Can This Freeper Be Saved?

7-13-02 | Joe Phillips

[BADJOE]

When I was a young man, one of the womens magazines had a monthly feature "Can This Marriage be Saved" which would have both sides tell their stories, followed by a marriage counselor who disected the imput from both parties. Then the story followed up on the results.

Obviously some cases were hopeless, but many that seemed to be hopeless were resolved.

[strela]

I mentioned usenet before as a bit of a contrast. I've posted there before, but not for quite a while. While it beats a chat room by far, it isn't exactly the epitome of discussion media. In its totally uncensored form, you do have to weed through tons of BS to get to the meat of the subject.

I've been posting to Usenet for over 5 years now, and you're right that there is a LOT of dross to pick through to get to the gold. A program I found called NFilter made all the difference in the world for me. It lets you screen out offensive posts and posters by darned near any criteria you can think of. NFilter is a gold-plated bi*** to configure and doesn't work with every Usenet feed, but once you get past the technical hurdles, your signal-to-noise ratio improves dramatically.

[piasa]

FReehab

ROTFLMAO

[Dales]

It is my understanding that JohnRob is working on user configurable filters for Free Republic. I think if you go to the general interest forum and do a search on John Robinson you might be able to find the thread where he discusses it.

[Issaquahking]

Has discipline now beomce PC? No. I still believe in the DEATH penalty and believe it should be used a lot more in black and white cases...like in less than 30 days if we find them guilty with cold hard facts (like when a murderer is caught pulling the trigger).

As far as a forum page - each case on it's own merits.

[strela]

Can the rest of us go in and watch.

I think that JimR should handle "The Alley" like the premium content it could conceivably be - only those Freepers who contribute financially get full 24/7 access. (Of course, those posters who get sent there for time-out would still get full posting privileges).

Lemonade out of lemons ...

[Illbay]

Or more precisely: You couldn't have a co-dependent relationship, without co-dependents.

[B Knotts]

You make a good point. There are abuses on both sides, and there are certainly those who deserve to be banned, but...

It seems to work only in one direction. "Loyalists" are never banned, even though some of them can, at times, be the most caustic, divisive and, yes, disruptive posters here.

I have no particular axe to grind on this, because I usually find myself about halfway between the two extremes (I've been pilloried by both). I simply would point out that moderator activity seems to be somewhat selective. I suspect the reason has to do with how moderators are selected.

It is good, though, to get rid of people who are solely here to disrupt.

Sometimes I miss some of the tinfoil-heads, though. And, as others have pointed out, A+Bert.

I have to admit enjoying one particular poster for amusement purposes only. I think his handle was "WilliamWallace5000" or something. His persona was pretty much limited to going on to any thread discussing a story in which someone had done a misdeed, and calling for the death penalty for that crime.

I never saw a thread at that time about jaywalking, so I don't know his position on that, but I have my suspicions.

[Illbay]

I remember that one. In fact, I was amazed--maybe a little suspicious--when the thread was titled "Neverending Story" almost from the first iteration.

How'd that guy know?

[strela]

It is my understanding that JohnRob is working on user configurable filters for Free Republic. I think if you go to the general interest forum and do a search on John Robinson you might be able to find the thread where he discusses it.

I seem to recall the thread where he discusses it. An idea long overdue, IMO. (Of course, the new FR layout kicked my a** for weeks, so I might not be smart enough to figure out how to use it) ;)

[Great Dane]

I have two children, that need to know where the line is.

But we are not children.

[Illbay]

Yeah, that's the one. Thanks.

[wheezer]

Bait and Snitch Squad, stand up and take a bow. You know who you are and so do many of the rest of us.

Bingo...well said.

The pack of jackals operational tactic has not improved debate and dialogue on this forum.

[meyer]

I've been posting to Usenet for over 5 years now, and you're right that there is a LOT of dross to pick through to get to the gold. A program I found called NFilter made all the difference in the world for me. It lets you screen out offensive posts and posters by darned near any criteria you can think of. NFilter is a gold-plated bi*** to configure and doesn't work with every Usenet feed, but once you get past the technical hurdles, your signal-to-noise ratio improves dramatically.

Yes, filters are quite useful. Its funny, I don't mind the offensive language so much as the abusive posts by those on the left. Somehow, the ones from the right don't seem so bad, but I may be biased. :^)

I stay away from the political newsgroups, but there are a couple I still drop in to on occasion. I used to frequent a weightlifting group that was just filled with locker-room bantor. And you had to really prove yourself worthy before posting. Very click-ish. And yet, there were some of the most knowledgeable people there WRT nutrition, lifting techniques, legal and illegal "enhancements" and all things health oriented that might have a connection with weightlifting. (and for the record, NO, I did not use illegal enhancements).

