Check on FR's main page, where it says under Help and Guidelines:
The Free Republic forum uses standard HTML coding techniques. Use < p > to start new paragraphs.
guide·line
n.
A statement or other indication of policy or procedure by which to determine a course of action.
Even Howlin's post was an html suggestion (so six, not five).
And two other people thought your effort was lacking, because they took the time and effort to correctly re-post your article. Eight, not six. As others have pointed out, you never thanked them. Ever get tired of people picking up after you?
HTML ain't rocket science WaveThatFlag.