Uh oh, we've been "freeped"

Finger Lakes Times, Geneva NY ^ | 02/19/16 | Mike Cutillo, Executive Editor

[Behind Liberal Lines]

The Finger Lakes Times got "freeped" last week…

Late Monday afternoon, as always, we put up our online poll question for last week: What kind of grade would you give Donald Trump for the job he's done in his first few weeks as president?

The answers were A, B, C, D and F. Simple enough, right?

A normal poll for us usually draws 200-300 votes; a really heavily trafficked one about a hot local issue might pull in 400-500. We noticed right away. So did our readers.

Managing Editor Chuck Schading, who administers our website, did some research and learned that we had been "freeped."

Our poll had been up less than half an hour when someone alerted the freepers at Free …and quickly it was linked to that site with a call to all its fans to "FREEP THIS POLL ... hit it hard folks!"

Despite all the early "A" votes for our president, by Friday, as I write this, the "F's" have not only caught up but gone ahead.

We learned later … that our poll also had made its way out on Facebook, and votes were pouring in from hundreds of folks who are decidedly not Trump fans. To wit, a comment from a reader…: "I received an e­ mail telling me about this poll. It instructed me to vote 'F.'”

I can't forecast what will happen … today, after which we'll take the poll down, but as of noon Saturday, here are the … poll results:

A -1,584 votes
B -197 votes
C -39 votes
D -85 votes
F -1,697 votes

And to all... of you -freepers and otherwise -who took the time to visit our website and cast a vote: Thank you.

[beef]

I was able to vote repeatedly by changing my VPN address and opening a new private window. After 5 or 6 in a row it looks like it throttles for a while.

[blam]

"After checking the site and reading some comments, “buck” says FREEREPUBLIC is a white racist website ... imagine that - we’re a white racist website; never would have thought that ..."

You mean you don't belong to the NAZI Party?

[rdl6989]

It looks like a few DU people showed up too. A huge number of A’s and F’s with a handful in between.

[IronJack]

If it's okay to drive "F" votes from Farcebook, why isn't it okay to drive "A" votes from Free Republic?

These ridiculous web polls are little more than masturbation anyway. They're all about generating traffic to the site, nothing more.

[sport]

We know how deep their hate is. Those of us with the intelligence to get out of the rain also know that there is no reconciliation with them. We have no common ground with them, or should not. We should not believe that it is o.k to murder unborn and partially born babies in their mother's womb. We also should not believe that it is permissible for men and women to commit every degenerate sex act under the sun with infant babies and animals. We also should know that two men or two women cannot marry each other. Plus many more things. Each time one compromises with the Devil, the Devil wins. It is not long until he has his entire camel under your tent.

[Vlad The Inhaler]

Headline is a little misleading.

Sure, the poll might have been FREEPED but is was also LIBTARDED.

"comment from a reader…: "I received an e­ mail telling me about this poll. It instructed me to vote 'F.'”

Excellent demonstration of why these types of polls are more for entertainment than enlightenment.

[daniel1212]

A poasters says "There is a white supremacist website called the free republic spamming this poll so it is not going to be very accurate way to reflect the country's mood, just it's hyper-partisanship."

I did not know that FR, which "does not advocate or condone racism," was a white supremacist website.

[tomkat]

These ridiculous web polls are little more than masturbation anyway.

Precisely.

[bigbob]

They’re just a little more transparent than the MSM in admitting all they are interested is hits. Not news or informing their readers.

[Baynative]

“buck” says FREEREPUBLIC is a white racist website ... imagine that - we’re a white racist website; never would have thought that ..."

[b4its2late]

I love seeing liberals go crazy. They are funny when they get mad. Stomping around Ithaca!

[HotKat]

I think I voted twice😉

[Telepathic Intruder]

In the end, it’s better to be hated by some than loved by them. It’s more a choice between right and wrong.

[Mathews]

They called us a “White Supremacist Website” yesterday. I do believe it was the gentleman mentioned in the article who said it.

[georgiegirl]

Wouldn’t let me vote twice.

[null and void]

Are yew a citizen?

[sport]

Amen!

[kanawa]

I wonder if “buck” can be sued for libel?

[kanawa]

500 vote lead of the As over the Fs.

[JohnnyP]

I voted in cursive.