Joe, there is a trend at FR, if you run with a big enough gang and lose an arguement bad enough, you call in for reinforcements. Remember, not exactly to help them debate the subject, but to try to bait you to lose your temper so they can call the mods on you. Keep your cool (as you have) and they will disappear after doing their best to pull you down.
I pinged Amelia because she is a part of this segment of the discussion that "Joe" jumped in on, if that's all right with you.
I've never needed "reinforcements". I'm perfectly capable of expressing myself without them, as my posting history will show. Besides - you guys have a posse of your own, but for some reason, that's "different".
And I don't think you need to explain to "Joe" how FreeRepublic works. He doesn't seem the slightest bit uncomfortable, and seems to know the ropes - after just signing up, too. Huh. Go figure.
Thanks for the headsup. I see a lot of the same tactics over at the forum I'm a moderator at. What it really reveals is immaturity, shallowness and pettiness on behalf of those who resort to those wort of underhanded tactics. Their lack of being able to support their assertions or being able to debate in an intellecutally honest manner generally brings out their true nature.