Is Free Republic a Fraud? Is it time for Free Republic to go away?

Free Republic | 11/28/01 | Jim Robinson

[Ratatoskr]

All the whiners on here are like hearing city people trying to sue a farmer because he wouldn't paint his barn red.

And what if the farmer asked me to chip in for the paint? Would I have "whining" rights then?

[Ratatoskr]

Why don't you do what the other over 95 percent of us do here -- get along?

I'm getting along just fine, thank you. I was asked for my opinion.

Remember?

[deport]

Well I see you still stirring the pot... lol. And all this on such a good for nothing site with poor management, posters that don't think for themselves but instead just follow the leader and cough up money just to be bilked since it apparently feels so good. Amazing, truly amazing....

You go girl.......

[Howlin]

For regular snail mail donations:

FREE REPUBLIC, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794

(link for monthly credit card donations)

[Silly]

"...of all the posters on FR I'm aware of that got banned, you're the only one about whom I thought "Really! That's too bad."

That's really nice of you to say -- and I appreciate it. Just to set the record straight, however, I was not banned, only suspended temporarily by a Moderator. I know it seems like a matter of semantics, but, because there has been a lot of talk of banning on this thread, perhaps others on the board would be interested to know the distinction:

Suspension: Temporary, 1 to 7 days
Banning: Permanent
Nuking: Permanent, with posts deleted (example: Michael Rivero)

From Jim and John's comments I have read on some very informative explanatory threads, I believe I am correct in saying that Moderators don't have the ability to ban people, only suspend.

My fervent wish is to never again have to experience that secret and ineffable joy of watching my friends festoon FreeRepublic threads with "Free Silly!" balloons.

[firewalk]

Very nice!

[tpaine]

"In the meantime, why don't you grow a pair and quit your bellyaching. Your constant whining is grating on the nerves."

To: tpaine Ditto my message to Arator to you.

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Yo boss...

But don't confuse a button with balls.

[the_tisha_girl]

no...that's why I asked the question.

[Arator]

Look, if your mother did not teach you proper etiquette as a child, and or if your (presumably) adult life experiences have left you lacking in the area of proper conduct and behavior in a public setting and or in mixed company, then perhaps you should go down to the nearest public library and check out a book. There are also numerous websites available that teach proper netequitte (do a google search).

My etiquitte book says that when you open your door to the general public and invite strangers in for the express purpose of joining together in a wide-ranging discussion about current events and politics and someone at the party expresses a viewpoint with which you happen to disagree, the polite response is NOT to forcably bind them, gag them, and/or summarily boot them out the door. Rather, my ettiquitte book says that the polite response to those with whom you disagree in such a setting (or any setting) is to respectfully exchange views, argue the points in contention to the best of your ability, and debate the issues, without ever getting personal. If you will permit me, I shall try my level best to do just that.

If, however, your dislike for me is now so intense that my presense here causes you pain or unduly adds to your daily afflictions, just say the word and I will depart from you and this forum forever.

To me, all of our butting heads over forum policy was always mere political disagreement. It was all part of the gamesmanship of politics which your forum uniquely provides a stage for. It was never personal. And despite all of the high-strangeness, probable misunderstandings, and sometimes just plain bewildering total non-communication in our stormy and sometimes head-scratching relationship, I've always wanted to believe the best about you and hoped for the best for you and this forum.

So, just say the word and I will bid you and everyone a fond FReeper farewell. Otherwise, I'll stick around and freep -- oh so very politely freep, that is. :^)

[the_tisha_girl]

Well to tell the truth, while it isn't a matter of life or death to be banned from FR (although, reading the thoughts written on this thread, it seems some people feel it may be), it's very uncomfortable to have someone anonymosly hit the abuse button and another annonymous person rule on the validity of the complaint. There is no appeal, from what I've read. Not even an explanation. I guess you wouldn't understand, since you don't post under the same threat as the rest of us do, but it isn't a good feeling...not at all.

[Fury]

the polite response is NOT to forcably bind them, gag them, and/or summarily boot them out the door.

Hello. I see you are overdramatizing again. Please, let your emotions and words be appropriate for the moment. Becoming so awash in emotion really does not do you justice, nor your cause.

[Jim Robinson]

Ok. Please leave.

[Howlin]

I guess you wouldn't understand, since you don't post under the same threat as the rest of us do, but it isn't a good feeling...not at all.

What on earth would make you think that? I live and abide by the same rules that everybody else does here.

And since you've only been here a few weeks and only have posted eight times in the last 3 days, why would you presume to know ANYTHING about me?

[Howlin]

someone at the party expresses a viewpoint with which you happen to disagree, the polite response is NOT to forcably bind them, gag them, and/or summarily boot them out the door.

If only you were here to express a viewpoint we might not agree with.

What should we do when you pee on the rug? Ask you into another room?

I ask you again, what makes you so weird that you, and only a few of you, can't seem to abide by the rules like the rest of us do?

[Arator]

Nuking: Permanent, with posts deleted (example: Michael Rivero)

Rivero got NUKED!? What a tragic loss of great threads, some of the best conspiracy-type critical-thinking out there. I can hardly believe it.

[Ligeia]

I borrowed it [Arator] from John Taylor of Caroline, a Virginia planter and Jeffersonian who, in the early 1800's, wrote some prescent political commentary warning his countrymen of the dangers posed by the combination of federal power and northern commercial interests to agriculture and his native region, the South. He wrote these essays under the pseudonym, Arator. As I am an Agrarian Jeffersonian and Confederate sympathizer at heart, I adopted his pseudonym as my FReeper name.

I was hoping you'd agree to be polite, ignore the flamebait, and stay. I'm interested in what "John Taylor of Caroline," a Jeffersonian, might think about today's challenges. But, I'm a Virginian.

[tpaine]

Well to tell the truth, while it isn't a matter of life or death to be banned from FR (although, reading the thoughts written on this thread, it seems some people feel it may be), it's very uncomfortable to have someone anonymosly hit the abuse button and another annonymous person rule on the validity of the complaint. There is no appeal, from what I've read. Not even an explanation.

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Well said, -- and every word is dead on true.

And with that whine, a couple of nut studded cheese balls would be mighty tasty.

[Arator]

Ok. Please leave.

As you wish.

Farewell everybody! It's been a pleasure. I wish Jim Rob, and all of you only the best.

Freep long and well. I will never forget you.

[the_tisha_girl]

I'm sorry. I thought your use of "we" in your earlier post to me meant that you were one of the moderators. It's true I have just recently registered. I don't post much because I'm afraid I might say something that will make someone angry or upset. That's what I'm talking about. I don't get the feeling that this is a very friendly place.

[Howlin]

I don't post much because I'm afraid I might say something that will make someone angry or upset. That's what I'm talking about. I don't get the feeling that this is a very friendly place.

Don't be silly; this is the friendliest place on the internet.

Since you are new, why don't you stick around and post more often; then you can make up your OWN mind about how great a place FR is, not just from the malcontents you've seen on this thread. In case you haven't noticed, since you haven't posted to other threads, we're having a great time "out there."

Try it, you'll like it.