Email: The Future of Free Republic

Email | 06/25/02 | Jim Robinson

[Jim Robinson]

The following email is being circulated to our members by various disgruntled former FReepers:

Subject: The Future of Our Free Republic

Dear Fellow Free Republic Member,

Many of us at Free Republic are distressed by the extraordinary level of censorship that has been so obviously going on. It is very obvious that individual posts, entire threads, and the entire work of members who have been highly regarded are disappearing into a Memory Hole.

Scores of us have organized an e-mail network that is independent of the communication controls presently, and sadly, being used at our Free Republic. We have carefully documented the unmistakeable evidence that most of the posts, threads, and posters that are vaporized completely are overwhelmingly targeted for their political stance on the Right. These are not Leftwingers. These are not even Middle-of-the-Roaders. These are not disruptors. These are not foul-mouthed delinquents. These are fellow patriots on the Right who disagree with the controllers of FR on specific issues that are now hotly debated by the Right. We have documented that FR will parade before you, as if to hide all of the great posters whose work has been destroyed, a straw-man delinquent that has been banned. This is deceptive.

Treating these fellow patriots on the Right so shabbily is not right. As shabbily as those banned into the Memory Hole are being treated, the most shabbily treated of all are all of the good folks on Free Republic themselves. We came here for honest debate. Free Republic advertised itself as a Forum for honest debate. Without that honest debate...everything at Free Republic becomes shabby.

We can do much better. As a measure of how intense the simmering feelings have gotten among members on this unjustifiable use of deleting, censoring, and banning please link to the following thread. You will notice that one simple and sincere plea from one of our finest members has spontaneously touched off a prairie fire of approximately 500 posts in a mere 18 hours. If it isn't Memory Holed this thread may shoot into the thousands.

If you would like to receive anonymous updates of information concerning the hundreds of Freepers who have networked via e-mail to restore the wonderful honest debate to Free Republic, just drop an e-mail of just one or two words if you like for extreme brevity to:

StopCensoringUs@hotmail.com

And, here's that link back to the snowballing thread at FR:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/704701/posts

Thank you so much for giving your thought to this vital matter for our Internet home.

Sincerely, StopCensoringUs@hotmail.com

[BADJOE]

Libertypost.org says it is unfettered, unmoderated, for open and free discussion, surely they'd welcome us over there in our time of need. : )

[AppyPappy]

Oooohhh... the crowd really digs it when you do the macho thing Jim.

Oooohhh... the crowd really digs it when YOU do the Mojo thing...

[Jim Robinson]

Believe whatever you wish. It's a free country (or at least it used to be).

[KC Burke]

Yep, and I like the sub-forum format. All FReepers have to do is change their personal preferences so that the category of posts they are most interested in show up right after they log in. Pretty convenient, IMO.

Sort of like the fourth chapter of Hayek's Constitution of Liberty. We could have had a forum owner who believed in the Rationistic Totalitarian Democracy view of Liberalism and constructed a rigid rationalistic view of his site...but instead, we benefited from the Whiggish system of happenstance, careful, evolving, organic growth of WHAT WORKS.....

Conservatism in action.

[OWK]

Not interested in "doing the Mojo thing".

I wish Jim and his forum all the best. I simply think he's being silly (and playing to the favor of the crowd) by labeling all atheists as idiots, and his enemy.

He knows it too, but it's the kind of emotionalism some people really like. It plays well to the crowd, but ultimately it serves no purpose other than to divide and foster ill-will.

[Roscoe]

...we benefited from the Whiggish system of happenstance, careful, evolving, organic growth of WHAT WORKS.....

Great observation! FR is conservative right down to its programming.

[Timesink]

Liberty Forum has no intention of being a "serious threat" to FR in any way. Good grief - read JD's post to the LF membership above.

Yes, I just did. But understand JD's post is #309, whereas I was responding to post #51. It takes time to catch up! *grin*

[MeekOneGOP]

Oh, okay. Why dontcha ping me to it when you make your comment?
I'd be interested to see your input, FRiend. Thanks.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Funny, We've been here since 1998 and have never been censored, nor had any posts pulled. Never been banned either.

We've freely expressed our opinions, and I'm sure we have disagreed with people (sometimes quite **adamantly**, to put it mildly!!)

There are people out there who we swear must TRY REALLY HARD to be on a coveted "banned" list or something.

We just ignore disruptors. Unless we (or better said "I") am in a mood to vent.

The only posts I've had pulled are the ones I've requested because I misunderstood the subject matter.

EXTREMELY fast and fair treatment here. Thanks for a job well done, for a LONG time!!!

[ruoflaw]

your #211 is just plain wrong! There was a thread about President Bush two or three weeks ago and there were quite a few people complaining about the President...Jim Robinson not only saw the thread...but when someone pointed out what some of the people were saying...Jim Robinson said that he wasn't concerned with other people's opinions of President Bush or something to that effect...I took it to mean that he knew how he felt about the President and that the rest had their own opinions.

[freefly]

"...those who deal in tinfoil hat conspiracy theory,"

Like black helicopters? (Wait, that one turned out to be true...) Like the fed being involved in the OKC bombing? Like coverups at Waco? Like questions about where the anthrax came from? Who gets to decide what is "tin-foil hat" and what is a topic worthy of debate?

"...those who blame America for 9-11..."

So any discussion that addresses the fact that we TOLD the Taliban (prior to 911) that we were going to make war on them would be forbidden...(we won't mention the fact the the CIA is responsible for empowering them in the 1st place)?

"...those who excessively bash our president..."

