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.
The sign of calcified thinking is adhering to rote when circumstances dictate otherwise. Got another example of state-sponsored starvation of the disabled? I'll use that - IF you can find one. If not, you'll have to admit that the Nazis are the only historical precedent for what you and yours have been justifying.
Sheesh... FR is rallying a march against judicial tyranny, and a perfect example is the #1 news story for weeks, and you can't put two and two together.
Did you not write an opus just over a month ago? Maybe Poobah will come to his senses too.
Too many of you people don't think like me.
Too many of you aren't rational like me.
You don't grasp issues like me.
You people aren't kind, decent, considerate and respectful like me.
Some of you are just plain nutty religious extremists, unlike me.
I can't stomach being in a place that tolerates too many people who don't think or behave like me.
And because I'm such a levelheaded, rational, intelligent and informed person, I'm going to leave this place.
But instead of simply choosing to no longer visit this site or post on this site, I must first draw as much attention to myself and My Cause as is possible.
Of course, I'll do it under the guise of genuine concern about thoughtful public discourse or the "Conservative Movement," "True Federalism", or Republicanism or something equally important and principled sounding, but the reality is that I simply can't handle the public rejection of my views, or the often ugly remarks, rhetorical slings and arrows of others, and even personal attacks which are so often a painful by-product of a place where self-expression and political debate is encouraged.
Signed,
Self-Absorbed Attention-Seeking Drama Queen
So you disagree with the GOP Congress in both houses and the President of the United States. There is a whole movemnent here on FreeRepublic to real in Judical Tyrany. FreeRepublic is also pro-life. In other words, what are you doing here?
I myself came very close after the immigration debacle. Even registered at a couple competing websites. When a "conservative" site disagrees with 90% of it's membership, something seems fishy.
But it seems to have evened out a bit, competing ideas on the subject are tolerated now instead of people being outright banished.
I wish there was room here for thoughtful debate (I would love to debate some liberals), little of it goes on, anyone who disagrees gets attacked with all the feline scat.
Kinda 12-year-oldish.
Take care, consider getting an alternate userid so you can still offer a few zings now and then. I have enjoyed our discourses, you will be missed.
LOL!
Butch up. ;-)
But it is unbelievable to me that someone who gave every bit as good as he ever got, and more, is wimpering and whining and scarpering. Sheesh!
I would say you are both in good company -
Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775.
They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
Is it possible to take an April 1 opus seriously?
If you were really leaving, why didn't you wait until tomorrow so we'd know it wasn't a joke?
As it stands now, I'm going to be looking for the "April Fool's, I'm not really leaving" thread.
April's Fools to all
I've made it a policy never to respond to insults posted. Lately I'm not responding a whole lot. Nobody wants to be called a "nazi" or a "death cultist."
Yes, disruptors probably contributed some, as well as conservative newcomers. Big issues are gonna attract people.
The format of online forums also makes it easy to spout off with little consequence.
I think FR has been successful in part because the spouters are usually outnumbered by people who are thoughtful or at least disagree somewhat respectfully, because difficult people have either left or have been banned, and because there's always another thread you can go read instead of staying on the one that just pissed you off.
I changed handles in 2004 after what happened to Buckhead. Real life stuff . . . I asked to keep my original s/u date (2000), but it didn't happen.
Oh, well.
You're dead wrong.
I think FR is pretty much exactly as it always has been. And if another group of folks wants to decide they are better than the rest of us, and do pretty much nothing but slur the rest of us, which is pretty much what this WPPFF exists to do, y'all can take a walk and go find a nice obscure place to marginalize yourselves.
The vast majority of us, thank God, are not so full of ourselves that we can't recognize a cold-blooded murder when we see it.
if you are leaving, can I have your stereo?
You stated it exactly ! Thanks ....... all opus threads need that comment.
Nam Vet
To all the FReepers who are even thinking of leaving,
please don't. Everyone has sth to offer and the American ppl can learn so much from us. Listening to all that you guys have to say have granted so much insight. Bcoz of you guys I am now more enlightened and knowledgabble than ever! For every one person who accuses you of being a troll or shouting you down, there are other FReepers and lurkers who are listening and taking notes, disagreeing or agreeing. They will help further the debate and discussion.
Each frpr brings something special to the debate. Or they just entertain the heck out of us. :) Every Frpr is valuable. Besides, we all have a common enemy. The legions of satan, aka liberal socialists.
Every frpr should stay. The only change in membership numbers should come from zotting or new members.
Now let's have a rousing chorus of Kumbaya and we shall over come...
Cr@p what the heck did Domino's put in my pizza.... That last line was uncalled for...
Bravo on your post #490..
You have set the bar now, I suppose I must check out those if they are egging me on .. to move from an honest discourse down the road to oh I do not know, DU. Have know idea of where Thoughtomater hails but I could guess but then I would have to wash my mouth our with soap.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.