[The Blitherer]

I haven't been here very long (maybe a year) but I don't really think FR has become all as bad as you think. I personally have reevaluated many of my long-held political beliefs based on discussions with other FReepers. Sometimes I come to the same conclusion as before, and other times I find opinion changing.

Based on your previous posts on this thread, I don't think I agree with you on many conservative/political issues, but that won't stop me from debating with you or within my own mind the merits of your viewpoint.

My point is, FR has given me the oppertunity to do this. It's not perfect, and of course it's not completely "open" to any and all opinions (it IS a conservative site), but it's still pretty darn good.

[The Blitherer]

“oppertunity” = “opportunity”...Dang stupid spelling errors...sorry about that.

[DCPatriot]

bookmark...again!

[Dominic Harr]

I haven't been here very long (maybe a year) but I don't really think FR has become all as bad as you think.

The level of flames just use to be much, much lower.

I've been on net discussion sites since the early days of Compuserve. What made FR so special, to me, was that it was moderated. Other sites were always overrun with mob-mentality types, mostly teenagers in those days, who would flame everyone who disagreed with them.

FR use to be like that.

Now, I get called names every single time I post on a political thread. I'm a political conservative, but I'm not pro-life, and I'm not against gay rights. Therefore I'm a blankety-blank-blank liberal.

And I'm not so worried for me, I've been flamed by the best of 'em, oer the years. But I'm worried what that does to lurkers. It chases away folks who may have something to contribute but don't want to risk flames.