Posted on 04/01/2005 4:26:00 PM PST by Poohbah
First, this is NOT an April Fool's joke.
I am leaving Free Republic.
Over the past two years, civility and thoughtful discourse has vanished from this site, replaced with demands for ideological conformity that are straight out of Stalinist Russia or China's Great Cultural Revolution, and unrelenting uncivility if said conformance is not forthcoming. This trend began with the California recall election, where certain posters were allowed to flame the living beejezus out of those who didn't wholeheartedly support Tom McClintock, or thought that he wasn't running a campaign capable of winning. It extended into the Keyes campaign last year, where any critique of Keyes' campaign strategy was shrilly flamed, despite the obviously flawed execution of his campaign.
(Aside: one person who flamed me during the Keyes mess later said that he hadn't intended to start a fight with his remarks that accused me of homosexuality, pedophilia, and other evils; I was instantly reminded of the time I had to bail one of my Marines out of the local lockup. "Honest, Sarge," this Marine told me, "I didn't mean to start a fight when I called that Army Ranger a faggot." My response was not [and still isn't] suitable for public consumption.)
Since then, the Terri Schiavo case has pushed FR over the edge. We had posts calling for people to ensure that "accidents" to befall Schiavo and Judge Greer. We had posts praying that Iran would soon develop nuclear weapons, so that they could destroy the United States. And until the FBI started making arrests, those posts were allowed to stay up, completely abnegating Free Republic's standards.
We had people on both sides of the issue point out that the Schindlers were associating with some people of extremely low character, and that our uncritical embrace of these parties would not rebound to our favor. Rather reasonable attitudes to take, actually; but the loudest of the loud were in no mood to think.
My personal favorite was the following exchange:
The issue is not legality, but public opinion. Which will not be helped in this case if the pro-Terry side becomes associated in the media with Christian Identity, white supremicists, neo-nazis, racists and/or anti-semites.
Diva Betsy Ross made a valiant attempt to...ahem...whitewash Christian Identity, but it didn't work.
To top things off, we had people embracing as some sort of conservative icon, to the extent of posting a fundraising link.
I always thought that conservatism valued thinking over feeling, careful contemplation of facts over wild-eyed repetition of every damn rumor to come down the pipe, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. For a while, Free Republic met those criteria in spades.
Those days are long gone, and I have serious doubt as to whether or not they're coming back.
I know that many of the usual suspects will cheer this on, as their longtime nemesis is leaving them the field.
Be careful what you wish for; you are in the process of getting it. You may succeed in driving the folks who disagree with you from the site; but you will end up being just another collection of shrill voices in Bedlam. When everything is an over-the-top scream, no one will be heard.
Farewell.
Extremist = whoever disagrees with me.
Geeeeeeeeeeeez.
In this case it's merely an exercise in projection.
What?!? That's it, I'm leaving!!! Farewell, cruel forum... :-p
Don't dilute the class of '98 any farther!
Nam Vet
BS.
Spot on. I've been doing this since JimRob was doing this on Compuserve. It's a pleasant distraction. When it becomes an obsession, you don't have a life. Then you need tp leave.
Bingo.
Jim was shocked and horrified by what happened to Terri too, ok? I didn't see all the incitement to violence you people are alledging. I saw the mods keeping a close eye on people crossing the line.
And with everything else that has been going on, Frank Perdue, the Chicken King has died. Man I loved his chicken.
Yes, indeed.
Can't we all get along?
Every word you said is true. I have little doubt that many other good people will be right behind you, Poohbah.
Besides Poohbah who else left? I must admit I am dismayed at this latest latest uproar. I'm dismayed at the GOP and dismayed at FR.
I figured that be a good way to get rid of ya!!
At least you know where the priorities are.
I must've missed those threads...I bet they got a bit hair-raising, lol!
Nobody could write an opus like OWK...
I think he must have opused 6 or 7 times all in all. Wonder what's become of him?
i agree. they ALWAYS come back.
As someone who has left twice and returned twice I have to say that what I'm seeing is a different FR. There are other alternative out there now. I never thought I'd be called the names I've been called the past few weeks. And then, I call someone an A**, and I find I'm suspended. So what does that tell you about what's acceptable here and what's not. Just keep reading down and you'll see the tone and the mockery we're being subjected to. It's just not worth it.
"I for one will not be giving up on Republican Party, Our President .. NOR will I give up on Free Republic
I am a fighter .. Not a quitter!"
GO MO! I'm with you all the way!
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