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Notice Regarding Immigration Related Threads

Posted on 01/04/2004 7:55:31 PM PST by Lead Moderator

Edited on 01/04/2004 8:43:28 PM PST by Lead Moderator. [history]

Hello everyone.

I've been talking to some long time Freepers via email for several weeks (one in particular). His concern was over the immigration threads and how they turn out on Free Republic.

Many times these threads turn into flame wars. There appears to be a lot of pent up hostility that various factions have developed for each other which ends up coming out, over and over, and the result is that the threads turn into a lot of crap. The moderators get hit with dozens of abuse reports over personal attacks and other silliness. Eventually, it becomes more work than is really worthwhile, and the threads get moved to the backroom so we don't have to deal with it.

This is an OK status quo when it occurs just occasionally. But when it happens frequently, it is not OK. That means that there is a problem.

So we are going to try to fix the problem.

There are sincere people on both sides of the debate who have gotten too into the battle that they are no longer being constructive. The goal will be to help them get back on track.

But we have two groups of people who are completely not sincere.

One group is those who really have no other goal other than to try to fracture conservatives and turn them on each other. One group is those who think that those most concerned with immigration are really just bigots and want to shout them down.

The good news is that both of these groups are very, very small. The bad news is that lots of people are firmly convinced that many of those who are just riled up sincere Freepers are actually part of one of these small groups. In other words, a lot of suspicion of motives has come about.

We're going to have to overcome that.

One of us tried something with a topic which had developed a similar problem, the Creation/Evolution threads. We'll give that type of approach a try for the immigration threads.

So here is what is going to happen. Starting tomorrow, when I see an immigration related thread go up, I am going to post immediately a warning that this would be a very bad thread to engage in insulting or flame baiting. When I see someone ignoring the warning, I'll address them personally telling them to knock it off.

What we need those who are serious about the issue to do is to act responsibly during this time. Engage in debate, without the insults. Post arguments, not ad hominems. Post facts, not innuendos. If you don't like someone, figure out a way to not have it get in the way of your postings. If you want to be disagreeable, do so without being needlessly disrespectful and instigative.

What will happen is, over time with this approach, those who are just trying to stir up crap, and those who are unable to help themselves, will stick out like sore thumbs and will get the axe.

And once that happens, then more direct involvement will not be needed, which I think everyone will agree is the preferred way.

So ping those who you know are interested in debating the topic to this thread, so they can see what is coming.

Thanks


TOPICS: Free Republic
KEYWORDS: adminlectureseries; aliens; bombsawaynomore; flamewars; fr; freerepublic; immigrantlist; immigration; nettequite; playnice
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1 posted on 01/04/2004 7:55:32 PM PST by Lead Moderator
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To: Sabertooth
ping
2 posted on 01/04/2004 7:57:11 PM PST by Lead Moderator
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To: Sabertooth; JustPiper
Ping for your ping lists
3 posted on 01/04/2004 7:58:57 PM PST by sarasmom (Punish France. Ignore Germany. Forgive Russia.)
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To: All
Rank Location Receipts Donors/Avg Freepers/Avg Monthlies
27 Kentucky 175.00
4
43.75
178
0.98
10.00
1

Thanks for donating to Free Republic!

Move your locale up the leaderboard!

4 posted on 01/04/2004 7:59:04 PM PST by Support Free Republic (Your support keeps Free Republic going strong!)
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To: Lead Moderator
This seems like a good idea. Thank you.
5 posted on 01/04/2004 8:01:07 PM PST by Miss Marple
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To: Lead Moderator
I don't participate in the immigration threads but I do prefer this solution to out right banning. To bad it wasn't tried with the McClintock/Arnold threads.
6 posted on 01/04/2004 8:01:40 PM PST by farmfriend ( Isaiah 55:10,11)
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To: Lead Moderator
Abuser: WHAT DO YOU WANT?
Man: Well, I was told outside that...
Abuser: Don't give me that, you snotty-faced heap of parrot droppings!
Man: What?
Abuser: Shut your festering gob, you tit! Your type really makes me puke, you vacuous, coffee-nosed, maloderous, pervert!!!
Man: Look, I CAME HERE FOR AN ARGUMENT, I'm not going to just stand...!!
Abuser: OH, oh I'm sorry, but this is abuse.
Man: Oh, I see, well, that explains it.
Abuser: Ah yes, you want room 12A, Just along the corridor.
Man: Oh, Thank you very much. Sorry.
Abuser: Not at all.
Man: Thank You.
(Under his breath) Stupid git!!
7 posted on 01/04/2004 8:01:42 PM PST by stylin_geek (Koffi: 0, G.W. Bush: (I lost count))
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To: stylin_geek
LOL! Too funny.
8 posted on 01/04/2004 8:03:23 PM PST by farmfriend ( Isaiah 55:10,11)
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To: Lead Moderator
Civility BTT.

I don't practice it myself, but if others want to...

10 posted on 01/04/2004 8:07:09 PM PST by Billthedrill
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To: stylin_geek
I better rephrase that lest someone think I am being serious.

This is not an argument! An argument is a connected series of statements intended to establish a proposition.

11 posted on 01/04/2004 8:08:27 PM PST by Lead Moderator
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To: Billthedrill
You don't practice it because you already have it down pat.

But I better not point that out or I'll ruin your bad rep.

12 posted on 01/04/2004 8:09:20 PM PST by Lead Moderator
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To: Lead Moderator
It would be more simple to just ban people who don't agree with me... =o)
13 posted on 01/04/2004 8:17:52 PM PST by GeronL (The French just can't stop being French.)
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To: Lead Moderator
An argument can be described as a series of propositional phrases?
14 posted on 01/04/2004 8:18:37 PM PST by stylin_geek (Koffi: 0, G.W. Bush: (I lost count))
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To: Lead Moderator
I am not on the immigration threads, but once again, I am delighted that Free Republic strives to keep this site a place where constructive dialog takes place.

(Yeah, yeah, I know: suckup)

Now maybe I can read the immigration threads and learn something.
15 posted on 01/04/2004 8:18:55 PM PST by kitkat (Purr, purr)
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To: stylin_geek
No it can't.
16 posted on 01/04/2004 8:19:34 PM PST by Lead Moderator
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To: Lead Moderator
Thanks, this is actually a good idea, I'm merely being, well, me.
17 posted on 01/04/2004 8:19:48 PM PST by stylin_geek (Koffi: 0, G.W. Bush: (I lost count))
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To: stylin_geek
Note to self: Picking on the Lead Moderator is probably not a good idea.
18 posted on 01/04/2004 8:21:03 PM PST by stylin_geek (Koffi: 0, G.W. Bush: (I lost count))
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To: stylin_geek
They call me lead because I'm an old softy.
19 posted on 01/04/2004 8:21:57 PM PST by Lead Moderator
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To: sweetliberty; MeeknMing
FYI Ping.
20 posted on 01/04/2004 8:22:59 PM PST by nicmarlo
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