Posted on 05/27/2011 10:36:25 AM PDT by Dr. Zzyzx
Freeper Friends,
I was saddened by JimRob's imperious pronouncement yesterday, and the ensuing comments & zots. Here's why. One of this site's primary pillars is the Bill of Rights which calls for Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Right to a trial by jury. We believe in those things. We believe in them to the point of being willing to sacrifice our lives for them. And yet on this site, when a JimRob cuts people off for what they say or believe Freepers cheer him like Baghdad Bob would cheer Saddam Hussein! That's not America folks!
"He owns the site!" you say. Tell that to Steven Jobs who got dumped a few years ago from the company he started because he created an IPO to get financial support from others. Once JimRob started taking YOUR money, it became YOUR site. YOU provide the content, YOU provide the financing. Without YOU, Jim would be a lonely guy staring at a monitor in his den.
How can we say we want freedoms out one side of our mouths, and stand by and cheer as Jim zots dissenters in a way that would make medieval Europe's most dictatorial tyrants proud?
John Stuart Mill had the right approach--let all the ideas fight it out in the arena. If they're foolish ideas, they will eventually be seen as such. We don't have anything to fear from hearing someone else's point of view.
Now. In case you're wondering:
My membership date is actually one and a half years earlier than the November 1999 date shown. (Had to re-enlist because of computer and email trouble)
I was raised in Arizona but live in Utah. I fly the Arizona flag on my profile because I'm proud of their stance on immigration.
I’ve told anyone that will listen that I think Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman are shifty weasels.
I served on the city council and as the mayor of my community.
I played a part in the grassroots effort to throw Bob Bennett out of office, and hope soon to do the same to Orrin Hatch.
I waged a pitched battle in the newspapers and amongst my fellow teachers against the president, officers, and organization of the Utah Education Association, an arm of the NEA.
I became disenchanted with the Republican party after some of the things George Bush (though I admire his courage and determination) did that I felt were harmful to the financial well-being of America.
In other words, I'm not a newbie troll. I just have a genuine concern with how members are treated here, and you should too.
To save you the electrons of posting replies, I'll post them for you:
Jim owns the site, he can do what he wants.
ZOT!
Put on your asbestos suit.
Put on your tin foil hat.
Viking Kitties!
Don't let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya!
A cheese-eating moose bit my sister.
dibs on the pie!
**************************
LOLOLOL!
lol
It sometimes amazes me that people don’t understand the simple admonition “Not in my house!” People constantly misconstrue the first amendment to mean they can say (sometimes do) anything they want, anywhere they want. That’s simply not true, and many here have noted that fact with excellent examples. Yet we still get the same ol’ same ol’ under the guise of I’m free to do so, and if you don’t let me then you’re somehow limiting my freedoms.
They’re free to say what they want. But that doesn’t mean we (you) have to provide the venue.
Laz is a real contributor to this forum.
Hey!, I resemble that remark!
Heh.
I think more often, members used the zot as the final post when they disagree with "Not in my house".
Doesn't matter. The fact is, this site is a heterosexual site. That stems from our core values of which our social (and fiscal, of course) conservatism is but a part. We do not appreciate homosexuals insinuating themselves into our schools, churches or any other public forum. We have the right to disavow that. We have the right to band together to discuss our joint issues and feelings without that outside influence. And that right is what we insist on.
If someone disagrees with that, they're free to go elsewhere. But that doesn't give them the right to insist we change.
Look, Jim, nor anyone here, is saying they can't behave in their debased way behind closed doors. Just don't do it publicly, don't demand the overturn of hundreds of years of proven law that has made this country great. And don't demand we we have to be an audience to your lewdness. We refuse. Period.
Ain’t that the sad truth.
Not only the final post, but I've seen my share of first posts as well. But we still have those who want to argue their mistaken or misunderstood understanding of the first amendment, and how it affects speech in general.
In any case, I'm here precisely because we don't allow the mixture of thoughts from across the spectrum. It's a conservative site. We discuss conservative ideas, and it's a pleasure to be (well, somewhat) free of disturbing outside pressure.
Awesome tag line Elsie!
"Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going".
I blame his temporary insanity on the not-so-good 'Dr' who by the way is STILL COWARDLY AVOIDING HIS OWN LAME VANITY THREAD.
Is the housewife modmin/admin back, creating havoc again? And has 'gunner and darksheare ever gotten their pizza delivered?
Inquiring minds want to know.
What IS that?
If I may, nothing that you mentioned is new. This site has always drawn a line on Conservative issues. The path of this site isn't to debate merits of liberalism any more than eGullet.com is around to discuss the merits of starvation. Members know this and they do choose to fund the site. We are all the customers of the site and it seems the customers are saying that they still like the product offered as they continue to help the site meet its goals. Sometimes there is ebbs and flows in how long it takes, probably mostly economic driven, but the customers are still buying the product. So, in essence, you are right, this site is by the members for the members, BUT it seems the members are saying they like the direction the captain is steering the ship.
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