I'm still a bit of a noob here, but I have noticed that several of the threads I've read through go a little bit like this:
PERSON A: I think A,B,C,D,E,F and G and I'm a conservative.
PERSON B: I think A,B,C,D,E,F and I disagree with you on G and I'm also a conservative.
PERSON A: No you're not a conservative because you don't agree with G.
JIM ROBINSON: Yup.
Okay, I've seen the posts by Jim about what is and isn't conservative and it's his site and his perogative to do so. I'm not disputing that.
But I just wondered, before I get banned in my first week for doing something like playing Devil's Advocate in a conversation (which I have done on other forums) I thought it prudent to ask:
What is the tipping point between someone expressing a different or contrary or contraversial YET STILL VALID point of view here, and crossing the line to a point that'll get you banned?
I'm asking because IMO there's a fundamental difference between arguing a point of POLICY (which requires a sense of pragmatism as well as ideology) and arguing over IDEOLOGY (where it's appropriate to maintain an absolute position).
You are unlikely to get banned for discussing policy issues as long as you are not offensive, do not use profanity, do not engage in personal attacks, are not racist, and do not advocate violence.
Play with matches, do you? JK, welcome to Freeperville!
Enjoy your stay.
IBTZ.
Nice flag!
My WAG is — you’ll be given a lot less benefit of the doubt as a 3-day-old Brit than a 3-day-old American.
Perhaps.
So maybe you should just read and nod and post the occasional “I say old chap” for a while.
I defer to Mr. Robinson.
We all agree on Article I Section 8 of the US Constitution and the 10th Amendment. If you cannot see eye to eye with us on that then we'll have to remind you Red Coats of 1776!
Say, you’re not the guy with bacon fan, are you?
Thou shalt worship the lunatic Orly Taitz and all her attributes.
Otherwise thou art a troll most foul!
Further thou shalt worship Sarah Palin and agree that she
is at least equal to Jesus and thou shalt cheerlead for
her at every opportunity, otherwise thou art a troll most foul!
Goodness, what hard questions!! Just don’t EVER abuse kitties. Remember that all the power lies with Jim Thompson. Thailand can be very controversial. Share your best election day party recipes with all. Read all posts on a thread before posting your own comment. Do not call other FReepers stupid. Pictures are helpful. If you introduce “controversial” threads frequently, you risk being cast out as a troll. Welcome to FReeRepublic.
Do not start a topic and sit back without answering responses, avoid name calling, think before clicking “post”.
Welcome
Honest, intellectual discussion is welcomed here - “Trolls” [those who purposely mis-represent themselves] are NOT abided.
Also, no profanity or personal attacks on other Freepers ...
That’s facinating, quite a first effort.
Please write more and include points G through Z.
If you where a real conservative, you wouldn’t have to ask.
Frankly, you sound like a whiny liberal to me.
Yeah, probably missed the thing about vanities.
Having an opinion that isn't "conservative" generally isn't enough to get you banned. That sort of rigorous conformism isn't demanded here.
Acting like you belong on Democratic Underground is another story.
If you misspell "controversial," you will get banned.
I think A,B,C,D,E,F and G and I’m a conservative.
During that time, I can assure you I've had countless disagreements with many, and have been persuaded to change my views by some, and would like to think I've changed other's views. This is a forum for both free speech and polite discourse. I feel free to exercise both at any time.
Welcome to FR!
Infants who want to remain don’t post vanities about themselves.
Lay low, limit your comments to threads where you can add something interesting, and not “play devil’s advocate”.
The site mission as I see it is not to entertain you (or me). So don’t think of it as your intellectual/political playground.
There are a fair number of big gov conservatives. For example, GW Bush who along with a Republican House and Senate, called himself a ‘Compassionate’ conservative, and they went on to out spend LBJ.
So, it’s kind of messy. Nothing to be done about it, it’s the way it is.
As far as I'm concerned, ideology and even religion are open to argument and I've seen plenty of it here on this site.