Is Free Republic a Fraud? Is it time for Free Republic to go away?

Free Republic | 11/28/01 | Jim Robinson

[Smokin' Joe]

HuH? Free Republic Gone?

That would be like knocking around Golgotha and finding THE body.

What it takes, keep going!

[dighton]

You've got FReepmail. I mistook you for someone else in reply #2590 -- it was meant as a personal joke between friends, not an insult or anything like that.

Dooooohhhhhh!

[AppyPappy]

, I'm not leaving

Ahhhh....all talk, huh? Figures.

[wewillnotfail]

bump for booking

[wewillnotfail]

ehhhh...please don't tell me that it's necessary to use clintonspeak to defend against these accusations?

This is making me very nervous..

[Battle Hymn of the Republic]

This is the best site on the web... it truly is one of a kind.

[Freeman Patrick Henry]

It's refreshing to see an agrarian Jeffersonian. Alas, this place is littered with "Reagan conservatives." Of course, the party of fiscal responsiblity neglects to mention that spending grew more under Reagan than under Clinton...

[John Robinson]

With the notable exception of myself, human beings make mistakes.

[Revelation 911]

FReepers could even pool together donations to temp ban certain obnoxious FReepers. :)

youre first

[Arator]

If you'll stop your I, me, mine bandwagon, not only will I forgive you (which means nothing in the big picture) but you'll never again be threatened by banishment.

This was a curious and surprising offer.

Jim Rob, I've just gotta ask you, does Cal have the authority to make such an offer? Was she speaking for you, or only herself?

Not that I am the least bit interested in being singled out to receive some kind of blanket immunity from banishment, mind you. As I told Cal above, I want to be held accountable just like everyone else to the original posting rules I first signed up for -- no racism, no personal attacks (provided of course, that the mere expression of a differing opinion is not regarded as a personal attack), no spam, etc. This is as it should be. I've never had a problem with your original vision. In fact, I've always thought it supremely visionary and ideal, which explains why I became an enthusiastic FReeper in the first place.

[firewalk]

Jimrob could paint himself purple, pretend to be Barney and shake down little kids for their lunch money and I could care.

ROTFL! Funny stuff!

[tpaine]

John Robinson:

The moderators made a judgement call IMHO partially based upon a misinterpretation of Jim's intent

"We have been assured, over and over and over again, that the moderators do not ever misinterpret Jim's intent to suit their own whims or agenda, so you have to be mistaken. A thing like that is impossible…so we've been told." - 2700 posted by Scuttlebutt

To: Scuttlebutt

With the notable exception of myself, human beings make mistakes. - 2710 - John R -

========================================

We seem to be making progress here. -- If mistakes have been made, and now CAL is authorized to offer general protection from bans in exchange for oaths to follow the rules, then the next step is clear.

Publish the rules, and enforce them impartially, in an open accountable fashion.

[Arator]

Publish the rules, and enforce them impartially, in an open accountable fashion.

Say, now THERE'S and good idea! Who'd a thunk it. ;^)

[firebrand]

This site has grown to be what it is---the Radio Free USA of the Web and a force to be reckoned with in American politics---because it is honest and has no motive other than the stated one. Don't go away.

[tpaine]

Don't get too excited. --- The last time I ran that idea up the FR flagpole, I got a one word answer from the boss.

NO.

[Ratatoskr]

This website is what it is. No one controls what happens here. Not you, not the moderators, no one.

This is disingenuous. The moderators, by definition, control what happens here. They make poor judgement calls, and fear of more of the same has chilled conversation on FR quite noticeably lately.

The content, in its voluminous nature, is controlled by the people who post here. If they stop posting, this website dies. If they stop contributing, this website dies. It's something more profound than you or me or Jim Robinson or the moderators. None of us, separately, can begin to replace the heart and soul of this website: the participants.

This part, however, is profoundly true. If you leaned harder on this idea--and less on the "it's my party and screw off if you don't like it"--it would do a lot for the health of Free Republic. And the willingness of the participants to contribute both good commentary and hard cash.

[Jim Robinson]

Look, if your mother did not teach you proper etiquette as a child, and or if your (presumably) adult life experiences have left you lacking in the area of proper conduct and behavior in a public setting and or in mixed company, then perhaps you should go down to the nearest public library and check out a book. There are also numerous websites available that teach proper netequitte (do a google search). How is it that 95% or better of of our members (including many paleocons, libertarians, and Buchananites, not to mention several democrats and liberals) have absolutely no problems abiding by the simple guidelines already posted. Use just a tiny bit of commonsense and courtesy when you communicate with people and you would have a whole lot less trouble being accepted in polite society. In the meantime, why don't you grow a pair and quit your bellyaching. Your constant whining is grating on the nerves.

[Jim Robinson]

Ditto my message to Arator to you.