Posted on 05/27/2009 7:09:17 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
Re: Your on-air bashing of Free Republic
So, you think that because one poster on FR comments that a diabetic supreme court nominee might not live to a ripe old age that all 350,000 of us are insensitive right-wing loons?
Got news for you pal. The owner of Free Republic (namely me) is diabetic and I've already lost one leg due to this despicable disease and the other leg looks like it's ready to fall off any day now. My sister died of complications brought on by juvenile diabetes at the tender age 43. I've out-lived her in years, but I don't think I'll be signing on to any life term judgeships. And I sure as hell wouldn't wish this disease on anyone else.
Hey, what can I say. My political enemies make fun of the one-legged old gimp every day of the week. Good thing I'm not as sensitive as you about such nonsensical non-issues.
And if it's impossible for a minority to be racist, then it's impossible for a diabetic to be insensitive. /sarc
But, I do agree with you on one thing. We FReepers are a bunch of right-wing loons, bitterly clinging to our guns and religion. And proud of it you elitist gasbag!
Name and town, name and town:
Jim Robinson Free Republic, LLC PO Box 9771 Fresno, CA 93794
Dear Jim:
You are doing God’s work my friend and I’m glad to be a part of this community.
I too cling to my Bible and gun.
Great response to the Bloviating One!
Sotomayor is a triple-play affirmative action nominee:
Hispanic, Female, Chronic Medical Condition.
So, is everyone supposed to feel sorry for her and let her breeze through to the Supreme Court?
I think not.
Why do the left wing nutjobs bother to lurk on sites like FR, occasionally baiting and trying to cause havoc?
Because they know that pinheads like O’Reilly will occasionally cherry-pick their comments and use them to smear us.
Way to go Bill. Your approach is stale and gutless. Sounds like a good title for a book.
Both intolerable to listen to, in my opinion.
God bless you and the insulin you rode in on, Jim!
ping... and yet another reason i cannot stand O’Reilly... on television, on the radio... doesn’t matter...
I know what you’re saying, but awhile back (maybe a couple years ago) Kristinn went on O’Reilly and tried to defend against a similar complaint by BOR only to be replied to with “well, pay more people to moderate” or something similar. Kristinn tried to explain that it’s impossible to catch every questionable comment and that it costs money to hire more people, etc., to no avail. IMO, if that’s the best BOR can come up with (the diabetes quote), it’s obvious he’s looking for anything to criticize FR with so he can appear “fair and balanced.” FR compared to DU or any number of left-wacko sites is saintly. But, no doubt, now BOR will accuse Jim Robinson of calling him names and “attacking” little ‘ol innocent Bill.
Neither address the central criticism that too many unacceptable comments are posted and don't get pulled either at all or in a timely fashion. Claiming that “most of the posts are okay”, “everyone does it” or “look at the other guys, they're worse” is admitting the original criticism was in fact correct. And I think people go that route because deep down they believe there might be some truth to it.
Addressing the issue means FReepers need to step away from their anger and emotions and look at it objectively. The first step is admitting the obvious.
1. While a huge majority of posters are thoughtful, there is a % that could come under the term “extreme right wing”. Anyone not admitting this is fooling themselves. Almost everyday I see posts that make me cringe and I think to myself “Do I want to be associated with that?”.
2. Your detractors will always use the most extreme examples to deligitimize you.
The next step is for FR to decide if they want that kind of activity on the site. If the decision is that FR is going to allow a greater latitude in expressing uncomfortable opinions then it is going to have to accept that it may be painted that way and instead of blindly lashing out at the criticism it should embrace it use it to it's advantage...as an example of FR’s commitment to freedom of speech, tolerance in allowing all viewpoints to be heard and not allowing a politically correct atmosphere to crush dissenting opinions and force participants into groupthink.
If on the other hand FR doesn't want those posts, then FReepers need to take a more active role in removing them. To many people are afraid to be the “tattletale” on this stuff. If you see something that makes you uncomfortable or may put FR in a bad light, hit the abuse button and let Jim and moderators decide because they are the ultimate arbiter on it anyway, not you or I.
But if you don't want those posts being exhibited at the poster boy for FR but don't take the necessary steps to eliminate it, don't be surprised when BOR uses it to club us over the head.
I guess that's why I'm confused about posts like this. People don't do anything when the offending posts are made but then raise holy hell when someone points them out. As I said, FR is what it is. If you don't like it then do something about it, if you don't care then accept it, but for God's sake, quite whining.
I hope he reads your letter on air. It’s a good one!
“He is a user; he has used us and others to push a point not based on fact. He has bashed those he claims to ‘look out for’.”
BO is nothing more than a pimp for the left.
I wonder if Mr. Irish Spring (a.k.a. ~ Bill O.) would give such a hard time to Michelle Malkin???
She haunts these hallowed halls of the blogosphere from time to time...
I don’t think I would want to make her angry over something like this...And I bet she is primed to unleash her opinion on Fox and FR very soon...
Here, here!!!
O’reilly always compares FR to the leftist hate-sites in his stupid attempt to be “fair and balanced”. He hasn’t got a clue how wrong he is. He keeps talking about “the loons on the left and the right” when all the loons are on the left.
O'Reilly is increasingly being recognized as a self-seeking blowhard bully who is very lucky Fox hasn't yet caught on to his tiresome act. Frankly, I doubt he will be around much longer--he's already well past his expiration date.
Hehehe...not looking for, or wanting, either. Though I do not (and indeed given my own books) and cannot begrudge him for selling his own books and things on his site.
My post in 191 says essentially that...but also take O'Reilly to task for broadbushing a site and, by extension, the man who runs it, with a post about diabetes, when the owner himself is suffering from the same disease.
IMHO, O'Reilly should do more homework and journalistic research before making such statements and before using that particular tool to do so.
I think that Mr.O’Reilley needs to have an All-Star panel of Jim Rob, Michelle Malkin, Rush, and Sean along with MaryKatherinHam to get him set straight!!
Your right, he is fair and balanced, he’s not a lock step right winger OR Libertarian, but it’s hard to find any other news program that’s not Liberal to an extreme.....
-1 for OReilly on this one.
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