This is what happens when we stoop to THEIR level. THEY, having control of the liberal state-run media, will use the words of a few of us to taint the rest.
We have to police ourselves, and realize that free speech is not license to post every damn dumb thought that comes into our heads into a publicly viewable website.
FR has become recognized as a major element of conservative thought and expression. We just need to treat it with the same respect due any powerful weapon.
It was probably only a matter of time before we started to slip to DailyKos and DU level of classlessness. I am also tired of the argument well they do it to us. That sounds like the laments of a 3rd grader. As my dad used to say life ain't fair and the sooner you learn that the better off you will be. There will never be a level playing field, but that doesn't mean we sink to their level. You can stay on the high road and still prevail. This is just what they want us to do, get down in the dirt with them so they can call in the media to smear us before the public. Kids are off limits period. If the Left doesn't feel compelled to play by those rules then we will just have to be better than them won't we? I miss the good old days.
As I said in another thread on the issue, if FR doesn’t clean up the junk, the Freepathons will take longer and longer.
I second all three of your points.
To expand on your call to police ourselves, IMO, it is nearly impossible for moderators to keep up with all of the comments as soon as they hit the screen and review them.
Self policing is the only way a forum the size of FR can continue to grow and prosper. Whether it is hitting the abuse button or calling out someone on the particular thread.
Google bots and other search engines bots visit the site on a continuing basis. Google can probably search the site within 15 minutes of a post and thus save it forever. This makes it paramount on ourselves to police the forum.