Posted on 10/25/2001 8:59:47 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
Ok, this is a free for all thread. Come in and take your best shots. I promise I won't delete it or get upset. Get it out of your systems and then we will see if we can solve the problems. There always several sides to any story and several possible solutions to any problem. I'd like to hear them all and I'd like to solve as many problems as we can and get this forum kicking socialist butt again instead of kicking each other. So, please anyone with a complaint or a problem or a possible solution, (moderators, posters, FAB, everyone) please chime in. Thanks, Jim
YES!
We used to be able to do a search by author. I tried it just a moment ago, but no go. It was a very useful tool.
Too much tinfoil conspiracy theory stuff?
There is an addition to the list on post #588
Secondly, I would like to talk about etiquette. I do believe the general posting rules are adequate and fair. As the largest conservative forum on the internet, in a way, freerepublic is an ambassador to the conservative movement in general.
I bring up this point, because of a criticism I have to make of fellow posters. My positions have been evolving over the years. I used to be a wild eyed liberal, but have been getting more and more conservative as the years go on. I came to free republic out of curiousity, wanting intellectual debate, and immediately upon arriving, was flamed for being a disruptor by a fellow member who noted my join date.
I didn't think I was disrupting, I asked a question, wrote a response in a non aggressive, non confrontational way.
Thankfully, another poster pointed out that I was in no way disruptive, it encouraged me, and I continued posting, and my views have evolved even more towards a conservative philosophy as I have had time here to debate, ponder my views on the various issues that face us as a society.
I don't believe I am alone. I encourage folks to not do the new member hazing unless the person is being obviously, intentionally obnoxious.
I think that an ex-liberal like myself can contribute alot to this forum, and one does not change one's views by being insulted, sworn at, but instead engaged in passionate, (yet thoughtful) debate.
Here is a posting guideline that I personally follow. I don't want my kid in 10 years to read what I wrote and be ashamed of it. Perhaps that could be a good guideline for any of us to follow.
P.S. I really really still hate Gary Condit. I absolutely loved this summer how I and others would post incredible minutia about this case, converse in freep mail with Barbara Olson, while JimRob et al were protesting him up in Modesto. This is what makes this forum so very special.
Sorry for the length of this post folks, but as many of you are aware, I am extremely long-winded. Keep up the good work Jim
I have no doubt that our visitor 'I respectfully dissent' was no less than Arator himself.
But being in an adult versus adult verbage conflict does escalate to a child versus child tirade and thus the need for a moderator/mom. But then again my Mom at least whacked me a good one when I was out of line or bad on purpose or not.
Stay Safe !
;^)
You have your point, now here is mine: Taken to its logical conclusion, running a dictatorial forum will eventually end up in Jim and the moderators and the ass kissers posting to Jim and the moderators and the ass kissers, until they too eventually turn on each other and censor each other into oblivion. If this forum doesn't ease up on the censorship, it will quickly become a minor note in cyberspace....
Headline: ________________ (actual)
Freepline:________________ (done by Freeper)
I suspect that post was removed because it was about the 10th time it had been posted in the previous 24 hours. If people would do an article search, instead of only relying on recent replies or the Breaking News sidebar to find what is being discussed at FR, we would have a LOT less duplicate posts.
Why people will go to the trouble to post an article, which does take some time, without bothering to see if it has already been posted here previously, is simply beyond me.
Plus, I want you to shave everyday. You wouldn't get away with that stubble in the Navy.
Other than that.....
;^)
Thanks Jim (and John) for all you do.
5.56mm
Now if we could only get something like that for all aspects of life. Never again would we have to hear or read or subject ourselves to differing viewpoints. We could then merrily go along espousing our viewpoints to everyone -- unless of course they have activated their "killfile-like ability" on us. (sarcasm off)
No thanks, I would rather make the decision to ignore a point of view once I have read what that particular viewpoint is. Not only that, reading the viewpoints of others gives the resources to make a good comeback.
I mean if we never listened to Rep. McKinney or anything regarding her, how would we know she said sorry to the SA prince and then proceeded to beg for the money Giuliani turned down? Reading or hearing that story gives us a truer perspective as to where this woman stands. That way we can say with confidence that she stands four-square for herself -- the United States and victims of the bombings be damned.
First, as a not-for-profit organization that solicits donations, Free Republic is fairly unique in that its finances and expenditures are not completely transparent. Other not-for-profits I've been acquainted with, such as the United Way, the Boy Scouts and the American Red Cross, actually publish a balance sheet listing exact expenditures in each area (payroll, utility bills, office supplies, postage & stationery, rent etc.).
It doesn't have to be terribly detailed and it doesn't have to reveal every nitty-gritty detail. But I think it would go a long way toward taking the wind out of the sails of Eschoir and the Anti-Freeper crowd. You know that they hate Free Republic and they constantly accuse you and John of using FR as a cash cow. There are those of us who know better. But publishing an annual ledger prepared by a CPA would convince just about everyone else. And people who donate to not-for-profits like to see that sort of thing.
Second, completing the registration as a 501(c)(3) would allow donors to write off their donations as tax deductions every year. These two steps would substantially increase donations. For example, Eli Lilly and Richard Mellon Scaife both told The American Spectator that if it became registered as a 501(c)(3), their donations would increase. Now that the Spectator has been purchased, their magnanimity is without an appropriate outlet.
Third, we have new counsel on LAT/WP vs. FR. This is your story and I urge you to tell it. David Flyer is an outstanding attorney and both Flyer and the Freepers deserve to get better acquainted with one another. I urge you, sir, to post a detailed thread with a curriculum vitae for Attorney Flyer, or authorize me to do so. We have every reason to celebrate the fact that he is on board.
Fourth, Inspector Harry Callahan posted the news about Attorney Flyer on an open thread and he was banned. Since Eschoir monitors the docket at the Ninth Circuit on a daily basis and posts news (if any) on the Anti-Freeper sites, it was already known to the Anti-Freepers. This is unfair to Callahan and he was a valuable asset to FR. If A+Bert can come back, if Arator can come back, and if others who have been banned can come back, Callahan should definitely be brought back.
Thank you, sir, for addressing these concerns in an open manner. I'm confident that they will be given the attention they require.
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