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Trolls, Honest Dissenters, And The Marketplace of Ideas in a Free Republic
5-16-04 | jmstein7

Posted on 05/16/2004 12:59:53 PM PDT by jmstein7

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To: jmstein7

Jim's site, Jim's rules. And the success of this site support the idea that Jim's rules work pretty well. If Jim wanted input from forum members about his troll policy, he would solicit it.

I am one of the kinda sorta maybe 'non-conservatives' here. I have not, to my knowledge anyway, been called a troll nor banned. I have had disagreements on some threads, and offered a different perspective on others.

As an example of my difference, I am an atheist. I have a political philosophy that derives from a different place than the traditional definition of conservative. However, I find that my political philosophy lands me in agreement with most conservatives on most topics. Fairly often however, my justification for the position is very different. This has lead to several interesting discussions.

Despite my differences from the majority here, I have found this site very welcoming. It does have occasional spirited debates but the thing that brings me back is the sense of community of like ideas. Even as different as mine are from most here, it is a welcome respite from monotonous leftist drone of major media and my local community. (I managed to escape NYC...into NJ. It didn't help.)

I offer this to perhaps change the opinion of most here...this community is not nearly so closed to different ideas as some would suggest. Jim's rules are straightforward and obvious. Those who obey them are warmly welcomed. Good discussions of worthwhile ideas take place all the time...even with people who are not true conservatives.


121 posted on 05/16/2004 1:58:17 PM PDT by blanknoone (How many flips would a flip-flop flop if a flip-flop could flop flips?)
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To: breakem

There are other conservative sites to visit...They allow libs..and have the gift.


122 posted on 05/16/2004 1:58:51 PM PDT by MEG33 (John Kerry's been AWOL for two decades on issues of National Security!)
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To: Jim Robinson

"I'm not going to waste my time or resources on America hating trolls"

I have a question for my first post.

Does thinking that the President (whoever that may be at the time, Clinton, Bush, whatever...) is doing a poor job and leading the country in the wrong direction equate with "hating America"? When this forum was used primarily in opposition to the Admin. as opposed to the current support of the Admin., was that "America hating" or was that honest, passionate disagreement with the policies of the gov't?


123 posted on 05/16/2004 1:59:00 PM PDT by Lycaon
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To: jmstein7

I have no problem with dissent.

I only get cranky when said dissent crosses the line into sedition in the advancement of treason. One is typically hard-pressed to find any argument from the Left that doesn't entail that.


124 posted on 05/16/2004 1:59:50 PM PDT by Prime Choice (I'd question John Kerry's patriotism if I thought for a moment he had any...)
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To: SamAdams76
Request already submitted
 
Thanks, it really cuts down on my paperwork when you take the initiative like that

125 posted on 05/16/2004 2:00:44 PM PDT by TexasTransplant (The Democrats would rather win the WH than the War against Islamic Extremists)
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To: inquest
Had a daughter banned like that before. Long story.

When you share computers and people get the bug, hard to NOT use the same computer. I suggest a grant program so we can be given money by you and others to buy another computer. LOL.

126 posted on 05/16/2004 2:01:45 PM PDT by breakem (formerly bigsigh)
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To: ovrtaxt

Thanks. I missed it.


127 posted on 05/16/2004 2:01:54 PM PDT by nuconvert ("America will never be intimidated by thugs and assassins." ( Azadi baraye Iran)
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To: MEG33

really, gee thanx for the info. I thought there was only 1 such site.


128 posted on 05/16/2004 2:03:07 PM PDT by breakem (formerly bigsigh)
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To: MoJo2001
There is nothing wrong with dissent. I actually enjoy the debates when it doesn't come down to name calling.

Even absent name-calling, tedious folks who don't know the difference between opinion and reasoned argument are a waste of time.

As are those whose sole ability is criticism without the slightest clue as to any substitute real solutions.

129 posted on 05/16/2004 2:03:38 PM PDT by Publius6961 (I don't do diplomacy either.)
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To: CurlyFro
A man was arrested for having a "F U G W" sign.

"FUGW" is not debate. I doubt threatening language was what the Framers had in mind when penning the First Amendment.

That being said, I do support the banning of very Liberal posters from FR, because otherwise, the site would be overrun with Liberal posters, which would defeat the site's primary purpose: (to be) A grassroots Conservative forum.

