Why was Free Republic off line -- Hacker Attack?

The person(s) who made those posts is an AF [anti-freeper] and the one that used my screen name is a long time enemy of mine, but I have so many it’s hard to narrow it down...LOL. non-squiter came to mind because he’s a recent ban and he was maaaaad at me, LJ and at those of you all on that ZOT thread. For all I know, he might have been on the Mormon threads too?

NonSequiter? That guy was pretty caustic much of the time. Educated, I take it, and sometimes insightful, but much of the time, he was a jerk.

I thought him to be an atheist, if not an hostile anti-theist? It's tough to see him at a Mormon site, in the first place.

Maybe I'm wrong here about him, but it would seem to me to best look among some of the LDS crowd (NOT every Mormon freeper in good standing, I can think of a few who take pains to be quite decent), either whom have had troubles here in the past, or just someone who had lurked thru, coming from some previous mention by this West fellow.

I gathered from the article his dust-ups here happened a few years ago or something, and he's been writing about the experience since then, "warning" other LDS faithful and 'protectors' about this place. It could have been drop-ins from amongst those who have been reading his blog page.

But it matters little who exactly it is, from my own perspective. Then again, my own moniker hasn't been hijacked...it could appear more important to me if it was.

I never posted much on any Mormon threads. Lurked thru many of them though. Learned a great deal about some of the bizarre background --- particularly damning are the quotes from elders and "prophets" of the past. Wow. They really said and believed that stuff? Whatever "spirit" was leading them to think and say such stuff (which they would be stipulating they received in some way from the Lord) sure doesn't look anything like the Spirit we see demonstrated in Scripture, nor the Holy Spirit such as I know that portion of the Trinity to be from experience.

461 posted on 01/06/2011 5:28:26 PM PST by BlueDragon (don't mistake kindness, for weakness)

To: 1000 silverlings

Plus remember when all of them had at least 5 screen names and would even impersonate Christians?

Ya gotta watch out fer them impersonators.

No tellin' WHAT they'll post!

--MormonDude(And, you can take MY word on it!)

462 posted on 01/06/2011 5:36:56 PM PST by Elsie

I've know a few gay mormons in my life.

I'll bet THEY had some, um, testimonies!

463 posted on 01/06/2011 5:39:05 PM PST by Elsie

To: little jeremiah

Maybe the fake one is a midget.

Now that's lol funny. that's the way jokes work...

464 posted on 01/06/2011 5:42:18 PM PST by BlueDragon (not exactly a Gulliver, but part surrounded by little ones trying to take me prisoner, nonetheless)

My RM fiancee decided he was gay 6 weeks before the temple wedding.

Well...

...considering ya got rules like 10, 60, 62, 70, 72, 73, 75, 76, 82, 93......

