Speaking as a relative newcomer myself, this is the greatest conservative forum in the world, but some of the posters have a definite mean streak. I especially am puzzled about the tendency to jump on "newbies" as trolls and disruptors. Sometimes they deserve it, but not always.
Since Free Republic is the number one forum for freedom-loving people, we are also the prime target for freedom-hating people. Those who make their living by collecting taxes from us, or by publishing anti-American propaganda, feel threatened by Free Republic. There are also some people who simply hate everything and everyone successful; since FR is very successful, they hate us very much.
These people have been "visiting" us regularly. Quite a proportion of newcomers turn out to be disruptors. This is why a relatively new account is justifiably looked upon with a certain amount of suspicion.
Of course, there are the "mean" freepers who use insults instead of arguments as a way of "debating." If you have recently signed up, they are likely to jump on your "newbiness" as a convenient insult to hurl at you, abusing the natural suspicion that freepers have when they see a new account. They do this whenever you have debunked their fallacious arguments; being insulted is one of the surest signs that you are winning a debate. You should be glad when it happens to you! :-)