That old liberal media doesn’t want to hear uncomfortable truths so they close down comments.
What’s the Weekly Standard’s excuse?
They have become that old liberal media.
I think the real reason they nix comments sections is twofold, and Free Republic is great at both of these things while other sites fail at them.
1. Other sites don’t want to devote resources to moderating the comments, so the comments sections are full of garbage. There is no site with more stellar moderators than Free Republic.
2. Other sites don’t acknowledge the real position of their website, so they permit trolls and food fights to disrupt real dialogue, or they arbitrarily delete those disagreeing with their positions. Free Republic is probably the most honest site in that FR is unabashedly and unapologetically a small government conservative site. Free Republic realizes the need to have a clear conversation without diversion and distraction by anyone with a disruptive agenda.