No, that's not ok and we remove them when we 're alerted to them.
Thanks. I'll stop doing it.
[EveningStar:] How about keywords that are snide remarks directed toward people who don't know how to use the search feature? One of my pet peaves is duplicate threads or un-needed threads (and yes, I've been guilty of this myself). I admit to using keywords like "searchbeforeposting" or "trysearching" or "doasearch". Is this OK?
[Admin Moderator:] No, that's not ok and we remove them when we 're alerted to them.
...unless, of course, the keywords are childishly attacking Freepers who are science-literate, in which case the double-standard kicks in, and absolutely nothing is done in response to insulting or trollish keywords -- the keywords are left in place, and no action is taken.
For example, last week I submitted an Abuse report that read in part:
Additionally, there's some keyword abuse on the thread: "EVOSWALKONFOURS" is a childish slur on anyone who accepts modern biology (gasp!), which includes a very large proportion of all Freepers, and "FAIRYTALEFORADULTS" is pointlessly insulting and provocative as well. Such keywords would be rightly removed from a religion thread, and equally have no place on a thread discussing a serious subject like science.The trollish/abusive keywords were allowed to stand by whoever was on Mod duty that day.This kind of behavior reflects very poorly on FreeRepublic, only gives ammunition to those who buy into the stereotype that conservatives are anti-science throwbacks, and also tends to make the undecideds cause to ponder whether there's something to the stereotypes after all.
I've got nothing against ongoing debates on this or any other topic, but keeping it on something resembling an adult level would help the goals of both FreeRepublic and conservatism in general. Looking like a conservative version of the DemocraticUnderground playground does our cause no good whatsoever.
Since then, additional abusive keywords have appeared on that thread, including the insult "EVOBOORS", the sarcastic "SKULLPIXPROVEIT", and the testifying "THEBIBLEISTRUTH" (on a thread ostensibly about science, not religion).
This is just the latest example in an ongoing pattern.
The moderation for the many years I've been on FreeRepublic has been mostly remarkably even-handed and fair, but in the past year or so there has been a very notable double standard in place. I don't know if it's a result of a shift in policy, or the work of a single moderator following his/her own agenda, but it has had a chilling effect on the forum lately, has driven away many valuable longtime contributors, and has shifted the forum from a free exchange of conservative views to a place where those with certain views are allowed unbelievable amounts of leeway, while those with differing views are sent constant signals that "their kind" is less than welcome and will not be afforded the same considerations as the Annointed.
This kind of "doctrinal purity test" is not good for either FreeRepublic, nor conservatism.