Need Intelligent Freeper Input: Guidelines For Our Prominent Freepers

Source: All of us | 02/11/2005 | By Laz

[Lazamataz]

Recently, two Freepers who have some measure of prominance outside the forum have been damaged by liberals and/or Democrats. Jeff Gannon has resigned as a White House reporter, and the individual who goes by the name NCPAC has left his position in Maryland.

J. Gannon wasn't necessarily damaged by anything he posted here, but NCPAC was damaged by the work of a Democrat mole or a Washington Post reporter who revealed his freepmails.

It should be possible to post on this forum with anonymity and to be able to really discuss what's on your mind without worrying about Democrats trying to ruin your professional life, so, in order to help prominent Republicans who may wish to be an active member of Free Republic, I'm formulating some suggestions that I would like to have new users see.

This is what I have so far, as far as guidelines to help our prominent freepers avoid damage in the future:

If You Are A High-Profile Individual In “Real Life”….

If your daily job is such that you are a high-profile individual – as example, an official in a Republican campaign, or a state official in a Republican administration, or a rightward-leaning reporter – please read this article and take these suggestions.

1. Please don’t reveal your identity. Please don’t drop hints as to who you are. Please don’t succumb to the temptation to show off a little and thusly compromise your anonymity.
   
   
2. Know that there are Democrat operatives (and now, it appears, Legacy Media reporters) who pretend to be loyal conservatives. They will attempt to get you to reveal damaging information about your candidate, your administration, or your media enterprise.
   
   
3. This is for ALL Freepers: Never reveal any personal contact information. Please don’t post (or share in Freepmail) any email accounts, private phone numbers, addresses, or places of employment – unless you really know and trust the person to whom you are revealing these things.
   
   
4. Know that Freepmail can be, and sometimes is, exposed publicly. Please, never say anything in Freepmail that you would not want posted on the public forum. Please, people, add whatever you think might be helpful, and I will post the result as a new article.

[Drango]

3376 8902 5567 3345 6662 9223 4212 9923 0812 7609 4563 6675 8745 0040 0034 8876 2342 0023

Over

That is all.

[Lazamataz]

No problem. When is our latest secret shipment of Iraqi crude due in port? Did you get the case of Cuban cigars I sent you?

The Iraqi crude is on hold. Haliburton found a bunch of priceless artifacts we are stealing from the Iraqis. That will be in the Nigerian-registered "Petit Larceny"'s forward cargo hold. Be sure and have the skull of Hapmotudus ready for the secret Skull and Crossbones ceremony. I'll bring the sacrificial goat.

LONG LIVE THE NEW WORLD ORDER!

-- Karl

(I posted this to freepmail, right?)

[najida]

This extends well beyond Freepdom. I have been on other very innocuous forums like hobbies, pets, TV shows, (you get the picture) where you thing nothing bad could happen.

But some wackaloon gets personal info, via birthday or holiday swaps, personal emails whatever. And starts malicious mischief. So I don't see it as political as much as just internet savvy.

[hushpad]

If you don't mean it, don't say it, if you mean it then say it, and if you do say it stand by it. let your yes mean yes and your no mean no. <<<

Darn Good Advise. Sometimes, I say what I mean but it is not really what I meant to say. I'm still working on it, even though I'm a nobody.

[pieces of time]

Suggestion:
Those who know of troops being deployed/withdrawn might want to hold that information. Before the battle of Fallujah it was really easy to tell that things were going to happen. Lots of prayer requests for loved ones shipping out. Not quite the same thing as outing a freeper but the Rats and WAPO and BS are not the only enemy that might be lurking. Yeah, I know, got the tin foil ready. LOL

[retrokitten]

Really, though, isn't the kind of change you suggest heading into scaredycat territory? Perhaps we could arrange it so every single FReeper has the same screen name and homepage. That'd confuse 'em.

I'm not exactly sure how you got that from my suggestion of keeping any identifying information off of your homepage. I've seen several people with links to personal websites that give the persons first and last name and has pictures of their home and children.

These are *guidelines* not rules. Anyone is free to do whatever they want. I put absolutely nothing past these people.

[maine-iac7]

As a retired reporter I would offer this:

whenever you write about someone or something, unless you have first hand knowledge - use phrases like:

"It has been reported" (and have the backup)

"Supposedly" (according to)

"It would appear" (as reported in)

"I would think

"In my opinion"

"Allegedly" (backup by whom)"seems to me" or "seems like" "sounds like"

practice reading news stories and see the disclaimers that keep them from getting sued...

