The benefit is that we don't have any really nasty flamewars. In general, I have found that Free Republic is really a very pleasant forum, compared with what you will find elsewhere. If we opened it up to the DU nutcases, that would no longer be the case.
On the other hand, the mods can be a little nuts sometime. People have been banned who should not have been banned. And sometimes stuff is removed that should not be removed. It's not a big deal really, if you don't mind just creating another account. You aren't going to keep getting banned unless you really are a troll. Quad meme, for some, it is quite a shame to lose an account they've had for a long time.
Ideally, Free Republic should consider reinstating old accounts after period of time (at least the ones which have been around awhile before they were banned--not the DU trolls) and maybe allow for some kind of appeals process. But, otherwise, I guess you just have to make a new account when you get struck down by a quirky mod.
It's true. But, I do believe if a leftie ever showed up who would argue from principle, and stay off ad hominem, he would be most welcome, as well as very busy.
True, it is a conservative forum, and the owner of the website has the right to do whatever he wants. However if my comments were removed, t would be proper to provide an explanation (too inflammatory, too liberal, etc).
"On the other hand, the mods can be a little nuts sometime."
Agreed. Sometimes some nasty freeper will accuse one of "stalking" or some such nonsense, in an effort to get one banned, and the admin mods jump down your throat before investigating and finding out that the complainer is a liar. They do apologize when they are wrong, though.
You mean like the Taguba Report on prisoner abuse? The text of the report was posted, but the Mods pulled it. Maybe it's been "reinstated", I dunno'.
(Love your screen-name.)
No you don't want to do that. Multiple accounts will get you banned first thing.