BadJoe/JimRob Dispute Ended - Free Republic Train Wreck Derailed

Free Republic | August 26, 2002 | Jim Robinson

[Jim Robinson]

Most of you know that a battle has been raging over the last several weeks between me and BadJoe regarding some of our moderating policies. Looked pretty bad there for awhile. Joe was going to resign from Free Republic and there was even a dust up regarding the monthly donors and how the records would be turned over to a new credit card service.

I am happy to report that today that battle has officially ended and Free Republic may have avoided being fatally damaged in a disastrous train wreck. As it is, the only losses suffered were a few black eyes and a lost ear or two. Fractures and abrasions were suffered, but no major bones broken or organs punctured. Hurt feelings, bruised egos, dampened spirits, damaged bodies are now all on the mend. A satisfactory agreement has been reached between all warring parties as to how we will continue forward in our fight for Freedom.

Summary of today's agreement between BadJoe and JimRob:

1. Jim to reinstate the observer program with between 2-4 members of his choosing. Joe may suggest nominees.

2. Jim to put up a post to this effect, including his boilerplate guideline to the mods.

3. Jim will work with John on writing a subroutine or program that lists the banned comments, banned threads and names of banishees, that Joe will have access to.

4. Joe will process the Sept fundraiser cc's, and work with Jim and whomever is taking over the program to effect a smooth transition. Joe will continue to work on the fundraisers as a volunteer but will not run the program.

We will be working on a moderator policy manual (the boilerplate guidelines) and will post it as soon as completed. For now, I will say that we do not want racist material, anti-Semitism, religion bashing, tin-foil hat material, leftist propaganda (used to smear or bash conservatives), profanity, vulgarity, pornography, excessive flaming, insults or feuds, liberals, leftists, marxists, etc., are generally not welcome as are multiple screen names, disruptors, anti-FReepers or returning bannees.

Said material may be deleted as discovered or reported and posters may be warned, suspended or banned depending on severity.

But the standing moderator policy is to go as easy as possible on the posters. Many flame wars and insults and even some minor violations of other rules may sometimes be ignored. It depends entirely on the situation and the posters involved. Posters with unclean hands might as well avoid using the abuse button. We do not want to wade through hundreds of posts looking for who is at fault. We do not have time for it and do not want to act as nannies anyway. The general rule of thumb for a moderator is to always give the poster the benefit of the doubt. If there is any doubt, then we do not delete and do not ban. I'd rather bend the rules than stifle the debate. And now that we have a smokeybackroom forum, we'll suggest that people take their feuds and flame wars there and unless it gets too nasty the moderators will look the other way.

Believe it or not we do not like deleting or banning. We want to attract as many new people as we possibly can, but we also want to run a clean board. And we want to advance our conservative causes while not assisting the leftists propaganda artists in their dirty work.

I know this does not cover everything, but we'll be posting more as we can.

Also, we are in the process of contracting with one of the major nationwide credit card processing companies. Joe has been processing these for us for the last several years, but the job has gotten to be a huge task and a burden on him. Joe will assist us in making as smooth a transition as possible to the new service.

As always, I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart and we are all very appreciative of your support and understanding. I'm sorry for this recent turmoil and hope it is all behind us and we can get on with our FReeping!

God bless you all and God bless America!

Jim

[Texasforever]

Nick Danger has style because he has a powerful intellect, and in his field is primus avec non pariel,

I am also

[snopercod]

Thanks for the ping.

I think I've got it now. The moderators are to observe the forum, and the observers are to moderate the moderators.

[gunnedah]

So! What does that have to do with me,may I ask.

[Movemout]

Cool! I'm glad that you guys worked things out if for no other reason than I was getting tired of seeing If Only when scrolling through the posts. If you ever decide to fire a moderator can we throw stuff at him/her first?

[BADJOE]

The Freepers do.

I have an immense amount of faith and respect for their intelligence and their judgement.

[ken5050]

as it ever was...as it shall ever be.....

[ken5050]

glad all is once again A-OK...possibly, in the spirit of reconciliation you might consider changing your screen handle to GOODJOE....

[ken5050]

glad all is once again A-OK...possibly, in the spirit of reconciliation you might consider changing your screen handle to GOODJOE....

[BADJOE]

I won't be observing.

But you can watch me like a "Hawk" if you want to.

: )

[Jakarta ex-pat]

Oh this is too easy!

You guys can't be serious.

Come on. Let's get back to the program. We were supposed to wait 1 day before the Freepathon for maximum impact!

I know we suckered everyone in, but did we really have to lose our nerve?

So we lose A few more casualties, but think of all the money that's going to flood in!

Keep smiling,

and congrats.

Philip ;-)

[Boot Hill]

"Train Wreck Derailed"

Isn't that something like "genuine imitation", "british cuisine", "exact estimate" or "found missing"?

Regards,

Boot Hill

[lsee]

Little Joe?

Read the description of Little Joe...perfect!

[Bigun]

Thanks Torie!

I have NEVER been able to understand why reasonable folks cannot present their points of view and agree to disagree on the matter while still remaining friends. You and I HAVE the ability to do that and that is a GOOD thing IMHO!

[Bigun]

They don't come much finer than you and BadJoe.

Now THERE is a statement I can agree with! How ya doin sweetie?

[Constitution Day]

Something like that, I guess.

[Overtaxed]

For now, I will say that we do not want racist material, anti-Semitism, religion bashing, tin-foil hat material...

Uh oh, MKM, we are in BIG trouble!!

Darn! Does this mean I won't have a place to wear my three-cornered tinfoil hat (once I get it made)?

[Bigun]

we keep them around in case some of our regulars get tired of bashing Bush and the Republicans and or each other.

LOL! EVERY cat needs a ball of string!

[lsee]

"There's always a bigger fish"

[ofMagog]

I'm trying to get some sleep here! Would you people knock it off. You woke up Thud and now he is demanding a midnight snack.

Also, the Ship's Bail Jar is getting low again. Drop in a buck or two.

[Constitution Day]

I don't think anyone will notice you wearing it over in the Hobbit Hole, OT! :)