Happy Anniversary, FReeper One

N/A | unpublished | Oscar in Batangas

[Oscar in Batangas]

It's an anniversary of sorts -- and should be something of a national holiday.

Twenty years ago, Jim Robinson became FReeper #1 on this website, and we all are much the better for it.

I found FreeRepublic.com via my news aggregator at the time, The Drudge Report. Quickly I lost interest in that site in favor of this my new home page.

I found that Freerepublic is just not a news aggregator, but an intelligence aggregator. Thanks to the overwhelming diversity of interests amongst the FReeper community, we can go from the smallest subatomic particles to the vastness of inter-gallactic space in only a few posts. And from pottery shards from the earliest human civilizations to the flying car concepts from the day after tomorrow.

Thought provoking discussions about history, religion and even cold fusion and train travel has intrigued us over the past twenty years.

And those are just some side benefits to one of the best sites anywhere for the sharing of conservative and patriotic ideas.

Thanks, Jim, for following through on the glimmer of your idea for this site. Happy Anniversary memories and hopes and prayers for many more anniversaries to come!

[caww]

I recall when first coming to FR....during the Iraq war when I began following the threads as a lurker.... It was an eye opener as folks put out information, photos and such of the realities..... I was sooo impressed!...so many grilled down to discover the facts. It was great to watch ‘the truth’ surface as people raced to get to the bottom of what was really happening.

[weeder]

I was in 2 days after Jimbo.

[caww]

I can relate....I was following the Iraq war and chanced upon FR....someone recommended it on line so over I came..first as a lurker than later joined in. It was the only site I posted at....and except for a brief time at another site, which proved not to be as fulfilling, I humbled myself and returned to the fold ....Have to say I have never regretted doing so...and grateful to be accepted back still to this day.

[luvie]

Sooo true! He’s a good guy...just doesn’t want anyone to blow his cover. :)

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[21twelve]

“This Used to be a better Forum but there is non better”

Agreed - I miss a lot of the folks that left or were booted out over the whole Ted Cruz thing.

But - it is the best place to get a wide variety of conservative news and general knowledge.

I came over from Drudge during the Monica Lewinsky thing. I was a newbie with regard to anything internet. Signed in with my email name as my user name! After a few years of that and getting more intense with my posts I figured I should change it!!

BTW - just donated $20 in honor of 20 years of Free Republic to the Freepathon.

[SirLurkedalot]

LOL I did the same for about 5 years.

I’ll always be grateful to Drudge for that link to FR.

[Ace the Biker]

I’m a newby, only been here 19 years.

[Chickensoup]

So oooollld I couldn’t make it to the thread.....lol

[fatima]

I used to send secret notes and complaints to Jim Robertson.God only knows what I wrote to this stranger.:) Happy Anniversary Jim.I joined chat in 99 .Was encouraged to join the forum but felt my spelling skills were not up to par.Did join in Dec of 2000.My first post keep saying Spider-Man is F-ing Gay.Even when I erased it keep saying Spider-Man is f-ing gay.So I asked my teenage daughter when she came in from high School and she hit a couple buttons-said it was a virus.Love you Jim,Thank you for all you do.((((Hugs))))

[wgmalabama]

Originally Signed up in 1999 banned originally in 2007 or 2098 for refusing to support McCain. Go figure. Heaven forbid someone say something positive about Rudy and was negative about McCain back then.

Stay free ;)

[WVNan]

I remember all those people you named who have departed and many others. Losing a FRiend that has been here for years is like losing a family member.

[luvie]

LOL! I’m glad she was able to clear that up for you!

[WVNan]

Really? How did I miss that? I loved the book and it’s still one that I have kept. Never gave it away as I do a lot of books.

[KC Burke]

The fellowship aspects are why we put up with the rest of it — even fellowship in adversity.

[nutmeg]

bookmark

[WVNan]

I’ve often wondered whatever happened to Ash, the most infamous Freeper of all time.

[Impy]

Wow, 20 years?

And I’ve been here for more than half that time? Damn.

[WVNan]

You are so right about the fellowship KC. It would take me all day to tell all the friends I have learned to love and how I still miss the ones who have passed. LadyX and I were spiritual sisters who finally arranged a meeting in S.C. shortly before she passed. I still miss her and have kept most of her posts to me. I’ve had families visit me all the way from Calif. Mama Bear, Just Amy, Natie Shea (and family). Met with Ohio Freepers for political rallies or just to have lunch (we need to do that again ladies). Some I still love but will never meet and don’t have to. Windflier is a beautiful soul and means a lot to this old lady. There are many others, Kitty Mittens, Kathy in Alaska, Salamander, Luv W, and I am going to be in trouble because I didn’t mention everyone. I love you all (even Humblegunner). Oh, I made my ignorant self to FR through Drudge and after watching the March for Justice on CSPAN, I rushed in to sign on in Oct, 1998 and never looked back. I don’t participate as much as I used to, but I check daily to see what’s new. Thank you Jim Robinson. I feel so special because I got to meet you in D.C. at the Rally for the House Members who impeached Clinton. I hope this thread keeps going so everyone will become a monthly and kill the fundraisers as an anniversary gift to Jim.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I came on here the first day I got the internet: October 31, 1998 (a Saturday). I think I had written down the name of the website to look at from listening to Rush Limbaugh mentioning it. I didn’t register here until 2 years later because I was still using the old message boards you could access from below your Outlook Express email account (that’s where I found my former fiancée on the Star Trek fan discussion boards).