[RonDog]

A personal question. How does one get on the Bang List?

YOU do not get on the bang-list, the THREAD does.
A thread is marked for a bump_list when someone posts a reply on that thread, i.e. To: bang_list, as I am doing right now.

Once a thread has been marked in this way, it will show up whenever anyone clicks on the link for the bang_list, which is currently: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/involved?group=152.

Bump-lists in general are sort of like using the Find in Forum function that you can access from a FReeper's profile page, i.e. jackbill - Find in Forum, except that the bang_list is not a REAL PERSON. (And most FReepers are...)

See:
Free Republic "Bump List" Register
Posted on 9/30/01 4:46 AM Pacific by John Robinson

and

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list
(Official Register of Free Republic Bump Lists)

Of course, the preceding was all correct BEFORE John Robinson's MASSIVE new changes. ;o)

Perhaps things will be even BETTER after the transition.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Excellent tutorial on the capability that I think is really extraordinary!

Sounds like John has some interesting new ideas on expanding this, although I don't see how he can improve it that much.

Maybe we are going to get that automatic bump to those that sign up for various topic areas that he talked about when he set up the Official Bump Register.