The right to free association, especially on private property, is an important one.

130 posted on 05/16/2004 2:03:59 PM PDT by Dec31,1999 (Capital punishment saves lives.)
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To: MEG33

you're 116 is so off the content of the thread I was mentioning. We were having a discussion about banning. I gave an example to show my point. I did not nor will I use this thread to discuss Bush or Clinton investigations.


131 posted on 05/16/2004 2:06:16 PM PDT by breakem (formerly bigsigh)
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To: ovrtaxt

I disagreed that anyone who criticized Bush should be banned..We have many who have disagreements about one thing or another that support the President...

We have been asked not to promote another candidate. There are two viable candidates, Kerry or Bush...


132 posted on 05/16/2004 2:06:46 PM PDT by MEG33 (John Kerry's been AWOL for two decades on issues of National Security!)
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To: xzins
To identify a troll sounds more art than science.

Isn't a "troll" anyone with whom a poster disagrees?

133 posted on 05/16/2004 2:06:50 PM PDT by ASA Vet (Anyone who signed up after 11/28/97 is a newbie.)
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To: Jim Robinson

Are you a little testy today Jim?

Thanks for the great site. I say why give the trolls a voice they have one over at D.U. We really don't need the infiltration.Its bad enough some lay in wait for months before showing who they really are.

RB


134 posted on 05/16/2004 2:08:43 PM PDT by Rightly Biased (I'll vote Republican till the day I die then I'll vote democrat.)
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To: hole_n_one; trussell; MoJo2001
boxsmith13's account is still active.

But RVS95's isn't. ;)
135 posted on 05/16/2004 2:11:27 PM PDT by Fawnn (Canteen wOOhOO Consultant and CookingWithPam.com person)
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To: ASA Vet

NO!..and sometimes they are stealthy,talk the talk and then gradually start undermining, contradicting what they said they thought about a point last month..

You go back and say..hmm and then they go away and suddenly they come back and blast away at Bush or the conservatives or the war or whatever. Some do it as a form of entertainment,seeing how long they can play.


136 posted on 05/16/2004 2:12:52 PM PDT by MEG33 (John Kerry's been AWOL for two decades on issues of National Security!)
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To: agitator
The entitlement mentality that says "I should be able to post whatever I want on hardware, software, and bandwidth owned by somebody else" never ceases to amaze me.
 
Along those same lines, I don't think that these same people could argue that Lib Radical Disrupters should be banned from the Republican Convention, or could they?
I don't know, my brain is not pliable enough to be wrapped around that type of thinking.

137 posted on 05/16/2004 2:13:18 PM PDT by TexasTransplant (The Democrats would rather win the WH than the War against Islamic Extremists)
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To: jmstein7

I've been lurking and posting at FR since early 1998. I've never hit the abuse button. Though I dissent on major conservative issues such as abortion and religion, I have never had problems from JimRob.

I liked early FR better than now because there was no moderator...Freepers took care of sorting out the trolls and disruptors. It was a creative and hilarious endeavor. I felt freer to say what I think than I do now. Partly that's because we were against Clinton. Now we have issues with President Bush that we can't come to a consensus on. So it seems to fracture us rather than unite us.

I dislike having moderators because their version of "honesty" seems pretty subjective at times. I miss a lot of the early folks who got banned. Oh well. I keep to one rule myself: avoid making ad hominem attacks by sticking to the facts, not feelings. That's why I've never had the abuse button thrown at me and why I'm still here though I've been attacked plenty by the so-called "honest" Christian folks.

Thanks to Jim and John for making this place run year after year.


138 posted on 05/16/2004 2:14:04 PM PDT by The Westerner
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To: CurlyFro

Protest Zones are a required due to the risk of assassination.

The anti Free Trade protesters are well known for near riots and violence agains the police and civilians.

The antiwar protesters are loaded with Palestenians and other Islamists. We know all to well the tendancy of these folks to resort to violence against the unarmed.

The right to free speech is not the same as the right to be heard.


139 posted on 05/16/2004 2:14:29 PM PDT by TASMANIANRED (What do they call children in Palestine? Unexploded ordinance)
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To: The Westerner

If the system was so good, why were moderators put in the first place?


140 posted on 05/16/2004 2:15:31 PM PDT by cyborg
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