Mormon Missionary Rules

Learn and obey all missionary rules.
Keep your thoughts, words, and actions in harmony with the gospel message.
Read only books, magazines, and other material authorized by the Church.
Don't debate or argue.
Center your mind on your mission.
Dress conservatively. Elders: white shirts, conservative ties, and business suits. Sisters: conservative colors and skirts that cover your knees. No floor-length skirts or dresses.
Cut your hair regularly.
Keep your hair clean and neatly combed at all times in the approved style.
Be neat and clean.
Bathe frequently.
Use deodorant.
Polish your shoes.
Iron your shirt and business suit.
Arise at 6:30 A.M.
Study for 2 hours every morning.
Proselytize for 10 hours between 9:30 A.M. and 9:30 P.M.
Turn off your lights at 10:30 P.M.
Exercise regularly.
Write in your journal regularly.
Follow the "Missionary Gospel Study Program" (31157) for your personal study.
Regularly study the Missionary Guide and the Discussions.
Attend Sunday priesthood or Relief Society meetings, Sunday School, and sacrament meeting.
Attend the general session of Stake Conference.
Attend general conference broadcasts if available.
Avoid all other church meetings unless you have a special assignment or are brining an investigator.
Proselytize as much as possible on weekends and holidays because this is when you'll find people home.
End your preparation day at 6:00 P.M. and proselytize from 6:00 P.M. to 9:30 P.M.
Wear your missionary uniform in public on preparation day while not engaged in recreational activities.
Arise at 6:30 on preparation day and study for 2 hours from the approved books.
Take care of your physical preparation for the week on preparation day: wash your clothes, clean your apartment, wash your car, get your haircut, and shop for groceries.
Write to your parents every week on preparation day.
Write less frequently to your siblings, friends, and acquaintances.
Don't communicate with any friends or acquaintances that are within or close to your mission boundaries, except as a part of official mission business.
Plan safe, wholesome, and uplifting activities for preparation day.
Stay with your companion during all activities.
Do not go on road trips.
Do not leave your assigned area without permission ("District leaders must approve travel outside your area within the district; zone leaders must approve travel outside your district within the zone; and the mission president must approve travel outside the zone.")
Do not watch television.
Do not view unauthorized videocassettes.
Do not listen to the radio.
Do not listen to unauthorized audiocassettes or CD’s.
Do not participate in musical groups.
Do not participate in athletic teams.
Do not sponsor athletic teams.
Do not engage in contact sports.
Do not engage in water sports.
Do not engage in winter sports.
Do not engage in motorcycling.
Do not engage in horseback riding.
Do not engage in mountain climbing.
Do not embark on a private boat.
Do not embark in a private airplane.
Do not handle firearms.
Do not handle explosives.
Do not swim.
Do not play full court basketball.
Do not play basketball in leagues.
Do not play basketball in tournaments.
You may play half-court basketball.
Never be alone.
Seek advice from your mission president if your companion is "having difficulties".
Be loyal to your companion.
Ask your mission president for help if your companion doesn’t obey the rules.
Pray with your companion every day.
Study with your companion every day.
Plan your work with your companion every day.
Take time at least once a week for companionship inventory.
Seek to be one in spirit and purpose and help each other succeed.
Always address your companion as Elder or Sister.
Sleep in the same bedroom as your companion.
Do not sleep in the same bed as your companion.
Do not arise before your companion.
Do not retire after your companion. (apparently, being together is more important than getting the correct amount of sleep that your unique body requires.)
Frequently study with your companion the Missionary Guide section on companions.
Never be alone with anyone of the opposite sex.
Never associate inappropriately with anyone of the opposite sex (conversely, they don't mention whether or not it is against the rules to associate inappropriately with anyone of the same sex).
Do not flirt.
Do not date.
Do not communicate via phone or letter with anyone of the opposite sex living within or near mission boundaries.
Do not visit a single or divorced person of the opposite sex unless accompanied by a couple or another adult member of your sex.
Try to teach single investigators in a member’s home or have missionaries of the same sex teach them.
Always follow the above rules, even if the situation seems harmless.
Use the commitment pattern to get referrals from members.
Keep your dinner visits with member briefs and during the customary dinner hour in the area.
Remember to say thank you to those who feed you.
Visit members and nonmembers only at appropriate times.
Do not counsel or give medical treatment.
Do not stay in the homes of people when they are on vacation.
Only write letters to family members and friends at home.
Do not telephone parents (in some areas, the mission president will make an exception to this rule and will allow 2 phone calls per year: one on Christmas and one on Mother's day. But the actual rule in the handbook does not give any exceptions. In my mission, the mission president affirmed that the rule in the handbook is unambiguous: Don't telephone your parents, no exceptions).
Do not telephone relatives.
Do not telephone friends.
Do not telephone girlfriends.
Contact your mission president in case of an emergency.
Take problems and questions to your mission president.
Do not write to the President of the Church or to other General Authorities. Letters from missionaries to General Authorities are referred back to the mission president (There are no checks, balances, or appeals when it comes to the authority of the mission president).
Respect the customs, traditions, and property of the people who you are trying to convert (I have to wonder, isn't it intrinsically disrespectful to their customs and traditions when your purpose for engaging them is to convert them from their customs and traditions and to yours?)
Obey all mission rules.
Obey the laws of the land.
Do not get involved in politics.
Do not get involved in commercial activities.
Do not give any information about the area.
Respect the customs and cultures of those who you are trying to convert to your own customs and culture.
Respect the beliefs, practices, and sites of other religions.
Do not say or write anything bad about the political and cultural circumstances where you serve.
Do not become involved in adoption proceedings.
Do not suggest or encourage emigration. (This rule is a bit ironic, given the now-defunct doctrine of gathering the believers to Zion)
Be courteous.
Provide community service.
Do not provide community service that isn’t approved by your mission president.
Do not provide more than 4 hours a week of community service.
Do not provide community service during the evening, weekend or holidays—those are peek proselytizing times.
Your mission president must approve your housing.
Keep your housing unit clean.
Do not live with single or divorced people of the opposite sex.
Do not live where the spouse is frequently absent.
Your living unit must have a private bath and entrance.
You may occasionally fast for a special reason, but generally the monthly fast is sufficient.
Do not fast longer than 24 hours at a time.
Do not ask friends, relatives, and members to join in special fasts for investigators. (I wonder if this is because prayer and fasting doesn't cause strangers to convert and consequently proves to be a faith-demoting experience).
Maintain your health.
Eat a healthy diet.
Sleep from 10:30 to 6:30.
Follow the approved exercise program.
Keep your body, clothes, dishes, linens, towels and housing unit clean.
Dispose of your garbage properly and promptly.
Follow the safety rules for all of your stuff.
Seek medical care if you are in an accident or become sick.
Be immunized.
Spend your money only on things relating to your mission.
Budget your money carefully.
Keep a record of what you spend.
Do not spend more than your companion.
Do not loan money.
Do not borrow money.
Keep a reserve fund of $50 to $100 at all times for transfers.
Pay your bills before leaving an area.
Pay cash for all resale literature and supplies ordered from the mission office.
Do not waste money on souvenirs.
Do not waste money on unnecessary items.
Be a frugal photographer.
Do not accumulate excess baggage.
Obey custom laws and regulations.
Pay fast offerings each fast Sunday to the bishop or branch president where you serve.
Pay tithing on outside sources of income (i.e. interest) to your home bishop or branch president.
Evaluate your funds a few months before the end of your mission. If you have more than you need, ask that less be sent so that you can return home without excess money.
Do not drive without a license.
Drive only Church-owned vehicles.
Do not drive members’ cars.
Do not drive nonmembers’ cars.
Do not give rides to members or investigators in Church-owned cars. (A few investigators have asked me why the missionaries are reluctant to offer them a ride to church. The answer: giving rides is against the rules).
Use cars only on approved mission business.
Use cars only within the assigned geographical area.
Be conscious of safety at all times.
Drive defensively.
Wear your seat belt.
Pray for the Lord’s protection while driving.
If your companion is driving, assist him or her.
Do not tamper with the vehicles odometer.
Know bicycle safety rules.
Use extreme caution on your bicycle.
Do not ride your bicycle after dark.
Do not ride your bicycle in heavy traffic.
Do not ride your bicycle in adverse weather conditions.
Go directly to your new area when transferred.
Find your new companion without delay when transferred.
Have a maximum of two suitcases and a briefcase.

