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.
“All your basis belong to us”. LOL
It appears so. How often does he get the zot? Sheesh.
You obviously missed all the fun in '08 when the Romney supporters were on every thread trashing anyone who disagreed with them on his being the Messiah and especially trashing in the most obscene way, Fred Thompson's wife.
Get over it, newbie. ;)
Seriously? You’re all wrapped around the axle because JR put the Romneybots on notice, again, that Romney is PNG at FreeeRepublic?
Sheesh.
Methinks you contradicted yourself.
Nothing is more American than private citizens peacefully exercising their freedom of association.
Ditto on Jobs. First time I met him I wanted to bash his face in. Snot nosed punk.
What'd he do this time?
I am confused here....what did I miss...linkie please
I miss Laz
Nice.
I mowed my lawn today and now am working on a fence to keep out the illegal alien animals. I had a burrito and jalapenos for lunch. Its overcast here today and cool. Life is wonderful. Remember our fallen heroes. I guess someone had to bitch.
Here’s an example:
Someone posts, I’m not pro-gay, but I believe in civil unions. They could be for anyone, not just gays, something like a corporation.
Someone posts back: CIVIL UNIONS ARE PRO GAY. NO CONSERVATIVE CAN SUPPORT THEM.
The first guy posts back: Why would that be the case, if they were available to any two people? How is it different than allowing rights to corporations?
Second guy: CIVIL UNIONS ARE PRO-GAY. THE OWNER OF THIS SITE SAYS SO!
It’s that kind of thing a lot of us are talking about.
You might try the next sock size up. Feet grow and socks that are too small can make a person kind of grumpy sometimes.
If that is the case, I own several women. I have spent a LOT of money on several of them.
I agree. Zots are fun to read, especially when the zotted poster is obviously stoned out of their mind.
Why’s does this vanity remind me somewhat of Dialectical Materialism and Das Kapital? The worker/donor is not getting their fair share, the owners of the means of production add no value, have no lasting claim, ... Or some gobbled-goop like that. I hated that class, and the female instructors pit hair too.
“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. “
Would you mind if people joined your effort with a view toward defending and keeping Orrin Hatch or at least seeing that someone with views similar to his is his replacement? In other words, people who join the effort and undermine it?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.