What I also found interesting on the weightlifting group was that they had a strong disdain for mainstream media when it involved issues surrounding weights, nutrition, and steroids. But they did not share that same disdain when it involved commerce or politics. I occasionally reminded them of this.

Anyway, before this becomes a rant, thanks for the tip. :^)

[Anamensis]

I remember one freeper who was banned, without ever having been warned first. She was just one of those young ladies with views that Jim absolutely hated, and I think he'd been waiting his chance. One day when someone called her a witch, and said she should be going to a Wicca meeting, or something like that, she made an (admittedly nasty) remark about her broomstick and the taunter's behind and whoosh, she was gone.

I do think she should have been given a 2 monther or something, because it was evident to me at least that she had been raised liberal but was really coming to a much better understanding from spending so much time here on Free Republic. As one poster says, it can take time and she got shut out without a bit of warning. It was too bad.

[Illbay]

Sometimes I miss some of the tinfoil-heads, though. And, as others have pointed out, A+Bert.

There are still a few good ones, but they seem to stick to only a few topics, not range around firing their weird salvos like good ol' A+Bert.

Don't know what it was about that guy, but I found it IMPOSSIBLE to get mad at him. He'd say something outrageous, then end it with some self-deprecation that just made me laugh.

[B Knotts]

she made an (admittedly nasty) remark about her broomstick and the taunter's behind

ROFL

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I still dont have it figured out.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I remember that one. In fact, I was amazed--maybe a little suspicious--when the thread was titled "Neverending Story" almost from the first iteration.

How'd that guy know?

It was a vision, "a mission from God" :)

The first threads started on the old style format, there were 182 threads at 175 post each = 31,850 post, and then it went to the new style format and we just put it all on one thread, it got to 55,000 posts, then the new forum started, we started a new thread over there and its up to about 20,000 post, 31,850 + 55,000 + 20,000 = 106,850 total posts, it is a Never Ending Story.

By the way a girl came up with the title. :)

BigMack

[Grampa Dave]

Without the moderators, this site would be have been destroyed by those have destroyed most other conservative sites which are now dodos on the internet.

Free Republic is the only real effective tool against the left wing maggots and their buddies the ISLAMAKAZIS!

This is why they constantly have their moles over here trying to destroy it, weaken it and to drive away conservatives who come to learn from each other.

The convergence of these hate American/Americans after 9/11 to Free Republic was not an accident. I thank Jim and the moderators for pulling the chain on these ISLAMAKAZIS whenever they showed their true colors.

Having said that. If a person gets angry and responds in a situation that is inappropriate and that is not normal for that person on FR. Maybe Jim or the moderator can send a Freep Mail to that Freeper saying, "Knock that Bravo Sierra off or you will be out of here!" If they continue, yank their privilege to post here. Or a little time out and conseling is what is called for. Then, after a week or so, he/she/it can return to Free Republic. If they do it again, 6 months or a year from now. Another timeout is appropriate.

The serial abusers who get drunk on Friday and Saturday night and attack people because they aren't conservative enough or whatever, should have no voice here. These klowns are cowards. If they acted that way in a bar or at a party, they would be revolving guests at the ER and broken jaw ward. Some are serial stalkers. Stalkers are again are mean and vicious bully/cowards. If they stalked in real life, they would get the cr*p beat out of them or learn a quick lesson about the Second Amendment!

Re your date of joining Free Republic. I'm still a newby as my official join date comes up soon for the 2 year mark.
I think that date is very important in sniffing out a DU Mole or an ISLAMAKAZI Mole. Whenever, I read a post or reply that strikes me as weird, I check the date that person registered with FR. It is an important tool.

Then some new freepers are great conservatives, and I ping them and ask them to ping me. Many have been lurkers and some thread or event got them registered and posting.

Now time for my Free Republic agenda:

"ARE YOU A REGULAR MONTHLY CONTRIBUTOR TO FREE REPUBLIC?"

If not, you should be! There is no free lunch for real conservatives! Where else can you get the real news and great analysis on it from many of your peers and some real intelligent people? I can't think of any other source. Many of the other sources steal from FR on a regular basis. That is the greatest compliment that Free Republic can get.