While skimming down the front page of the Union Leader’s website this morning, I had to do a double take to ensure that I was not mistaken in what I was seeing displayed there. It was surprising to discover that a respected statewide periodical would permit such a crass poll question as the site today so prominently displays. With seemingly no circumstantially associated content to support it, a multiple-choice poll asks, “Which type of driver would you most enjoy Tasing?”
The options presented describe different stereotypes of motor vehicle operators, some more potentially dangerous than others. Trying to get a sampling of which types of drivers most annoy others on the road can certainly be done in a tasteful and mature manner, but the presentation of the question as posed is designed specifically to provoke individuals lacking in civility and class, who resort to fantasizing violence against those with whom they have disagreements. (more…)
An apology to Ian was needed and a great thing that it happened, But the story stays the same, just need to change the name “Ian” and replace it with a Free Keene member and blogger, requested the page be removed. At the end of the day the over all story doesn’t change, just the name of the guilty party, but Free Keene as a whole was behind it. We need to take note from this, once you are part of a group and do something for/with the group, it affects the entire group, good or bad, You are no longer an individual when you speak for a group. We succeed together and we fail together.
“Free Keene” has never been behind anything. Only individuals do things, and in this case, the company was contacted by Jay Freeville. He did this not as part of a group, or at anyone’s behest. Personally, I wouldn’t have bothered to do something like that, and the other dozen+ bloggers here all likely have their own opinions about it.
In the same way, just because SFK members Dan and Kay Georgina demolished countless chalk smiley faces over the weekend in Central Square, doesn’t mean that “STOP FREE KEENE!!!” was doing it. There may be people in SFK who don’t agree with what Dan and Kay did. Not everyone in the SFK group is responsible for what the others do or say. They can, as FK’s bloggers can, speak out and air their concerns or disagreement, but they can’t stop Dan and Kay from continuing the smiley genocide.
Ed Lake is wrong – people in groups should be seen as individuals, unless they are claiming to speak with 100% of the group’s approval. I would never blame SFK’s Josh Erickson for what SFK’s Kim Diemond says or does, and the same courtesy should be given to our bloggers. Also, keep in mind that there are far more activists who are NOT Free Keene bloggers than who are. Some of those activists are angry people. That’s one reason they’ve never been invited to blog at Free Keene. Just because they are part of the same freedom movement doesn’t mean we agree completely or that they are in any way affiliated with Free Keene’s message of Peaceful Evolution. Case in point: (more…)
Through their actions, the key members of SFK!!! prove the anger in their hearts – what kind of person could feel good about such destruction of community artwork?
Some STOP FREE KEENE!!! members believe that threats, violence, and protest will somehow stop the flow of activists to Keene and NH at large. However, all they are accomplishing is attracting more movers and sparking new activism.
Free Keene is about love and peace. “STOP FREE KEENE!!!” is about anger. Peace is the way.
The freedom-fearing folks of “STOP FREE KEENE!!!” have apparently started an anonymous blog site. The site claims on its “Get Involved” page, “we believe in transparency”, yet readers have no idea who is writing the articles.
Another important difference is that FK’s bloggers are willing to talk with people who disagree in real life and online, whereas many of SFK’s members thus far have shown an unwillingness to communicate with their neighbors. Their blog’s comments are moderated, meaning each comment must be approved by the site admins. (EDIT/UPDATE: They appear to have changed their moderation settings to either allow all comments or allow all after one approval, as I am now able to post without pre-moderation.)
In contrast, the Disqus commenting system we have here at Free Keene allows anyone to post, though there is a moderation system which at times on its own will hold up certain posts. Those auto-moderated posts are usually approved, provided they are not spam, racism, or advocating violence. People masquerading as others are also not welcome to comment at FK. However, anyone can post here with anonymity and by default comments are not moderated.
In real life at the recent “STOP FREE KEENE!!!” silent protest, I am told there was a middle-aged man (not a liberty activist) who came up and attempted to talk to SFK’s Joshua Erickson, (one of the administrators of their facebook group, a self-described socialist) and inquire of him about their protest. Josh apparently refused to speak to the man, but Free Keene blogger, James “Robin Hood” Cleaveland was more than happy to talk to the gentleman when he inquired, and they had a great conversation. (Some of which you can hear in the background of the video from the event.)
To SFK’s credit, they did have an awesome turnout at their event. Unlike their predecessor, the long-defunct “Keene Matters” blog from 2007, SFK actually has a real-life presence. Too bad not even the heads of the organization will talk to anybody about their ideas, whatever those are. So much for transparency.
One more interesting thing in the realm of transparency, some of SFK’s members have bragged about their facebook group having over 1,000 members. (more…)
Yesterday, during a successful “People’s BBQ” event put on by Robin Hood of Keene, in which at least a dozen hungry people were fed delicious pasta and tacos, twenty angry locals came out to hold signs for about 45 minutes. Many of the signs were in protest of Free Keene and its founder, me, Ian Freeman.
Robin Hooder Garret Ean attempted to converse with the protesters, as did others, including non-activists and people from outside the area. However, the group exhibited childish, cult-like behavior and refused to speak.
If of course, they were to actually talk to the people they hate, they might find out that we’re not so different after all and may discover that their fellow “STOP FREE KEENE!!!” group members have been lying or spreading misinformation about the liberty activists. Thus, it’s critical to stay silent to avoid any possible cognitive dissonance or revealing of ignorance.
Regardless, what an amazing success for Robin Hood! You know you’re doing something right when a mob of people comes out to protest! I love the critics! Thank you guys for spending so much time and effort validating what we do here at FK. Keep up the great work and see you soon!
Robin Hood reports on city’s new parking plans • The hell is an AirZooka? Will it work on Ji? • Why do Keene city employees make so damn much? • Garret brings Obama Coin to Keene • Star Wars or Star Trek? What’s the difference? • More Maggie Hassan vodka. Round 2 • NYTimes reports on Robin Hood of Keene. James is not amused • James, Garret, and Shaunna join. Show notes at BlackSheepRising.org
