Replies

No one is being dragged to the computer and forced at gun point to debate anything here (though there are rumors some of them are paid to).

True enough, but the point is not whether people get their proper level of enjoyment out of FreeRepublic. I look to FreeRepublic as a possible conservative force in this country, and I think a fair number of Freepers do the same. So, if we allow trolls to go about posting their BS on here, does that not diminish us as a conservative force? And if we do take the time to dispute them, does that not take time away from constructive things Freepers could actually be doing rather than discussing? If all you want this site to be is a chat room, then certainly you can choose to debate or not debate whomever. However, we need to decide if we want this site to be more than that.

I look to FreeRepublic as a possible conservative force in this country, ... If all you want this site to be is a chat room, ...

As is the case much of the time, I believe the truth is somewhere in between.

Free Republic is an excellent resource for information. It is a veritable library not of articles, there are much more complete resources like Lexisnexis, but of commentary. Find an article on a subject that interests you, then watch it get dissected. Decide for yourself what the truth is. Research a thousand articles with the same keywords. It is a clearinghouse for all things conservative. How many novices have learned what conservative means, or veterans have educated themselves on new subjects?

It can also be a place to be a part of a community. I don't know how many ping lists there are, everything from airplanes to Zimbabwe, but Freepers can gather to encourage and support each other on topics that they are passionate on. And yes, it is also a place where they can organize. How many people went to tea parties that they heard about here? How many political rallies, candidate fundraisers, speeches or just good old fashioned get togethers have been organized here?

However, I don't think it is a place for national organization. Freepers have a few bedrock principles that unite them, but this is not a GOP message board. It is also not a Constitution Party, Falcon Party of Libertarian Party message board. It's not a California or Georgia message board. The reasons that Freepers are here are far too varied for them to be directed at a common goal. I appreciate your sentiment, but I feel this crowd is wired wrong for what you want.

Liberals have a much greater need to feel like part of a group. Conservatives are much more individuals. Liberals will join a group, often any group, just to belong. Conservatives have to be convinced to join. If you found a strong leader with excellent organizational skills they could possibly convince a significant portion (10%?) of Freepers to join in some sort of national effort. But you will need a leader, a goal, a plan and an excellent recruiting mechanism. I've seen many a vanity and many more posts opining that Freepers aren't organized but have all this untapped potential. No one has found the magic formula yet. Sarah Palin may have come the closest (Too bad about being tied to Yosemite Sam).