Posted on 12/17/2004 9:05:01 AM PST by Valin
Anatomy of a Freeper...
For those of you who just stumble around Instapundit, Hugh Hewitt, Powerline or The Corner, and a couple of internet sites to get your dose of non-Ratherised news, you may not have ever heard of a "Freeper". In a minute, I'm going to use the following example to give you a window into their world.
Freepers are people who post to a rather interesting bulletin board service called Free Republic. A lot of my blogging friends know about them, but surprisingly enough, not very many of them view them as a news source they visit frequently. I think the Freepers are an essential element in gathering news. If you go in with the right mindset, and know what you are looking for, it can be a goldmine of information.
Hugh Hewitt has often called freepers the Coast Watchers of the new media. When news happens, either in print, on radio, or on television, someone will post a link, and much of the meat of the story, as the beginning of a thread. Within minutes, if the story is juicy enough, just like flies, freepers all over will descend on the story and give their two cents worth.
Here's where the discernment of the person surfing has to come in. There are saboteurs who will immediately try to spin the story, especially if it's political, and there will be people from every walk of life taking their shots until the end of the thread takes the original picture the story paints and turns it into a Picasso.
Here's an example of the wit, sarcasm, sincerity, & speed of the Freepers:
11/29/04 In Linn County, Iowa, there is a small town called Robins. Population of 1,806. There is an accidental shooting of Lyle Rusk, the town's police chief, by one of his own officers. The story was reported on local Cedar Rapids television, link here.
12/16/04 10:01PM PST The story is found by a freeper and a link is started. Remember this is a very minor story in the overall scheme of things, so there is a delay between when the event happens and when it's reported on FR. If it's a major news story, a thread will appear in seconds.
12/16/04 10:04PM PST Five responses, largely cynical, have already been posted.
12/16/04 10:05PM PST The first Barney Fife reference made, including this picture.
The neck injury to the chief was serious, and the recovery process is going to be long, but all indications are that he's going to be fine. But when you read that he'd been accidentally shot by his own officer, tell the truth. Didn't this image flash in your mind? If there is a punch line in a news story, no matter how tasteless, at least one Freeper is going to use it.
12/17 12:11AM PST In just a little over two hours, there have been fifty-four responses to the original story. Many have been humorous, many have been respectful and prayerful, and many have been from people who have obvious law enforcement background dissecting how something like this could have happened in the first place.
Remember this is an obscure story. When the Rathergate story broke, there were responses, theories, and updates literally every time you hit the refresh button. Freepers are very much part of the face of new media. They are also very much a part of the blogosphere.
The speed at which news travels on sites like this is the reason why liberals can no longer dominate the media and control the spin to suit their agenda. The news moves too fast. There are too many people who see stuff and post it, and there are too many smart people to praise it and spread it around if it has merit, and dissect it like a frog in biology class if it's bogus.
In cases like Rathergate, a bogus story can be proven false, spread all over the world, and completely discrediting of the original reporter before he/she comes to work the next morning.
Sometimes the content in the threads is not for the feint of heart, but if you cruise the latest topics, you will often find news literally as it's being reported anywhere in the world.
Not to mention, Freepers were first to post their personal observations of the Challenger as it exploded into pieces and fell into East Texas.
(Acknowledgment by Wall Street Journal.)
Hey, I resemble that remark! Bzzzzzz bzzzzz....
That is why the research departments at so-called "professional" news agencies are rank amateurs when compared to FreeRepublic.
SHHHH!
Every freeper adds something unique to the convesation. Even lib perspectives make us think!
They are constantly trying to figure out how to shut us down.
LOL. I've taken a beating or two myself, and I came here as a conservative.
Funny thing is, conservatives come in many stripes and colors with various views and positions. Liberals ALL have to toe the same dogmatic line, or else.
My, and most FReeper, philosophy allows contrasting opinions, liberalism does not.
Good to have you among us, Valin. A true FR Hero!
What? It took us four whole minutes to get the Barney Fife photo out? Where is Kurt Russell ("The Miracle" hockey coach) with his whistle? We have GOT to cut some time off that.
I am not thrilled with being liken to a fly... I just hope the average FReeper lifespan is longer.
Duane, with all due respect, misses some of the greatest features here: a news story thread will often have incredible research posted on the story and players. Likewise, many Freepers are "connected" providing inside information on some stories as well as technical knowledge. Lastly, there is the activism aspect which helps shape the news that is reported. This is an incredible place. Thank you Jim Robinson & all Freepers...
Oh, look - the spelling fairy's been here!
Huh?
She's married now.
Picasso SUCKED, still does..
I prefer "turns it into a:...BLOGOSCAPE... with Robinsonian engrams"..
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.
