BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES! A plea to all FReepers... mostly new, a few old

FreeRepublic ^ | 11-7-04 | Red State Denizens & me

[cgk]

Now that the Election is over, and we've let the rest of the country know Loud and Clear where we stand, and who we stand behind... it appears to be a good time to get re-organized here on FR.

Perhaps it's the euphoria that isn't quite wearing off at the 5% mandate the President earned and was given voluntarily by all of us. Maybe it's the fact we picked up even more seats in both the Senate and the House. Maybe it's just knowing Sen. Daschle has been voted out.

Whatever it is... we need to get back to work. "W2" is just the beginning of our battle. If you've been over to DU lately... they're not exactly throwing in the towel, and neither should we.

HOWEVER - this seems to be a good time to remind everyone a couple of things. Flame away, I expect it, because I know I am by no means some kind of old-timer around here breaking my seniority out at every perceived slight. Then again, I've been waiting for one of those "since the 90s" FReepers to say this, and haven't seen it yet.

To those of you who found us after the Buckbeak/CBS Memo scandal... many of us (not all) do not consider FreeRepublic a Blog. Because the MSM has labeled FR as a blog, doesn't make it so. FreeRepublic is considered by most (from what I've read here since before the CBS debacle) as a Forum. A Blog has been commonly defined as a website hosted by one (or so) people - where they post their thoughts. An online diary. People comment or analyze on that person's thoughts sometimes. Sometimes not. Here on FR we comment on various articles, news events, editorials, and call out for action.

All that being said - because FR is not by common definition a "blog" - your every thought does not need, nor sometimes deserve its own thread. If you feel you really need to share something with everyone, it is best posted in the General/Chat forum.

Next... PLEASE PLEASE USE THE SEARCH FUNCTION! It can be found below, in its own link, and it is also found on the Main Forum page as a Handy little Box above all the current threads.

Hot tip: Searching for an exact title is less successful than typing in ONE keyword FROM the title of the article you're trying to post. Especially when people miss spelling errors in their titles, and change the titles of the articles. Searching for ONE word works, especially when it's by DATE.

We can all understand the excitement and confusion of Election Day, exit poll madness, and Arafat and his 72 lives.

There are pros and cons to duplicate postings.

• How many times have you clicked on an article you've never seen, only to see 2nd or 3rd in the comments "Already posted"?

• Suggested Solution: Notify the Admin Moderator or Sidebar Moderator about the Duplicate post by PROVIDING THEM THE LINK TO THE MAIN THREAD, so they can "lock" the thread and direct all future responses to the "Main" thread. This will help all of us from trying to follow news events on sometimes up to 8 or 9 threads. It stands to reason that if we help the Moderators out by providing the links for duplicates, things will proceed much more quickly and smoothly.

• Try not to abuse Topics when posting an article. If you want to get maximum exposure, it actually works if you post the thread where it belongs. I assume I am not the only FReeper who uses the Headlines page to gauge what the "Top Stories" are on FR. It's something else to see "Arafat Dead!" on every topic from "Breaking" (yes) to "FR" (no) to "California" (hardly) to "Anthrax" (source?). Not every story is breaking, especially those coming from unreliable sources. (Your own head comes to mind). Not every news story belongs in all 50 states. And no, not every thread from DU belongs in "News." (And if you're posting profanity-laced threads, clean it up please. We can all follow the original link, should we choose to expose ourselves to garbage.)

  ---

  I'm sure there's more others would like to add to the Bonfire... whether it's to agree or disagree. Long-winded I know, but much of it seems to be overdue. This seemed like as good of a time as any to gather all the valuable informative links and resources of FR and stick it in one place.

  I honestly am just trying to help out those who are new, and who are still riding the W2 wave. Let's not get sloppy.

  :)

  ---

  Recommended Bookmark/Starting Point:

  Your Headlines Page

  Main Forum

  Main FR Search Page

  ---

[Rebelbase]

"To those of you who found us after the Buckbeak/CBS Memo scandal"

I'm laughing so hard I can't formulate a response!

[TexasCajun]

A vanity criticizing other vanities? Dude, that's, like, ironically self-referencing. I myself like a little bit of messiness here - the spills usually get cleaned up pretty quick by the mods. But let me ask you one question: do you work for a large corporation in the human resources department? Well, also, a comment: Mr. Robinson sets and enforces the rules here - why not send this as an email to him first?

My thoughts as well.

Not the boss? Sure sounds like you wanna be the boss of something?
Maybe an Admin Job, ask Jim.

