Mod Lecture Series- Freeper Community Update

[Admin Moderator]

This is a public service announcement from your friendly neighborhood Admin Moderators (Sidebar gave us some attitude so we shoved him in the closet for a while. He never recovered from the Yacht incident) For a while, we have noticed some things happening that we need your help with. The Free Republic community is strong; we are almost a family, albeit very dysfunctional at times. Like any community, we have new members joining us daily. Unfortunately, the air of suspicion and the desire to keep things “the way they are” has fostered a feeling of distrust with new members. Almost every day, we see new members join, then, because of comments of suspicion, they often don’t return. For any community to thrive, it must grow. Because of this, we are asking for your help. Here are some important things you should know:

The Internet has changed greatly since Free Republic first started. When we formed, few people had their own websites, now, everyone has their own blog. With this, there is an attitude change where someone who doesn’t understand how our community works may be more interested in self-promotion than we have been used to in the past. We don’t want to change the overall feel of this site- it is about our shared values, not about self promotion, however, we don’t want to drive people away simply because they link to their own blog. There are blog “pimps” who want nothing more than to promote their own sites, but for most people, it is simply how they start out sharing their thoughts on a matter. Encourage these members to take part in existing discussions.

Many new members may not communicate well what they believe and it gives the appearance they are not 100% kosher in their Conservative beliefs. This may have nothing to do with their Conservative credentials but simply how they are communicating their beliefs or how the media/pop culture has told them what to think. Be an example and discuss what you think is wrong. A liberal troll’s true colors will reveal themselves while a new member who is honest, but may not communicate well, may learn from the conversation.

Remember, how you respond to a topic not only reflects your thoughts, but also is a reflection of the community and Conservative values. We need to be an example of positive conservative values when responding to members, especially new ones. As mods, we make a strong attempt to screen all new members. Every new sign-up goes through a period where their posts are reviewed. This helps us eliminate most trolls, porn and commercial spammers, and those who don’t fit in with our Conservative values. This isn’t a perfect system, but it does help us make sure that by the time a new member reaches the community, there is a greater chance this person is the type we want around. Some slip through, yes, and you can always help us by hitting the abuse button. (of course, we do let some world class morons through every once in a while as “Live Chow”- after all, the kitties have to have toys.)

_____________________________________________

With all that said, we need to grow. We need to be far more welcoming to new members and guide them into how to use our community best. With this said, we are issuing a challenge to our long time Freeper family. We would like to start up a ‘welcome wagon’ type of ping list or group whose job it is to welcome new members, show them the ropes, and guide them through our community. This could be as simply as giving new members a kind welcome, guiding them to how to post topics or replies, or just making the experience pleasant.

As this is your community, we would like your thoughts, ideas, and most importantly, for some of you to step up and help us with this.

We are passing the ball to you. What do you think?

[papasmurf]

Here are the proposed...
Rules For n00bs

I think, first, a definition of n00b is in order. Five years should be the “I’m not a n00b anymore” parameter.

But, I also think a n00b should not be allowed to make a vanity for their first year, unless they are asking for assistance in a specific area, like “tech” help, for instance.

Also, a n00b school should be mandatory. Who can post what, when, and where, and ALWAYS remembering that “Preview is your friend”, would be the first month’s lesson.

Then, on to Admin Mod worship and fear lessons for the next month.

After that, learning to highlight each poster’s name to determine who is or is not a n00b, followed by learning to “virtually” genuflect in the presence of FReepers of the Classes of 1997-2000 and practicing in front of a mirror (proof such as a video of said practice would be required) and an informal curtsy with the salutation of “Greetings, your Royal Highness, would fill the third month.

Simple courtesies afforded to FReepers from the Classes of 2001-2003, such as “Yes, Sir/Ma’am” and learning self defense techniques such as “STFU!” and KMA!” with, at least, 20 hours of certified practice, would account for month four.

Month five would be an exciting month, as a n00b would be allowed to make their first post in the “Bloggers and Chat” forum, but ONLY under the supervision of a “non-n00b”. One per week, for four weeks, and they WILL be critiqued!

