Press inquiry re: FReeping online polls

email | 07/13/03 | Abdel-Rahman Hussein

[Jim Robinson]

Subject: Inquiry
Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2003 18:21:40 +0300
From: "AR H"
To: Webmaster@freerepublic.com

Dear Sir,

I am a reporter from Egypt and I am doing a chapter on the struggle between American Conservatives and Liberals on the internet during the recent war in Iraq. Your attempts, penned by you as "Freeping", has garnered a lot of criticism from some camps. In interest of getting all sides of the story, I would greatly appreciate if you answer my queries. I would be more thankful if you can respond as soon as possible. Here they are:

1- Allegations against "Freepers" comprised many things, in an attempt to over-ride conflicting view-points on the internet. You are accused of fixing online polls, flooding opponents' email servers, and flooding internet message boards to "drown out" other opinions. What is your response to these allegations?

2- To what extent do you believe you can expand on your personal freedom of speech in a way that can possibly impede the right of others' freedom of speech. Is it justifiable so long as you get your point across in a stronger fashion? I read in your "About" section that you're strongly supportive of freedom of speech, but how far will you go and do you believe that boundaries should be implemented?

3- The internet has proved, especially during the war, that it has become a medium of empowerment for people who are not affiliated to the official press. As your site declares: "We are the free press". Do you think this precedent will continue in the future and lead to a sort of "decentralization" of information? What will this lead to?

I would like to thank you in advance for your time, and I hope to hear from you soon. Regards,

Abdel-Rahman Hussein

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[Jim Robinson]

Received the above inquiry from a member of the press. I figure that the FReepers who are engaged in these activities can speak for themselves better than I can. Please post your answers to his inquiry below and I will later forward the entire thread to the reporter.

Thanks,

Jim

[Support Free Republic]

Hi Mom!

[knak]

my right to vote in a poll or send email is as much my right as is anyone else's opposing my viewpoint

International attention for FR? WOW

[Aeronaut]

Any poll I vote in I only vote once. Long ago I would "FReep" polls, but someone was kind enough to point that out as a DU tactic - which I wanted no part of.

[RedsHunter]

Your attempts, penned by you as "Freeping", has garnered a lot of criticism from some camps.

Please be more specific as to the source of those accusations, AR H. If we're talking DU types here, it isn't worth my time to make any response what-so-ever.

[Rays_Dad]

Your attempts, penned by you as "Freeping", has garnered a lot of criticism from some camps.
Please be more specific as to the source of those accusations, AR H. If we're talking DU types here, it isn't worth my time to make any response what-so-ever.


_____________

Yeah what he/she said.

[Lazamataz]

Answer to 1)

I have freeped polls before. Since my participation in them consists of one vote, per the usual 'regulations', I am doing nothing any other poll participant doesn't do. Just because I became aware of the poll due to Free Republic in no way lessens the validity of my vote.

I have freeped politians before. Since my participation in contacting a representative consists of one letter or phone call, per the usual custom, I am doing nothing any other citizen doesn't do. Just because I became aware of the issue due to Free Republic in no way lessens the validity of my opinion.

[beckett]

Setup questions for a hit piece. Beware.

[Lazamataz]

Answer to 2) To what extent do you believe you can expand on your personal freedom of speech in a way that can possibly impede the right of others' freedom of speech.

There is no way to impede anothers' freedom of speech without breaking some federal or state law in America. Certainly the use of your own freedom of speech cannot be considered impedance to others' freedom of speech.

[Jim Robinson]

So, you think this reporter is "FReeping" us? LOL

[proudofthesouth]

Jim, see post #8. I agree with Beckett.

[bert]

I lust for power.

[onyx]

I'd like to respond to Abdel Rahman Hussein in a thoughtful and provocative manner, but his queries seek detail too cumbersome to answer on such a lovely Sunday afternoon.

BTTT for a response later this evening, after the sun sets.

[Az Joe]

Polls are set up to gauge opinion. If the poll allows a person to vote more than once then that is what the poll gets, from every political point of view.

[Lazamataz]

3- The internet has proved, especially during the war, that it has become a medium of empowerment for people who are not affiliated to the official press. As your site declares: "We are the free press". Do you think this precedent will continue in the future and lead to a sort of "decentralization" of information?

Yes.

What will this lead to?

Anarchy, blood on the streets, cats sleeping with dogs, missed busses, parties that end too quickly, bad yogurt, refrigerators that simply won't freeze ice cream, and flat beer.

[longtermmemmory]

This forum is a means of communicating to everyone. The online polls have never been scientific. What we do is urge everone to vote in polls of interest. The people here are not all technology people or intersted in distortions like leftists. Where one person knew about a poll, that person is able to quickly and efficiently tell hundreds and thousands of people.

The rest of the world, and leftists in the USA, fail to see FreeRepublic as a triumph of communication. I have travelled around the world and seen information as very limited and left slanted outside the USA. The media is about indoctrination and not information.

FreeRepublic is not only about sharing ideas or voting in a poll or two, it is about acting on ideals in elections and issue campaigns. It is truly the marketplace of ideas.

[Lazamataz]

I lust for power.

I lust for people who lust for power. (rubbing up against you)

[So Cal Rocket]

Jim:

Why would a legitimate member of the press hide behind an anonymous email address?

SCR

[vbmoneyspender]

Abdel-Rahman Hussein

I wonder if this guy is related to any of the fellas who tried to blow up the World Trade Center the first time around?

[William McKinley]

The vast majority of online polls end up showing results greatly out of synch with what traditional polls (such as by Gallup and so on) show-- and as any glimpse of such online polls on CNN or on AOL will show, they generally overstate the liberal position. If conservatives are 'Freeping' polls, more times than not we are being beaten at what is supposedly our game.

The second question is almost non-sensible. We believe in engaging in speech. We do not believe in impeding the rights of others to speak. We do not believe others have a right to our microphone, though.

As for the third point- it will lead to some good things, some bad things. Which will be more significant, only time will tell.