[cgk]

I hope you kept reading and saw my own shame on that blunder. ;)

[cgk]

I don't work in human resources, never have and don't think I've ever worked for a large corporation by today's standards.

I'm just a stay-at-home mom, quite happy with that station in life. I don't want to be the "boss" of anything on FR... I was trying to help out those "Did you hear what Rush just said?" types of posters by hopefully reminding them FR is much more valuable than what some use it for in the News forums: an online diary.

The links say "Post Article" not "Post Whimsy". :)

I never considered sending this by freepmail to Jim or any of the moderators because I considered the point of writing it as "friendly" and not "critical."

I wrote this because like many of us know, FR is self-policing and sometimes it helps when we help the mods out. We can help them beyond just hitting the "abuse" button by also providing friendly advice. It was my hope that in posting a Vanity - appealing to those who write them directly in the title, I would get their attention. And receive input on if I was incorrect at all in what I have come to consider FreeRepublic.

[cgk]

Yep... it was a good way to get their attention, I thought. :)

And thank you!

[cgk]

if you've been over to DU lately

Thorough head to toe cleansing followed by confession? ;)

[cgk]

nice vanity -do you have a mandate?

What's the standard? Is it the number of replies or the number of views? ;)

[Glenn]

Thanks for your input. Check in with BobJ when you are ready to post another vanity about herding cats.

[cgk]

It's funny. I always thought I would appear "rude" if I just posted the link to the original article. Many are braver than I...

And yes I always double check my spelling (or try to) when I say things on "controversial" threads, for fear that what I am saying won't be read if I goof on one word.

[cgk]

Thank you...

[DBeers]

you would have to have a majority of electoral posts.

;)

[searchandrecovery]

I'm a just a stay-at-home mom, quite happy with that station in life.
Then I made a gender-specific error calling you "Dude". Sorry.

I don't work in human resources
Well you certainly write like all the hr official memo corporate-speak style communiques I've ever read (although maybe it was the bullet point things). Okay, so I'm 0-2.

The links say "Post Article" not "Post Whimsy".
Ok. Here's my perspective. You post an article with a bit of a critique about the way things work at fr. That's ok. But this being interactive and all you set yourself up for comments that disagree with your point of view. I don't mind you posting stuff, I don't mind critiquing stuff, you can critique my stuff (if you ever find it), lots of people have. Anyway the bottom line is to do it at least somewhat respectfully. I'm glad you care so much to write an article. I, uh, still think you should have just sent it to J-Ro, but that's just me.

Certainly nothing personal. Now why don't you just go into the kitchen and make us all up some cookies? Kidding, kidding.

[Howlin]

Because we try to be accurate and credible on this site and we do not want to be confused with the many blogs that have little or no credibility nor any concerns with accuracy.

Amen and bump!

[cgk]

LOL!

No worries. I invited critique and criticism. If the first, say 25, posts were all jumping all over me telling me to mind my own, I would've welcomed that.

I have worked in customer service... so maybe if that is a consideration, you're not 0-2.

I did try and be respectful, and helpful, and if it came across differently I am honestly sorry about that. I appreciate everything you said, truly. Another reason I value FR. I get varying points of views on everything from vanities, vanities against vanities, what constitutes news, and what constitutes a blog vs. a forum.

Do you like white chocolate macadamia or semi-sweet pecan? I have a new recipe to try for Anzacs - want dibs on those? :)

[Howlin]

Absolutely right. No DU: I saw some of them last week, but just assumed it was for mocking purposes and euphoria.

[cgk]

I probably didn't cut it then. I would guess (without counting, I know.. disenfranchisement)... that at least 1/3 of the posts are mine in response to comments made to me. And another 1/3 is "talk amongst yourselves"...

Shoot.

[processing please hold]

I've already celebrated his death 5 times....

When will we get the last and final death....the suspense is killing me.

[DanTheAdmin]

UH, you best read my posts again - I had nothing negative to say about what you wrote; I was responding in jest to another's post... we are allowed to kid around, right? ;-)

[cgk]

Oh, sorry! I just double checked to see why I included you in that response - I see I responded to you in 106. I had 2 tabs open for my comments and i think I included your name on the wrong one - then forgot to remove it when I added it to the correct response. :) ( "response" is the word of the day from the looks of this one).

Sorry for my own confusion :). too much going on, as usual.

(and i came across as negative- ouch!? i need communication classes or something....) LOL

[DanTheAdmin]

You're fine! I'm a pain - ask my wife!!!