FREEP this: Wikipedia's Biased Description of Free Republic

Wikipedia.com | ongoing | liberals

[nerdgirl]

What a joke - the liberals that you find in places like Dmoz and other internet directories have managed to fill the Wikipedia description for Free Republic with all kinds of snipes that make FR look like a marginalized group of extremists.

But, the beauty is that anybody can change a Wikipedia entry. I worked on one of the sections (which shall go nameless!) a bit already - it's easy to spot.

Believe it or not Wikipedia entries get quite a few page views - the site is one of the top 50 sites on the web - so let's get this description to be "fair and balanced"!

Sorry but I can't post the URL to Wikipedia here, - but if you Google wikipedia, "free republic", you'll find the entry.

[relictele]

>> Shouldn't we be compared to our "countersite" DU? I bet that traffic comparison would tell you a whole lot more.

I don't want to sound too gung-ho but I am all but convinced that user population for FR vs. DU is a rout. Throw in intelligent, though-out comments and you've got an absolute slaughter. Granted, this doesn't equate to sheer number of hits but DU has earned its reputation for foam-at-the-mouth insanity and people want to watch just like they did in Network.

[expat_panama]

...not much call for lower taxes or smaller government here; there's some support for vigilantism ...

There are different ways to say what freepers believe.   There's lots of freepers and only they can speak for themselves.  Many don't speak.   So we go by what we see posted-- but that gives us the views of the noisy few (the ding-dongs you were referring to).

Then there's the home page guidelines:

Broadly stated, the goals of this site are to further conservatism, expose political corruption, and recover a truly constitutional form of government. As a conservative site, Free Republic is pro-God, pro-life, pro-family, pro-Constitution, pro-Bill of Rights, pro-gun, pro-limited government, pro-private property rights, pro-limited taxes, pro-capitalism, pro-national defense, pro-freedom, and-pro America.

My experience is that virtually all freepers accept these values.  The fun begins with integrating current events with our common values.

[Howlin]

It has become a source of irritation to some freepers that this practice has begun, as some freepers do not have the financial means to donate, or as mentioned, wish to do so anonymously.

That is just hogwash. People aren't required to donate and are harassed to do so.

And in all my years here, I've NEVER heard anybody use the term "Freeploader."

Looks like the Night Crawlers from the Village of the Banned have been at work.

[Constitution Day]

I've NEVER heard anybody use the term "Freeploader."

FYI:
site:freerepublic.com "freeploader" - Google Search

[Constitution Day]

I don't get it either.

So reactionary and high-schoolish...it's absurd.

[Howlin]

FGS, who would have thought.

Tacky.

[Constitution Day]

Yeah, it is. Extremely.

[Salvation]

a link?

live source?

[cyncooper]

as some freepers do not have the financial means to donate

Absolutely.....and NO ONE SHOULD BE MADE TO FEEL as if they HAVE to!!!

Attention All New Posters on Free Republic...and others..you know who you are.

OK Boys and Girls! You've now become Freepers. You're feeling a part of the family, which you ARE! But as with everything in life....nothing is free.

So! Do you see that bar at the top of each and every thread? That's a gentle kick in the rear to donate to FR to keep the lights on.

There's ALSO a bunch of you who've been here for years and haven't donated. Do you know that there's over 200,000 Freepers now? Do you know that you can become a monthly donor and PAINLESSLY donate? Do you know that $5.00 a month by a large number of us will STOP these stupid Freepathons?

You NEVER worry about a thing. It's automatically withdrawn from your credit card, checking account..however you want it set up.

So? Get off your duffs...don't be a FReeloader anymore. It'll make you fell AWFUL good about yourself.

~snip~

To: Brad's Gramma

I call 'em Freeploaders.

Bums works as well. Maybe some newbies really do not get it. They are now on notice.

~snip~

7 posted on 04/06/2005 1:27:23 PM PDT by don-o

[EveningStar]

I read the Wikipedia article sometime ago. The authors of the article did not make any accusations against FR. Instead, they reported accusations made by others against FR. There have in fact been people who have made such accusations against FR. The article merely reported that others had made those accusations. It did not say whether those accusations were true or false.

[don-o]

And in all my years here, I've NEVER heard anybody use the term "Freeploader."

I actually coined the phrase several years and have carried in my tagline. Jim LOL'ed when I did it, so I assume it's OK.

I have little sympathy for the people who use the site without helping. There may be some true poverty cases. But, I live pretty small - no cable; have not taken a vacation in years; drive old cars; single income - stay at home mom. I budget for an isp and a monthly. It's all a matter of priorities and doing the right thing.

[dalight]

No.. I was talking about the waste of space entry in Wikipedia. Just another way to heap derision as opposed to noticing just exact opposite. That Free Republic is intensely popular.

[doesnt suffer fools gladly]

Snopes.com, known for it's high level of accuracy, is biased towards the Left as well.

There's nothing damaging in this small list on Bill Clinton, a President who was impeached. http://www.snopes.com/politics/clintons/clintons.asp

Yet, there's a mile long list of bashing on Bush http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/bush.asp

And equally defends Kerry.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/kerry/kerry.asp

[apackof2]

He said dung.

He sure did!

LOL!!!

[dr_who_2]

Reads like Democrat party opposition research.

[dr_who_2]

Nonsense. You're an evil neocon. It says so in the article.

[Brian Allen]

Given the state of our nation's sovereign borders, the out-of-control feral spending, his resurrection of the impeached, convicted, fined, dis-barred and disgraced co-serial-rapist Cli'toons, his recent supreme court nominee, PC pussy-footing around in Iraq, women in combat situations in the military and a list of other failings becoming too long to track, I find myself [That's funny, didn't know Iwas lost!] most fondly reflecting on these sentiments: [Which, despite that unlike his predesessor, the current feller's not a felon, I then shared!]

QUOTE:

It is also worth noting that Jim Robinson, who is often less than tolerant of users who speak disparagingly of the current administration, said of George W. Bush on August 20, 1999:

"Well, by God, if you people insist on electing another cokehead as President, you damned well better throw open all the prison cell doors and free every man, woman, and child you're holding on drug charges. And if you're gonna elect another drug felon as President, you'd better rescind each and every one of your unconstitutional drug laws now on the books, including all of your unconstitutional search and seizure laws, and your asset forfeiture laws, and your laws that enable your unconstitutional snooping into our bank accounts and cash transactions. Well, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. You people are sick! Conservatives my ass. You people are nothing but a bunch of non-thinking hypocrits! You're a shame and a disgrace to the Republic!"

END QUOTE.

[GSlob]

"...make FR look like a marginalized group of extremists. "
Well, not quite: they have not [as yet] slanderously accused FR of paramilitary sedition and dealing in drugs and counterfeit money to finance it. Thus they are to be given at least that much credit.

[GSlob]

"...make FR look like a marginalized group of extremists. "
Well, not quite: they have not [as yet] slanderously accused FR of paramilitary sedition and dealing in drugs and counterfeit money to finance it. Thus they are to be given at least that much credit.