Worked for this guy... at least in the long run!
Posted on 08/27/2002 4:40:53 AM PDT by BADJOE
It is time we take a new tack and see if we can heal our wounds. I hear by the grapevine that from this past weekend's discussions that JimRob has two black eyes and a broken arm. I have my head bandaged. I am missing one ear, and I have body bruises from top to bottom.
It was damn near like the old days wasn't it?
I am happy to report that while Willa never considered divorce, homicide did cross her mind a couple of times. The fact that I am writing this is hard evidence that she did not act on those impulses.
As I see it, there is a very simple easy way for all of FR's problems to go away. I have a comment to all parties involved and I will specifically address each of them.
The Free Republic is much bigger than any one man or woman. And it is too important for any dispute, regardless of what it is about to pull it down.
First let me clear one thing up. The next Freepathon would have been my last one regardless. It is too big a job for even me. Freepathons are the only time Willa and I exchange cross words with each other. I love all you guys, but she rubs my back, kisses me on my bald head and on occasion even cooks me dinner. (Except during a Freepathon. I damn near starved to death during the last one.)
In order of importance from least to most .
Badjoe: You are one cantankerous feisty old son of a gun. Usually mild mannered, reasonable, and all the good things, BUT when you think something needs to change you would run over your own grandmother to make it happen.
Other forums like Liberty Post, etc.: Guys you can't build yourself up by tearing the other guy down. Tout your own virtues. It is the only way you will reach the heights FR has. And believe me, I'd like to see 100 successful FR's. If there were a hundred of us none of our problems would exist. Competition cleans up the weak spots.
The DC Chapter: Thank you guys for calling me on the phone yesterday. It was very nice and very moving to speak with each of you personally. Please tear all the old pages out of your book in regard to the Free Republic Network. Neither you nor they will survive if you don't quit nursing old wounds. I have noticed that even when the Network folks say or do good things you react in ways I think are inappropriate. We really are all in this together. Let's please work to survive together. Thank you.
To the Network Board.: You are my friends. The wounds are deep between you and the DC chapter. Please don't say anything about them. At the moment even if you gave them a million dollars each they would think you have an ulterior motive. So please say nothing either way. A year from now you might be able to to have some communication.
To the Moderators: Oh my! I sincerely hope this whole post could make your jobs superfluous, as the Freepers take to heart what I will say to them, so that moderation is rarely if ever needed. I am sure you'd appreciate and like the vacation too. Would not it be nice if you could just Freep and when you occasionally came across an infraction, warn first, went back to Freeping, and checked in later to see if warning was heeded and then if necessary take the minimally possible action. Please let's try to keep our troops intact.
To the monthly donors who have cancelled: I sincerely hope you will consider reinstating your help. I know withdrawing your support is a very effective way of registering your disapproval.
To the monthly donors who have stayed on board: God bless you. FR needs you and can't survive without you.
To JimRob: You are just as damn cantankerous as I am. I sincerely hope you will post the new directions involved in our Saturday night August tenth agreement without the references to me. Apologize to the Freepers for any real or perceived injustices and ask them to hold your feet to the fire on the new directions from that agreement
To the Freepers: You are the most important of all. Without you there is no FR. I would like to see you all prick your finger and write in blood that you will argue all you want to without calling another Freeper a dumb Mofo, etc. If you find yourself in the position of not being able to carry the day in your discussion, or if another Freeper gets close to anger, just go away for a little while and come back to fight later. If you do this moderating will become unnecessary. We all will be free from fear. In the interest of healing these wounds please lay off the mods I singled out. Lay the blame on Jim and I for our failure to effectively communicate with each other. Jim and I have broad shoulders and are willing to carry the load.
I am going to post this first to the moderators through the abuse button to give them time to digest what I have written. This is to be a positive thread. I am requesting that they give an automatic one hour timeout to every Freeper, including JimRob for any inappropriate comment. You are capable criticizing with being abrasive.
I hope all the above folks I have directed my comments specifically to, post a general agreement to try to do what I have suggested. If you say you will, I will participate in the next fundraiser by just running the numbers and getting the necessary funds in. JR gets a copy of what I get without the credit card numbers. He can forward that info to a trusted Freeper volunteer to write thank you's, and to another trusted Freeper volunteer to post recognition of the donation on the fundraising thread or maybe one will do both. This will get FR past its current crisis, reduce the harsh words at Willa's and my house, and make everyone's job easier.
I'd rather not dwell on the "Registered thing" but all sides deserve to be heard, IMO.
I can respect that the length of time one has been a Freeper may matter, but it should not create privileges so special as to harm other Freepers.
Registered is just another screenname and he is no more important than any other person here. The fact that he is treated so is bothersome and I don't believe it does much for the "healing" that is sought right now.
I personally stopped my monthly because of Registered and what he was getting away with even before the act that got him suspended.
Now it appears that not only is he is being begged back, but logic says he will be given free reign to do whatever he pleases since banning or suspending him will be unacceptable. What else can someone conclude from all of this? I can guarantee that this is not a healing gesture for a lot of people who have been on the receiving end of his antics.
I also noticed that he rarely posted any kind of substantive thought; only cartoons and jabs at people throughout a thread. I am at a loss to understand why he is "needed" so badly, but that is for those who "need" him and doesn't really concern me.
I had to get this out of my system and I intend to let the topic of Registered go. I don't care what the man does. If he returns to FR and and picks up where he left off in his usual way or worse, without hindrance, I will probably never reinstate my contributions.
Rant over..........
Oh, here we go. Next thing ya know the "dark side" will be saying they cut their own ears off just to make it look good. ; * )
Wasn't he a creator of "Sore Loserman"? That is a pretty big deal, if you ask me.
Well......not exactly. I don't want to get into that. Maybe someone else can explain or you can research it yourself.
But nonetheless, that should not give him a pass on bad behavior. Period !!!!!!!!!
There's a great thread that discusses the history of that logo alteration. While concieved by L. N. Smithee, a number of Freepers spent the next few hours giving it graphic reality. Smithee "thanked" Registered as his version was amongst the first he saw. Registered created his version independently based on Smithee's inspiration, and it did get the most traffic, but he never claimed sole authorship that I have seen and has given way for shared credit as some others developed the same thing simultaneously.
Worked for this guy... at least in the long run!
CPL BAUM was the creator of the "Sore Loserman" notion.
I made some graphic changes including changing the Democrat star to a tear drop.
Registered designed the last version which became the F.R. standard for the concept.
In short, it was a "team" effort entirely and as such the credit IMHO goes to F.R. generally and CPL BAUM specifically, notwithstanding my friend "Registered"s graphic brilliance.
Registered has done way better things since than. He's a good man whom I respect greatly.
He will be the first to tell you that he should not be revered.
I for one will be glad when this "meism" is over with. It is tiring, boring, and of no value. Dragging it on and on deadens everyones sensibilities. Good intent is ruined by boorishness.
After Henry Hyde and the House Managers finished their actions in the House, we expected similar co-option by Trent Lott and others. Alas, sometimes being mainstream is so important that First Principles are forgotten.
The question for conservatives of all stripe in Republican Party politics is always: Do we wish to join the Rinos or replace them in influence.
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