Posted on 04/01/2005 9:51:33 PM PST by Bob J
For those of you who don’t know, Jim and the mods treat old timers a little different than newbies. They get a little more slack, a few more mulligans than those who signed up in last four years or so.
I always wondered if that was a good policy. After all, why should the crusty buggers be treated any differently than someone who signed up last week? Are they more intelligent, are their arguments more cohesive…persuasive? Do they have any more or less to contribute to this community we call the Free Republic? Not necessarily.
But they do have one thing new participants don’t and that is perspective. In a way us curmudgeons can help provide a sense of continuity and historical perspective to events that newcomers cannot. Sometimes, we are the glue the bridges Free Republic from one crisis to the next. I believe the recent Sciavo issue is one of those times so I am going to ante again and prove to Jim that his investment is worthy of it’s returns. I ask other old timers to chime in and pull their weight as well.
The Forum has a history of going through upheavels in terms of political philosophy and/or cultural standards, this is not unusual for a community such as outs. The first thing we need to understand is that the conservative movement is made up of many individuals with different motivations. For example, some are economic minded, some are culturally based, some are second amendment supporters and others view their vision on religious principles. Sometimes these differences can cause us to reevaluate our alliances. But that would be a mistake. The left is counting on us tearing ourselves apart from within for that is the very philosophy upon which their strategy is based…foment division and hatred then attack at the breach. It has worked well for them in the past and they count on it working again for them now and in the future.
My humble opinion and suggestion to all is in these times of contention and confusion, that we remind ourselves who the real enemy is and where the battles ought to be fought. On more than one occasion I have had firefights on FR with individuals who later I found myself sitting next to in a foxhole when we were fighting the real enemy…the militant left. I berated myself for some of the things I had posted and wished I could take them back. For here was my true brother or sister, sitting in the foxhole with me, taking hits with me, helping to lead the bravest charge at our direst moment. How could I have been so thoughtless in my moment of indulgence?
We may divided, on occasion, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that we are all brothers and sisters fighting the good fight against those who would enslave us and our children into bondage for generations. Argue the good argument, stand on principle, but let’s not forget we are all ultimately on the same team. The man or woman you trash today might be the brave soul who saves your behind tomorrow.
Let’s keep out eye on the ball.
No way. Send me a bill for $10 a year. I'll pay it for the entertainment value. This place has reached about the same level of inherent value as DU.
Ewww.
hicup
BarbraStreisand. The RINOs will desert the cause on a whim.
I've often wondered if the RINO's aren't Dems infiltrating the GOP.
Love me, love my Viking Kitty?
Well, all you can do is post it and see where the participants take it.
A big kiss and make up session would really tick off the MSM and the libs.
I'm all in favor of it.
Me, too. Saw Drudge on CSPAN a couple times and when we got our WebTV the first thing I looked for was his website and found the Whitewater Files. Didn't sign up for YEARS but have read it all (or almost all).
I am not advocating people not speak passionately nor that we all "get along". Only that we remember there are more battles ahead and drawing a line in the sand can only divides your forces in half, at a time when maybe you need them the most.
"I am anti-abortion but can see room in the case of incest, rape or shown deformity."
Not to start a flamer, but what did the baby do to deserve the death sentence, even in the case of rape or incest? If abortion is about the rights of the child, those rights don't disappear due to the sins of the father or mother.
Agreed. I've noticed a notable lack of critical thinking for many folks who joined in 2001 or later. This site was discovered by many during the Election 2000 Florida saga, but that's had its drawbacks as well.
AOK, I understand now and agree with you. I've never understood the obsession some people have with sign up dates. I think it is nice to know when people signed up but to use that as some kind of yardstick for intelligence is goofy. Having a more intimate knowledge of what has gone on around here for several years, there are a few with very old sign up dates I wouldn't trust as far as I could throw them.
As far as how much people contribute, I didn't know that was public knowledge. I can tell you from my own experience, it has nothing to do with any decisions Jim or the mods make.
I love how you guys take that out of context. What he was saying was that the quibbling over minutae going on in that thread (take a look at the post he was responding to) paled in importance to the moral question of whether or not she should be killed. And he was right (as usual).
That fact that you so willingly pull his statement out of context (a lot like the MSM does) says far more about where you are than where FR is...
I'm an individual, not a "you guys".
Who knows what else you rudely said since I stopped reading after your gratuitously insulting first few words.
Agreed
Very well put Ray, and, nice to see you again!
Good post, and yes, I do believe it was a Cuban cigar. Didn't feel right throwing any money to Fidel, but then again, the best is the best.
Yep, it's a lot easier to avoid contradicting information than it is to confront it.
And I said "you guys" because you are not the first to use that statement to imply that JimRob and FR (by inference) have lost their way. That strawman seems to show up on every thread of this nature. I half expect a chorus of people to start asserting that JimRob has no gravitas next...
Very astute!
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