Conclusion:

The Mormon Scriptures teach that the purpose of life is a test to see if we will do everything that God commands us to (Abraham 3:25). Once we get pretty advanced in the game God might push the envelope on this and command us to do something totally bizarre and immoral such as killing our children (Genesis 22:2), but most of us never reach that level.

The Mormon missionary is given innumerable opportunities every day to show God that he will obey. The missionary's life is defined by rules. The rules dictate who he will be with, what he does with each hour of the week, which books he may read, and that he won't receive information about the world through radio, TV, newspapers, magazines, or the Internet. And he is assigned a vigilante to follow him around 24-7 to make sure he obeys. A church video about missionary life has a scene depicting a missionary reading the newspaper. That missionary was breaking the rules.

Last night, my wife saw me reading the Missionary Guide. It brought back all sorts of nasty memories from her mission and she said I must be a masochist for reading it. I laughed at that, but now I'm wondering if she had a point--just thinking about the mission rules is painful to me. As a missionary, I felt that the mission, God's church, and ultimately God himself despised individuality and freedom. My efforts to obey the mission rules resulted in immeasurable amounts of emotional and physical pain. I have had Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis since I was a child, and it was impossible to take care of my body and obey the missionary rules. So, I tortured my body throughout my mission, and abused it to the point where I literally couldn't stand, much less walk.

The mission rules caused my body permanent damage, and did serious damage to my emotional health--I've been home for over 10 years and apparently I still haven't completely recovered.

The above are the rules from The Missionary Handbook (commonly known as the "White Bible"). It is a little booklet that the missionaries carry in their shirt pocket. There are many rules the missionary is subjected to that aren't in the White Bible, but these are the basics. I am frequently asked if I am serious about these rules. The answer is yes. A few parenthetical comments have been added.

