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.

[Lead Moderator]

Yes, busy does include the World Series. And I look at the BN sidebar right now, and I see pretty much all of the big stories of the day covered. We have a few Terri threads, a few threads on the Partial Birth Abortion Ban bill, a thread on base closings, a thread on Aljazeera having an office raided, and the thread on the World Series. Sounds to me like a good mix.

[ladyinred]

Billthedrill Too bad FR wasn't around for the O.J. Simpson ordeal.

.OMG! Can you just imagine? :-)

[sarasmom]

So sorry that information was difficult for you to find!
Did you consider the "finding in forum" option of a FReeper you considered halfway knowledgable on the (shudder) topic ?

[Lazamataz]

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

Hey, I hate baseball too, but I don't lose a muff over it. ;^)

[Lead Moderator]

Actually, some Freepers could really help with that. If each thread regarding Terri's fight had a consistent keyword added, such as "Terri", then they all could be found with this: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/k-terri/browse.

But a lot of them don't have Terri as a keyword. If people would add that keyword to the Terri threads if they aren't there, then people could find them easily. Each thread has a link, right under the article, for "add keyword".

Thanks

[honeygrl]

"BTW, if you are being remuffed, I am a Federally Certified Muff Inspector. License #AW16-1878-C. "

ROFL! You really are terrible.

[Chad Fairbanks]

SO, did ya all hear? Terri Shiavo is being rehydrated!

Maybe I need to post a thread... Hmmm...

[NautiNurse]

And I look at the BN sidebar right now, and I see pretty much all of the big stories of the day covered...Sounds to me like a good mix.

You're the one that started this thread because you are dismuffed about too many Terri Schiavo threads. You edit the BN to suit your tastes. That is your option. I am glad you are pleased with your results.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Is there even a new thread for the game yet? Get over it already. Terri Shiavo is getting PLENTY of coverage here.

[Dog Gone]

A few Freepers like to antagonize. That's for sure.

It's my opinion that on some of these passionate threads, the tolerance for differing opinions diminishes greatly.

Even slightly differing opinions are often derided rather than debated.

It's understandable, I guess, but the tolerance level for anyone who isn't "piling on" to the mainstream thread sentiment is noticeably different from the norm around here.

The easiest solution, as you suggest, is for people who are uncomfortable with it to simply avoid those threads.

That doesn't seem quite right to me.

However, the burden for anyone who wants to challenge the conventional wisdom on such a thread is to be polite and civil, too.

[Lazamataz]

ROFL! You really are terrible.

I'm the very guy Mom warned you about. All the horrible stories? Me.

[honeygrl]

"Hey, I hate baseball too, but I don't lose a muff over it. ;^)"

You have a muff? Now I AM confused.

[Chad Fairbanks]

A few Freepers like to antagonize. That's for sure.

Yeah, say YOU.

;0)

[Lazamataz]

You have a muff? Now I AM confused.

You're confused. *I* never know which handbag goes with which set of combat boots.

[CounterCounterCulture]

I'm the very guy Mom warned you about. All the horrible stories? Me.

My mom warned me about the guy in the van promising little kids candy. That you too?

[Dog Gone]

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

My comment wasn't about you or anyone specifically, but now I'm thinking it should have been.

I'm not paying you to keep proving my original point, you know...

[Lead Moderator]

Actually, I haven't touched the sidebar. And I did not post this thread to BN. I was overruled, and it was moved there.

I started this thread because if the other moderators who have been managing things hadn't been doing their thing, there would have been 15 Terri threads, including 6 vanities.

Regards.

[yesnettv]

I wish they were all in one place, too

[Palladin]

You're doing a great job. Lots of breaking news this week--plus the series. Thanks for trying to keep good order.