Posted on 02/01/2002 9:16:23 PM PST by Admin Moderator
I have to disagree with you there, albeit in an agreeable way. They certainly can and do pull threads. Now, they might get chewed out later for doing it, but it's innacurate to simply say they cannot. They can also "suspend" people, which is different from "banning" them, but the effect is the same to the poster involved.
"It's NOT personal."
How do you know that? The person you argue with some day could be one of the anonymous Moderators, and denying that they take action on their feelings is to deny that they are mere humans. It's like saying it's OK for reporters to be out-and-out leftists because they keep their bias out of print. We all know how well that works....
Having anonymous Moderators just fuels a nasty mutual suspicion amongst FReepers about who the secret police are, and is having a chilling effect. Conspiracy theories abound, and that's a shame.
Maybe I can help you out here, John. FR got huge. Jim and John Robinson were watching out for about (correct me if I'm wrong, Howlin) about 80,000 registered FReepers. Mind you, not all are posting.
JimRob and his wife decided to take a vacation last summer. He could not take a vacation with that many registered FReepers with no one here to help with some of the more obnoxious folks who come into FR from time to time.
This is when the Sidebar and Admin Moderators came into play. They are under JimRob's jurisdiction.
I think overall, they have done a great job. Oh, there are threads I wish hadn't been pulled, but nothing is perfect.
When JimRob got back from his vacation, he and John spent hours and hours redoing the bandwidth and stuff on FR (Someone with more computer literacy, help me out here). The Sidebar and Admin folks were still needed.
I don't know if you've noticed, John, but a certain late evening Admin Moderator even cracks jokes.
They are doing their best in here. And with this crowd of rowdy conservatives, they deserve our utmost thanks.
Now you've gone and done it. That Moderator is toast now....
;^)
Thanx.
After last night's State of the Union Address, Democrat strategists won't be sleeping any easier
As for my masterpiece. I am working on that one as the rest have all been practice. LOL
Well, the headline sure lured 'em in. thanks.
However, it appears to be an area not frequented by Hall Monitors so it seemed like an appropriate 'cleanup on aisle 3 by the dairy' announcement.
I could have / should have made it a private reply or Freeper e-mail however.
Cheers.
We all want this place to be wonderful.......but we have to consider how this place might look if somebody who doesn't know us drops by -- what with all the tinfoil threads; somebody has to do it......and Jim and John picked people that they valued to help them with the work -- and NO, I do NOT know who the moderators are........and I am not one!
It was just getting to the point where any time somebody had a thought roll through their mind, they put up a thread......then flame wars broke out when WE tried to police ourselves.......some people just do NOT do well in large groups, know what I mean?
Besides, I'm sure Jim and John have enough to do with running this place, defending themselves, and answering emails from people demanding to know why they can't link a thread to how to make bombs or perform abortions! :-)
Besides, if they were autocratic, once they pulled a thread, it would never come back, and once they made up their minds, you wouldn't hear from them concerning WHY they did what they did.
It's a HUGE reponsibility, CL. You know that. You couldn't pay me to be one.
Somehow I just don't believe that Jim and John picked people like you and me to be moderators; I have a feeling they picked REASONABLE people!
If Free Republic wasn't like it is, where would YOU spend all your time mocking people and being contrary?
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