It was ok when it was a democrat, but when the Republicans do the same disreputable things, we can't mention it? (Even though the laws the the Republicans pass will still be in effect when the dems get back in power...)
We consider clinton to be a traitor for handing high-tech knowledge and materials to China, are we supposed to give Bush a free pass when he does it too? (Actually it turns out it started with Bush senior...clinton was just continuing the policy.
Under "Republicans are offlimits" guidelines, I'd never have found this out.) Is it any less wrong because a politician with an "R" beside his name does it?

"...our war effort..."

We missed bin Laden, scattered the terrorists, and killed a lot of civilians and we have to consider that a victory? Even though yesterday's paper was talking about how the al Quaeda is increasing it's power?

"...or our military..."

Sorry, but even though the Republicans are in office, the "army of one" being promoted. That entire concept is still ridiculous.

"...those who aggressively engage in personal attacks, feuds and flamewars..."

Unless they are Israel-firsters? Or self-righteous religious posters? Or pro-Republican ostrichs?

"...defenders of abortion, gun control, gay rights, peta people, etc, etc (Free Republic is not a liberal debating society)."

If any of them have something to say, they can't be heard? Why? Are we afraid that we can't counter their ideas and arguments? Preaching to the choir is easy, but doesn't accomplish anything. Preaching is ment for sinners...otherwise it's just masturbation.
Bottom line: If a someone has something to say (for instance on gun control) that has merit and CANNOT be refuted with facts and logic, then he just may be right!
Don't we have the confidence in our position on a variety of subjects (including gun control) that we would have no problem debating someone who disagrees and discusses his rational in a polite and calm manner. We shouldn't be afraid of him or his arguments, in fact, we should welcome them. If we can show him the error of his ways, he will increase our ranks.

Admins should be there to ban jerks (no matter WHAT ideology they support), not non-PC topics. And THAT's what appears to have been happening on FR.

Re: LibertyForum. Sure there are jerks out there, but there are plenty EVERYWHERE -including a few on FR :-). Topics and opinions should stand and fall on their own merits, NOT on whether they are PC (liberal OR conservative PC). That's why some outstanding posters are out there now. They're there to learn and debate the issues, not spend their time at choir practice.

[EggsAckley]

Thanks for the heads-up. The problem seems to have corrected itself now. I DO use the whole www. address, btw. A number of others have let me know that they were experiencing the same thing. Thanks alot!!

[TLBSHOW]

Most of this bunch are in need of mental help. In fact all afer's need mental help. They never really leave they follow you around the net and attack when they can.

[tinacart]

"by all means, stay and enjoy yourself. I'm sure FR will manage somehow without you."

You won't get rid of me that easily :)

God Bless you and all your work!

[Catspaw]

Currently, there is an eight-month waiting list for the "Spooks & Gubm't Apologists" department. Consider "Northern Aggressors," where you'll find several openings.

Why, thank you, dighton. I'd consider it an honor to be a Northern Agressor.

I'll dust off Old Abe and bring him along.

 

[MoJo2001]

Dear Mr. Robinson,

Thank you very much for posting this email. I'm not sure why certain things are happening, but that's life. I'm not sure what the censorship issue is about, but if I'm not banned. I'm not sure how easily you do ban people.

I am very proud to be a Freeper. I'm not ashamed to classify myself as such in front of Liberals, RINO's, or even those that know they are conservative..but have no guts. I'm very proud to post my feelings and beliefs knowing that at least one person will not agree.

Free Republic, as I believed a long time ago, should be a place for like minded individuals. Liberals have so many places to roam and I found FreeRepublic to be an absolutely wonderful place. However, like minded opinions sometimes get old. It's old and tiring hearing that Liberals suck. That's pretty much a given. However, why do they suck? What views do they have that you disagree with. Well, here's your chance to state your opinion.

Keep in mind, I don't believe that Free Republic should be or ever has been a place to bash individual posters. If you don't agree with someone, so be it. If you think they are lost out in the Ozone, help them back to Earth. If you feel you could counter their argument, do so. However, attacking an individual (who you can't even see through your monitor) is absolutely assanine.

Mr. Robinson, not all those that leave Free Republic are anti-semitic, pro-marxist, or racist for that matter. As a matter of fact, many people leave just because they've grown comfortable enough to actually take the activism from the keyboard to the streets. For that, I commend those individuals. Keep up the good fight and stay true to your beliefs.

As a whole, there are no finer groups of individuals on the internet. Who would you rather have battling on your behalf? Freepers or Democratic Underground members?( That name just sounds like a bunch of gophers hiding from Bill Murray)

FREEPERS ALL THE WAY!!

I am very proud to be American. I'm proud to be a Freeper. I just wish others would feel the same way more often. It's a blessing to have these debates. I'm thankful we aren't in an Arab country or for that matter in China.

All in all, I'm glad to have a voice.

[MeekOneGOP]

LOL! Redneck's good too.........

Sinsyarly, StopCenso'in'Us@hotmail, ah reckon.com

Thanks for givin' me dat link, Bro! LOL!

[KC Burke]

see my theory at 479....its fixed now so therefore a dead issue

[Timesink]

Thanks for the alterslash info. Much of what the internet is about is filling a need, eh?

Yup! Unfortunately, I'm still waiting for giveabigdorkyguyadate.com.

[Rowdee]

And it is only fair to indicate your innuendo that Liberty Forum stifles 'Free Speech' through the invitation is bogus--but you probably already know the truth of the matter.

That truth being their equipment cannot handle a large influx at this time and they are working on the programming enhancements, etc.

Further, there was an effort for members to nominate those who could add to the debate process...to weed out the 'eschoirs' of the world...so that when people came to visit the site, they wouldn't be swamped with junk comments, pics of the beautiful crowd, yada yada, but find a place where issues of liberty, freedom, governance are discussed--and yet there is a place for the occasional humor. Regional issues are discussed as well as national and international.