of new posts can go there.
There are so many posts that I've had to do a search to find the one I wanted to read.

[Silver25]

Please excuse the emotional responses. This is such a unique case that even the usually organized Freepers cannot get a handle on the category. It is not death of an unborn infant, and it is not a right to die issue. Our trouble with finding a label in this situation is very telling of our society. Everything does not fit into neat packages. We are all so moved by video images and lack of mainstream media. Please do not discourage the emotion of first time posters. This seems to be the mission of Free Republic. FREE.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

That was kindly stated, you sound like a nice boy.