[Lazamataz]

This is definitely not the place to network.

Networking is fine. But perhaps there might be an invitation-only forum for people who are trusted freepers where networking can be done privately?

[Darksheare]

If an invite only sub forum does become reality, it'd be interesting and possibly useful.
I'll stick 'out here' in 'the halls' though.

[Willie Green]

But perhaps there might be an invitation-only forum for people who are trusted freepers where networking can be done privately?

And who is supposed to determine who is "trusted" and who isn't???

YOU???

Bwahahahaha!!! That's FUNNY Laz!!!

[harrowup]

Networking is fine. But perhaps there might be an invitation-only forum for people who are trusted freepers where networking can be done privately?

'Trust' is a sticky wicket. The only real trust has to be by personal contact.

As to the problems of these fellows, they played and splayed. Tough tomatoes. We can't all be Toad Brenda Fairy.

[reformedliberal]

This is a good idea. I cautioned one young FReeper on this during the run-up to the election.

However, one caveat I haven't seen so far (I am reading this after it was posted and haven't read thru the thread): making us all paranoid would help them, as well.

Long ago, I was on some lists where we inadvertently were targeted by the progressive operatives. Some people outed themselves online and were harassed IRL. We went to a private list requiring phone calls and vetting before even lurking privileges were allowed. Then the inevitable internecine problems arose. The group split into factions. Some were purged. Some who remained were privately outraged and gave their passwords to some of the purged. The main cadre then began 2 more private activism lists. One of the members was skilled in trace route and tracking down people via their IPs and various posted comments. The backchannel emails began to sound like the Inquisition. Frankly, allowing the harassers to drive people underground hurt the group as whole and it never really recovered from marginalization and being branded as kooks.

That said, real life harassment and economic/social marginalization are no fun, but living life afraid of the politics of personal destruction is even less fun.

Something to consider if one is going to be an activist is that one should be able to afford being publicly known. If you can't afford it, perhaps you should restructure your life so that being known has minimal consequences.

If you are a low profile person, also keep in mind that your comments here reflect on the forum and the cause. Think twice, post once and spend some time editing if you are in doubt.

[GOP_1900AD]

Here's another one.

Whenever we come here, we can quickly scan the handles of those who post with our cursors in order to reveal newbies. As time permits, check out newbies to see if they are single post users or single issue users. If suspicious, alert Admin Moderators.

[snugs]

**But perhaps there might be an invitation-only forum for people who are trusted freepers where networking can be done privately?**

How does one know who are trusted freepers apart from what other freepers say about them and of course goods indication is length of time they have been on the forum.