As you think about these rules, it is worth also considering psychologist Steven Hassan's BITE model. Hassan asserts that if a group passes a certain threshold of manipulating its members behaviors, thoughts, emotions, and access to information, the group is rightly categorized as a cult and is exercising destructive mind control. You can read about his model here. You may decide for yourself if such manipulation exists, if it is harmful, and whether or not the Mormon missionary experience is a good example of this phenomenon. Here is a site that brings the BITE model to bear on the Mormon missionary program.

(From --> http://www.lds4u.com/Missionaries/rules.htm )

465 posted on 01/06/2011 5:45:10 PM PST by Elsie

Crevo was fun; then I discovered MORMONism!

More funner!!!

466 posted on 01/06/2011 5:46:41 PM PST by Elsie

To: BlueDragon; Godzilla; humblegunner; 1000 silverlings; little jeremiah; wagglebee; onyx; ...

Simple. I posted to JR, made mention of mm's supposed comment there, so added her as a Fr curtesy. Is that clear enough for you? I guessed wrongly she would see the humor, and had assumed she already knew of the post over there with her name on it, faked or no, AS I HAVE EXPLAINED.

And the questions still remain as to why you didn't just ping JR on the mormon thread on which you saw this, which would have been a much more appropriate venue, why you didn't point out to him how HE was being misrepresented, why you pointed out only MY post TO him when other FReepers were being misrepresented, and why you didn't ping them as well.

I was NOT the only FReeper who someone is trying to smear over there and yet you didn't even notify me about it but notified Jim and only copied me.

If you had intended to notify me of this situation, you didn't need to ping Jim and address it to HIM with a *Hey lookee this. Look what metmom is saying over on this thread. How do *we* get her to stop it?*

You could have simply pinged me or FReepmailed me. Dragging him into it is where you really blew it.

467 posted on 01/06/2011 6:02:36 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)

To: 1000 silverlings; Elsie

You are grasping at straws . The crevo threads I was thinking of were much longer than 2 years ago. Back when it could get very heated, and running long before many of the most condescending evo-proponents were banned. those threads would run well into the hundreds of posts, some times thousands.

Try asking Elsie. He was there too, at times. On another note, I never claimed to have posted to you, so why include yourself, seeming as I had?

The "quiz" moniker hasn't been in use until some time right before the sign up date for this handle. (if I could have remembered the password, I would have never used this other name) Like I said, "quiz" starting back around '98, but likely earlier. How much earlier, I cannot remember exactly... So of course you won't find it by going back 2 years, oh chief grand inquisitor of the midget-minded.

So let's see here...you're Catholic, right? Now should I expect you'll launch attack from that perspective? Oh, great.

...maybe you'll be able to get the others chanting "crucify him, crucify him!"

468 posted on 01/06/2011 6:03:24 PM PST by BlueDragon (not exactly a Gulliver, but part surrounded by little ones trying to take me prisoner, nonetheless)

To: little jeremiah

I went over there and hit abuse.

You don’t have to register but they do ask for a name and email address.

I have one that doesn’t give away any personal information and used that and told them I was the real metmom.

Last I checked, the post had not been removed, but I don’t know how fast their mods work.

469 posted on 01/06/2011 6:10:57 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)

To: Natural Law; txhurl; 1000 silverlings; Alex Murphy; bkaycee; blue-duncan; boatbums; caww; ...

Throw a rock over a fence and the dog that yelps is the one that got hit.

What brings you over here off the religion forum? I didn’t ping you or mention your name.

You have a guilty conscience or something?

470 posted on 01/06/2011 6:29:25 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)

Try asking Elsie.

Heck; I don't even know what's going on in THIS thread!

471 posted on 01/06/2011 6:29:48 PM PST by Elsie

Educated? Non-Squiter? No, I think not. He was just a jerk. I really never wasted much time on him. He was anti-Dixie, and had recently taken to trolling Sarah Palin threads where I think I told him to get lost or to find another hobby. He’s the only one I could think of who’s been recently banned that might have wanted to mention me, but like I said, it’s an AFer for sure and someone who goes back a couple of years but one who also didn’t have *its* facts straight.

472 posted on 01/06/2011 6:33:48 PM PST by onyx (PLEASE SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC BY DONATING NOW!)

To: metmom; BlueDragon

Ideally, it would have been best to ping all of us named at that site.

