Posted on 10/25/2001 8:59:47 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
Ok, this is a free for all thread. Come in and take your best shots. I promise I won't delete it or get upset. Get it out of your systems and then we will see if we can solve the problems. There always several sides to any story and several possible solutions to any problem. I'd like to hear them all and I'd like to solve as many problems as we can and get this forum kicking socialist butt again instead of kicking each other. So, please anyone with a complaint or a problem or a possible solution, (moderators, posters, FAB, everyone) please chime in. Thanks, Jim
I'd like to cast my vote with those who ask for an explanation of why actions are taken. I've read most of this thread, and I've seen the arguments against that, i.e., it would give people grounds for argument.
Well, I'll grant that it would likely be an issue with some people, but from my observations (and experience) I think that in most cases, it would simply let people know what the rules are, and by extention, let them know what to not do.
I watched a different forum (which shall remain nameless) implode after starting out on a similar direction. They created a group of anonymous moderators, and before too long, there were constant virtual beheadings, nearly all done by fiat, i.e., a moderator had a gripe with a poster, so he knocked him off the air.
I am a firm believer in the idea that if you're going to enforce rules, you need to let people know what they are! And it does seem that there are a lot of folks who honestly believe they're abiding with the written rules, but they run afoul of an unwritten rule (or worse yet, they tic off a moderator, who in effect creates an incident-specific unwritten rule), they really get sent for a loop.
So in summary, I'd ask to have the written rules updated to reflect the current "running" rules, and at the same time require the moderators to only act on infractions of the written rules. Moderators are human, and the effect of power on humans is axiomatic. It would be folly to think that different moderators would not be tempted to overlook certain infractions from some posters that they would not tolerate from others. It's incumbent on someone with that measure of authority to wield it equally. I think there's something in the Old Testament that says that when the laws are enforced with an equal balance, everyone is satisfied.
True, but it makes no sense having it there. It needs to be at the top of the reply, where we begin reading.
But you have a problem.
FReepers -- especially long time FReepers -- are so conditioned by painful past experience, that they are likely to reject your invitation. After all, experienced FReeper survivors know that any expression of views critical of the FReeper powers that be or of the prevailing groupthink of the moment can be extremely detrimental to one's FReeping future. Fear has so permeated this forum, that your invitation will probably not draw forth many honest expressions of opinion. Instead, there will be the usual parade of brown-nosers and sycophants -- both feigned and real -- in solemn procession to kiss your ring in the hope of gaining some sort of immunity from the unpredictable lightning bolts which rain down from FReeper Mt. Olympus to silence, often forever, even the most committed and enthusiastic FReepers.
Besides, most FReepers with the guts to honestly express their dissent to you and this forum have already been banned and cannot post here except under a pseudonym.
The FReeper diaspora, the untold number of banned and silenced FReepers cannot post to this thread. You will not hear from them. Nor will any FReeper ever hear for them again unless the recent reign of error ends and they are restored to there proper place in the constellation of FReeper stars. I'm sure FReepers like Michael Rivero, Inspector Harry Callahan, Arator, Ticonderoga, etc. would have plenty to contribute to this thread if they were permitted to do so.
Perhaps you should issue a general amnesty to the banished so that all FReepers can unite together again, without fear or pretense, to inaugurate a new era of FReeper comity and mutual respect, where dissenters are no longer persecuted but debated, and even the staunchest of ideological foes can renew interupted FReeper friendships without fear of being purged ever again merely because they dare to express their honestly held political disagreements with each other.
Regarding your recent lurch towards fascistic "do not question or criticise the government in a time of war" censorship, I respectfully disagree with it. Moreover, I think such a mentality endangers this country more than any terrorist can do, because it alone makes domestic tyranny possible.
Censorship of grassroots generated info on troop movements and other militarily sensitive information is a reasonable and prudent measure. Censorship of news and commentary already in the public domain and available to anyone everywhere but FR, on the other hand, only limits the information available to FReepers without any benefit accruing to national security. Censorship of news and commentary critical of our government is nothing other than fascism on the march and is unworthy of an American political news forum.
That's my two cents. Thanks for asking.
Also, we do not want military info that is not already published in the mainstream. This would include info posters may pick up on the base or from military people in their families or info that is picked up from obscure foreign sources. We do not want to take a chance on publishing anything that might get our people hurt.
Unless he was deleted just yesterday or today...
I also wonder what an FR thread might have looked like if it had been around during (for example) the Reagan assassination attempt, the downing of that KAL flight by the Soviets, the Challenger disaster, etc.
As I see it there is no problem, as long as there is no attempt at setting a "party line." Truth and peer pressure will do that for you.
While all this was going on, complaints were coming in from other freepers about their posts being loose lips violations.
This is where in my opinion the entire FORUM "groupthink" has gone astray - do you really think you or I(moderators, Robinson, Enlightiator, or anyone) are saving humanity or our soldiers by not posting something at Freerepublic? If so, you are giving yourselves WAY TO MUCH CREDIT, lol. Look - theres hardly anything that would ever be posted here that is truly "secret" or a real threat - even "airplanes left our air force base" doesn't mean squat. And bin laden doesn't post here. On the rare chance that a post that would violate national security is posted, you will likely hear from our Government. Puleeez...we are not the saviours of the free world....;)
Jim, you're doin' a great job. Thanks for all of your hard work.
It's kinda like the NFL's injury report for each team listed in Saturday's newspaper, just before the final Vegas line is set, and the bets are placed for Sunday's games.
The early Vegas line has the odds of TLBSHOW posting something stupid this weekend at 10-1......the smart money is expected to break the house.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.