Month six would coincide with a FReepathon. The n00b would be required to follow a Senior Non-n00b (SNn) around after the SNn made and started a FReepathon thread. The n00b would then be responsible for thanking each poster for their thoughts and contributions, no matter how trivial and cheap they are. They would ALWAYS include the “sig” of the supervising SNn at the bottom of the post, so there was no mistaking who’s thread it was!

The n00b, having successfully completed the n00b school, would then be on probation for six additional months, at which time their Training SNn will officially certify them a FReeper of the third order!

So, your Royal Admin Mod Highness Sir, if that meets with your approval, I shall click “preview” now. (see, I already learned that one :) )

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Who among us is 100% kosher in our conservatism? What’s the litmus test for that, anyway? For example, I’m pro-gay-monogamy based on the bedrock principle that it’s none of anyone’s damn business who lives with whom doing what. I call that conservative, many don’t. Vive la difference! If we all agreed on everything, that’d be boring. Instead, let’s focus on what we do agree on, and then sport with each other around the edges.

[potlatch]

[What was worse than blink was Font Color = white]

NO - I got some ‘secret messages’ that way!! Lol

Years ago, before I knew more html, I used white text to seperate images!

[Just A Nobody]

And look at all the people who left or dropped out for the most part because of the gang mentality of some hater groups--

Yep! I banned myself more than once due to the rampant BDS here on FR and gargage like this that was permitted to stand.

Attn McCain Haters: SHUT Your Stinking TRAP! (Vanity)
skank the sock puppet ^ | 3/30/08 | Cinnamon Girl
Posted on Monday, March 31, 2008 11:36:23 AM by Cinnamon Girl

[PAR35]

Testing to see if this still works. It does in preview. But I don't use IE.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

By the way, in addition to noobs, let’s bring back some of our old favorites! Quidam, we miss you!

[Freedom2specul8]

I’m blinded by the sudden bright light. Did you say “I can’t hearalot, or not”?

Hugggz!!!

[Cyber Liberty]

The White Font of Death!!!

[rabscuttle385]

It blinks. And I can see it in Firefox 3.5.3.

[Freedom2specul8]

LoL I remember that, had to highlight the entire post to read the secret code.

[potlatch]

Testing to see if this still works. Lol. Guess it could be annoying if used much. I did like to post WINK, and have it BLINK!

[Petruchio]

By the way, in addition to noobs, let’s bring back some of our old favorites! Quidam, we miss you!

Friday nights just are not the same without A+bert . . .

[Cinnamon Girl]

The example is flawed. I wouldn’t support a man to be my rabbi if he fit your description because he would not be following Jewish law and he would be breaking civil law. Nor would I support him running for an elected office because he would be a law breaker and would need to be in jail. A socially liberal republican I would consider voting for if, for example, he were running for office in CA and was fiscally conservative, and a viable, more conservative candidate was not running.

[hoosiermama]

SO that’s how you did it!
ROFLOL.....

[Freedom2specul8]

LoL! I am pinging bp2, he uses the blink command to this day. It works on my phone I swear! LoL but I do miss it on the desktop/laptop. It did come in handy sometimes. I wonder why it only works on my phone.

[djf]

I’ll give anyone the benefit of the doubt EXCEPT...

Even though most CAN write, few should.
Or at least fewer.

[sig226]

i may just send you a ‘heads up’ now and then to do just that. it would be very kind of you and might stop a few unneeded pile-ons.

meanwhile, i am stealing the picture of president bush in your profile. it’s very good.

[Petruchio]

I used to haver a file in notepad with 15 or so close tags of each type.

/i, /b, /blink, /font color, /font size, /font, etc.

Whenever I came across a thread that had gone bonkers, I posted it a time or two until everything cleared up.

[potlatch]

I believe you. Someone just posted that it works on Firefox 3.5.3.

I’m on IE and no longer see it work. I thought JohnRob just had it disabled!

[rabscuttle385]

This link is for reference purposes:

Attn McCain Haters: SHUT Your Stinking TRAP! (Vanity)
skank the sock puppet ^ | 3/30/08 | Cinnamon Girl
Posted on Monday, March 31, 2008 11:36:23 AM by Cinnamon Girl

Also, this picture is for humor purposes, although I'm sure that CG probably won't like it (tough luck):

Thanks to FReeper jslade (who makes pretty much all of us look like newbies) for posting it here.