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.
If the system was so good, why were moderators put in the first place?
Too bad there are so many self-anointed troll police who can't tell the difference. I usually have to spend time educating their lack of perception. Then they only cautiously forgive me. The funny thing is, I'm farther to the right than they are, usually!