[MineralMan]

Generally, the Admin Moderator will quickly delete a post if you ask. Just click Abuse and explain why you want to pull a post. I stupidly signed my real name to a post once. It was gone 5 seconds after I clicked Abuse.

Laz has written some good rules here, and they are good rules on whatever forums you might post on. Newsgroups, too.

You just can't be too careful, and that especially applies to anyone who has some important position who posts here.

Freepmail is great, but be careful with it. An innocuous request from someone could lead to things you don't want or need. Best to simply never reveal any personal info on yourself.

[gaijin]

Great list, Laz.

I'd add the following:

Avoid threads that revolve around the subject of GUNS.

Hey, I like guns plenty, but there are people out there who really, really hate people who like guns. Now, I don't mean the anti-gun politicians who themselves legally carry guns --those people get a clean pass by the political establishment. I'm not talking about them.

No.

By "gun afficianados", I'm talking about people who don't like yearly confiscation of 1/2 their wealth on behalf of some dubious "urban rennaissance" and who happen to really know a thing or two about guns.

Here on FR, you know, you'll get these threads, "What kind of gun should I buy?".

Hey, that's a great question. And I'll allow that it's a pretty innocent one. But what you invariably get is a huge torrent of posts; freepers post pictures of guns, with their screen names attached. Freepers make strident statements, with their screen names attached. Pretty soon freepers start competing with one another, with their screen names attached.

Hey, folks, it doesn't take an Area-51 Black-Helicopter Fearing Kook to realize what's going on here...I mean, the dialogue is visible in black and white and available for download to the whole world.

Libs will tolerate gun owners. Libs will tolerate free-thinkers. Fine.

But you know what? The thing that really gets them moving, the thing that gets some unaccountable bureaucrat with a little bit of power trying to Earn His Pay is a gun-owning free-thinker...

Sure, sure, keep you gun --you should. But should you automatically dive into any thread about guns? I think not.

[Barset]

Yours is an excellent analysis of the methods used to elicit personal information from unsuspecting freepers.

We (Conservatives) are pathetically ignorant and uneducated Lefties claim. Well, let's list our educational and professional accomplishments to show them how wrong they are!
That'll prove we're worthy of their respect.

Excuse me? Why would we value the respect of Lefties? Shouldn't we be nervous if they approve of us?

I can't improve on your post. I hope Freepers take the time to read it. Aside from revealing personal information, posting curriculum vitaes can be viewed as attempts to intimidate those of us lacking academic credentials and depriving FR of very thoughtful and informed opinions.

b

[eddie willers]

Good suggestions.

[Bella_Bru]

Great list, Laz.

[beltfed308]

Good advice. Thank you for all the work and insights you have provided.

[maui_hawaii]

I am pretty good at posting and the like... I now just need to work on being prominent.

[Dog]

LOL!

Thanks for posting this thread Laz.

BTW....I'm Howard Dean....shhh.

[davidosborne]

IMHO, if you are giving your honest opinion on the issue, why hide behind a "screen name". It has always been my personal policy not to post anything that I don't want EVERYONE to read, even those that disagree with me. I have ALWAYS used my real name in postings, and I don't hesitate to tackle the "controversial" stuff. I say what I mean, mean what I say, and I'm not afraid to tell the world that I said it. I live and work in a BLUE city/county, and almost everyone I work with knows that I have opinions, MOST of my co-workers, including SUPERIORS disagree with me on many issues, but we respect each others opinions, and I have never been told to "join my party or be fired". And yes I do work for an elected Sheriff who is a Democrat, and a State Attorney who is also a Democrat.

Just my 2cents worth on the subject.

David C. Osborne
PO BOX 38267
Tallahassee, Florida 32315-8267
(850) 933-8511

[Conspiracy Guy]

Yes you sent it secure. I would never discuss our plans on an open forum. The Boomers are in position to lob a few nukes into North Korea. Should I send them the launch codes today or is Saturday better for you.

Dick

[Dog]

David don't post your phone number......sheesh!

[Mo1]

Oh yea .. prove it

Where's the scream ;0)

[steveegg]

And I assumed the persona of Terry McAuliffe in 2000 (I think it's safe to say that now that I've installed Dean as DNC chair as instructed by Karl Rove).