Do you remember Freepin in 1998?

self | self

[ODDITHER]

I first found Free Republic through Drudge Report. I found Drudge by listening to the White House briefing sessions who constantly told everyone how radical he was. (I knew he was my kind of people.)

To get to my point, or to make a short story long, Does anyone else remember freepin back then?

There were days you couldn't get on. When you did get on, it took forever to load the posts. There were three options. Next 10 - 50 -100 and a simple search engine. Remember the posts that said "Please don't post graphics, I can't read the posts if you do."?

Don't get me wrong, many of the improvements that have been made, are because the technology has changed. I also got a faster modem and new computer and learned how to use them.

I Would set my alarm for 5:00 am to get on while it wasn't busy. At first, I didn't post, there were self appointed post police that would tear you a new one, if you didn't hold your mouth just right. But finally, I thought, what the heck, they can't see me, they don't know me, I can take it.

Here I am ramblin on - what I wanted to do is say a great big thanks to John for the newest improvements.

Thanks John!!!

P.S.

When is it going to make my coffee in the morning?

[Leroy S. Mort]

Those were the "Good Ole Days" to be sure.....I realize that more and more these days.

[PISANO]

Your right the Good Ol days pre Twin Towers and Terrorism. Back when is wasn't is and Clintoon was making most of this possible with his corrupt administration.

[cmsgop]

I Lurked in 98. I shoulda signed in right after the MFJ.

Then I Could Be "Old School"

[In Search of Freedom]

I remember those days when you posted and article it stuck. It wouldn't get pulled like a loose thread from a spindle.

[kcpopps]

At first, I didn't post, there were self appointed post police that would tear you a new one, if you didn't hold your mouth just right.

(Some things never change)

Your story is similar to mine. I got a cable modem primarily for faster Freepin. Couldn't imagine a phone modem now.

[cynicom]

odd...

Some of the self appointed posting police are still around, that was bad enough, but now we have hall monitors to contend with...Oh well...

[B Knotts]

Yeah, I found FR from the Drudge link, too.

I remember lots of flame-wars between DonMorgan, Mojo, Navigator, Deb, OneWhoKnows, and others.

And, of course, Ash!

[ODDITHER]

I forgot that. Sometime so bad that you had to control-Alt-delete. Course, I didn't realize you had to Refresh to see your reply. So I would go completely out every so often, and then I couldn't get back in.

[B Knotts]

I got a cable modem primarily for faster Freepin. Couldn't imagine a phone modem now.

Some of us still don't have any other choice. :-(

[KayEyeDoubleDee]

Those were the "Good Ole Days" to be sure

This may sound hypcritical, but does it seem like there are more mindless posts? Less discussion and more blather?

[weston]

Freepin' has come a long way....I found it way back through Prodigy.
My 1st computer was soooo slow and had almost no memory. When someone posted a picture, it tied the machine up for half an hour and made you say AAARGH!

I was immediately addicted...Should have gone to rehab...

[ODDITHER]

I forgot about those. And how about A+Bert and Quidam.

[OWK]

I remember lots of flame-wars between DonMorgan, Mojo, Navigator, Deb, OneWhoKnows, and others.

Hmmm... what ever happened to those guys? ;^]

[B Knotts]

Man...you're quick! :-)

[xsmommy]

Quidam.

I had a huge crush on Quidam. : )

[untenured]

For old time's sake, I just tried to post a link to a "Newsweek Kills Story on White House Intern" thread, but it's vanished. In fact, I just noticed that the link to the "Old Topics List" that used to be on the main FR page is gone. I assume most of the posts that are from 1998 or earlier are gone, which is too bad.

If anyone has a link to a file to an original Drudge Lewinsky/Newsweek story thread that has not been lost, that would be nice to go back and look through.

[ken5050]

oh the fun before the "self-search" function was added....

[Sungirl]

My mother told me about this place through Drudge. She's been lurking everyday but won't sign on...you out there mom?

I don't know what year it was...but I wrote an email to Drudge and asked him to change the link from WhiteWater...to Free Republic. I don't think it was a coincidence...but it was changed that day!

[Ted]

...more mindless...

Well, I'd say we have more breaking news/higher volume, which is useful. There's certainly a trade-off though - fewer thoughtful, detailed discussions, IMO.

But still great, and WAY too addictive!...