473 posted on 01/06/2011 6:35:54 PM PST by onyx (PLEASE SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC BY DONATING NOW!)

You guys were posting on a thread which heading "link" lead right to the article, with the comments following.

I showed up late to the party.

I haven't blown anything, as far as I know, save that engaging in silly, long running exchanges like this, do get under the man's skin I take it, and that, understandably so.

For that, I'm as much to blame, or more so than any perhaps, in that I made incorrect assumptions, then didn't add a wink or nudge of some sort to indicate "humor".

Now you may have missed the part, here on THIS very thread, where another freeper, something of an anti-blog pimp crusader, stated that he put up the statement with his own name on it. The one with the "industrial size lip gloss" comment.

Further down in the list of comments there, was yet another freeper whom posted there and here, claiming HERE that the one in his own name was posted by himself.

Now you may be correct in that I was amiss in not flagging them to the various posters here, but considering the mix, of both phony and fake (it being a "mix" not being proven out here, until later, but one previously I'd noticed or suspected existed) exactly how would it have occurred to me, "ah-HA! I see exactly what to do!"?

The trouble with assuming I could, should, or even would is that I'm not all that terrible 'swift' in the layered comprehension department in the first place, (I can only manage a few layers at a time) and my should-have, would-have follow through on these types of things isn't the best. Besides, I'm neither your's or JR's shepherd or assigned protector. Which reminds me of a joke, "you can't fire me..I don't work here!" Meaning, it's not my job.

I honestly thought you joined in the mocking of them, though I was a bit shocked by the content.

Now that's the truth. You may take it, or leave it, as you wish.

But thank you for at least trying to be part-way decent with me in all of this, at this seeming late date/time. It is difficult to overcome misunderstandings, particularly when much of it persists due in part to misguided assumption -- with a few of my own 'leading off the batting order', as it were...

474 posted on 01/06/2011 6:40:14 PM PST by BlueDragon (not exactly a Gulliver, but part surrounded by little ones trying to take me prisoner, nonetheless)

Thanks, I did it too and complained about the whole thread as well.

If people do that sort of thing, what would they do in person if they got a chance. Or with any personal info. Malicious intent is very bad.

475 posted on 01/06/2011 6:51:48 PM PST by little jeremiah (Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. CSLewis)

I never ever read on Mormon threads on FR. This list is quite the eye opener. What are “investigators”? People who the missionaries are trying to convert?

That list is so creepy that I am really creeped out right now.

476 posted on 01/06/2011 7:00:58 PM PST by little jeremiah (Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. CSLewis)

To: little jeremiah

If people do that sort of thing, what would they do in person if they got a chance. Or with any personal info. Malicious intent is very bad.

I have been severely criticized, on the RF no less, for not divulging information that could potentially compromise my screen name. Some people there have been more than persistent in demanding to know what church I go to (and the same for others as well) and then getting really snarky about it when I won't tell them and explain why.

But it's sites like West's and the comment there that really give substance to the concern.

Years ago, when I first got on FR and stumbled on the crevo threads, someone, and it may have been you, warned me that some of the evos would buddy up to you in FReepmails and try to get you to lower your guard and then find out who you were and stalk and harass you in real life. I took that warning to heart and have tried to be very careful in posting information that could identify me, although looking back, I could have done better.

That said, I am well stocked with ammo and the device to use it but would much rather not be forced into a position in which I had to.

But there are too many kooks out there and considering how I've been treated by some even on FR, I'd rather be safe.

477 posted on 01/06/2011 7:07:15 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)

To: 1000 silverlings

Hmmmmmmmmm

I sure can’t recall any ‘friendly’ doing many strange things with my screen name.

Some unfriendies, occasionally. LOL.

478 posted on 01/06/2011 7:07:58 PM PST by Quix (Times are a changin' INSURE you have believed in your heart & confessed Jesus as Lord Come NtheFlesh)

Well put.

Interesting.

479 posted on 01/06/2011 7:11:02 PM PST by Quix (Times are a changin' INSURE you have believed in your heart & confessed Jesus as Lord Come NtheFlesh)

Particularly about

the inner quiver

. . . and their magic underwear?

480 posted on 01/06/2011 7:12:18 PM PST by Quix (Times are a changin' INSURE you have believed in your heart & confessed Jesus as Lord Come NtheFlesh)

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794