If you don't care what everyone else does, why did you say "no devil suits at our FReeping, it just makes ourside look silly and foolish. :o)" ? That sounds like a directive to anyone who might come out to your FReep that they ought not wear a devil costume.
Regarding the devil costume and "copying"... As was suggested by a few folks earlier in this thread, it may be helpful for you to check out some old threads dating back to Hillary!'s 2000 Senate campaign. Y'see... there was this devil who followed her all over the state.
More than one person participated in the Satan FReeping of the Hillary! for Senate campaign, and I doubt that any one of them would complain about "copying." AAMOF, "copying" would be a good thing - strategery and psy-op wise.
In any event, many if not most of your comments came across as petty, smug, insulting... and I don't understand why you would want to do that with people who you don't know, and whose motives, goals, and sincerity you also don't know.
I wish you well on your upcoming FReep and on your studies of FReeper history and tactics.
How did they come across petty & smug???? Perhaps you read that into them. Remember, emotions are hard to read, no tone inflictions, etc. in type. I was merely trying to remain calm and have a rational discussion/debate not filled with emotions.
As for me directing people what to do or not to do, it was more of a smart aleck comment, not a directive, I'm not organizing this FReep, Chicagolady is, I'm just going along for the ride. There's been much discussion about it on the Illinois board.
I'm sorry if you read into it smugness that wasn't there, and I'm certain NONE of it was petty as I made NO personal attacks to anyone. IF you re-read it I never called a single poster stupid or silly. I just stated for me, and for our environment here in Chicago, I do not feel it's the best strategy. But hey, what do I know, I just have about 300 businesses representing about 5000 professionals that are my clients in the city alone, without taking into account the outline suburbs. Being a successful marketing manager means I have the ability to "read" people and the best way to accomplish a goal in a certain geographic area. If we were doing this FReeping in Springfield, IL, I would have come out ADAMENTLY opposed to costumes as I know the enviroment down there is filled with Dixiecrats that are afraid of the big city and anything they view as "flamboyant"....heck, when I lived down that way my brother-in-law was rumored to be gay because he wore a pastel colored shirt at one point and no one would take him seriously. I was just coming at this from a professional stand point. That's all. People are different all over, which is why major companies take on different marketing plans & strategies in different areas. Politics is very much "sales & marketing". It's selling your ideas & views & logic to the otherside.
I am sorry you read into emotions that are not there, but I am not apologizing for my opinions. I am entitled to them.
If you'll also note, I was the one that was put on the defensive for a silly smart arsse remark right off the bat by Area 51 saying "you're the only one who cares" and then later on "deal with it"....to me THOSE are petty & smug comebacks driven by emotion. I beleive that I came back very calmly to him explaining my position. I've never once stepped out of line in here.
I don't understand why you continue to attack and attempt to alienate a fellow FReeper....we all have the same goal at heart....more converts to the conservative side & exposing the liberal lefties for what they are, lying, theiving, greedy, power hungry, controlling jerks! We're on the same team, remember?????
Remember the old cliche...."there's more than one way to skin a cat".