[cripplecreek]

I can answer the bias question easily.

Simply look at any thread that concerns drug legalization, border control or religion and you will find some pretty spirited arguments. People who agree don't fight over the issues.

[Dog Gone]

Not to mention Free Trade.

[MACVSOG68]

Simply look at any thread that concerns drug legalization, border control or religion and you will find some pretty spirited arguments. People who agree don't fight over the issues.

Agreed. Also look at all the Schiavo and Magouirk threads to see the level of discussion. Yes, the "pro-life" folks greatly outnumber the "pro-rule of law" group in these threads, but outside of "beyond the pale" remarks fit only for DU, the moderators have been very fair and open to both sides. Free Republic would not be the preeminent site it is today, if opposing viewpoints weren't permitted.

[Mark in the Old South]

Re: "Simply look at any thread that concerns drug legalization, border control or religion and you will find some pretty spirited arguments."

I agree with you there is spirited argument on FR, and there should be. I learn from the viewpoints expressed. I have never been afraid of someone disagreeing with me but have noticed some are very much threatened by disagreement and object to any objections. It is not just liberals and democrats who fit that description we see it here.

One example is the Religious Pages. I expect to be banned or in some way punished but almost all my friends have be unfairly suspended at one time or another, myself included, by the Religious Moderator. It is true this forum is personal property and they have a right to preserve the direction they want it to go, they have a right to enhance or degrade the public value. That being said the Religious section has little value to me anymore due to the heavy hand there. It was the single biggest reason I turned to FR but FR has lost much appeal as a result. I learn far less there than I used to, and I think less of FR in general for it.

If I am suspended for saying so, so be it. It will just have to be my little sacrifice, but a sacrifice of far less value to me today than it would have been 6 months ago.

[lawdude]

"Simply look at any thread that concerns drug legalization, border control or religion and you will find some pretty spirited arguments. People who agree don't fight over the issues."

Look at a dem forum. The first poster puts up some virulent hate comment and it is followed by 50-100 "Me too" replys.

[Oberon]

People who agree don't fight over the issues.

True...but just because we fight certainly cannot mean that we're unbiased.

FreeRepublic is an advocacy website for conservatism. OF COURSE it's biased. Being biased is its reason for existing!