Posted on 10/10/2009 6:26:55 AM PDT by ThePatriotsFlag
Something very special happened at The Free Republic yesterday, something I documented at The Patriot's Flag - FReepers make Lemonade. For most of us, our first glimpse of the TV yesterday morning gave us a "gasp" ... probably followed by an explitive or two. Nobel Peace Prize ... are you kidding? For most of us shock turned to anger pretty quickly. (We are "the angry conservative mob" after all). But if you were lucky enough to be able to watch the Free Republic during the day, you saw something very special happen ... I think something that was historical. Freepers accepted the lemons and simply made lemonade.
"Vanity" posts started showing up showing what else Obama had done that was "outstanding." Of course none of these were true, but that didn't matter ... they were FUN! And the moderators had the good sense not to block or take down the vanities ... they let the fun roll on. Over the course of the day, the anger turned to smiles and the "joke" of Obama getting the Nobel Prize actually started to become a humerous event. I documented some of the "headlines" for anyone who missed the fun at the site.
But this was more than "funny headlines" (for which I'm sure the left will try to bash us). What the Left will never understand is what really happened on the FR yesterday. What tool did the "angry conservative mob" use to "fix" the rediculous problem they were handed? Not pitchforks, not swastikas ... humor. Throughout the day, you could see people were applying humor to the problem and at the end of the day, what was an event that could stir anger, became something to laugh at in the end. Re-logging on to the FR just to see the latest humor became the best way to take a break from the day. (I bet the "hits" were way up for FR yesterday).
The moderators for the FR need to be thanked for "letting the good times roll" ... they could have done a "nanny state" thing and followed the rules, taking down the vanaties. But they didn't. I think they recognized this was more or less a one-time event of rediculous proportions that needed some special bending of the rules. They understood we badly needed a "vent" and the venting, through humor, actually calmed down the entire community. Hats off to the moderators. I'm not naive enought to believe we can always use humor to solve the political problms coming at us daily ... but it was the right tool for this particular problem. And it worked!
And congratulations to the FR community for showing the world how we deal with a problem. If they hand the FR a lemon, the FReepers will figure out how to make lemonade. Thank all of you for a great day ... and for putting the smile back on my face.
More here at The Patriot's Flag - FReepers make Lemonade.
That’s my feeling on it too. And I did thank the mods a couple of times. Spot on summary of yesterday’s mayhem.
My husband said he heard someone on Talk Radio reading some of the funny posts yesterday — Michael Medved, perhaps. I thought they were very funny.
I laughed so hard I cried. It was really fun yesterday. I saved the best of the headlines and posted them on my own message board and everyone was going LOL!
Just wanted to add: the word is spelled “ridiculous” not “rediculous”. I see it spelled with an e so frequently today that I feel I must say something. Sorry.
Yesterday afternoon was one of the best laughs I’ve had in a long time. Thanks Freepers.
Alinksy’s Rules for Radicals, Rule #5: Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. It is almost impossible to counterattack ridicule. Also it infuriates the opposition, who then react to your advantage.
The laughter was needed.
Great article, I e-mailed to a few conservative friends that still haven’t visited FR yet...This should whet their appetite finally!
I think we’re onto something here. I remember back when Saturday Night Live used to be funny - they got plenty of zingers in by using satirical humor. To some extent, the left has been able to put us in an “angry mob” niche & it has been used to their advantage by the media.
If we turn the anger into mocking - we can get our point across without turning off some people that aren’t comfortable with the “anger”.
We need to start using ridicule as a tool.
Yesterday was one of the better days on FR. Thanks to all who contributed. I had a blast!
I think you are right ... look at the result we saw yesterday. There is SO much to ridicule today from what the libs are doing. Maybe we just to need to start laughing at them ... they are actually kind of funny. (I don't mean to downplay the "dead-seriousness" of what is happening, but it is a tool worth honing).
It was fun all over conservadom yesterday. Our local talk show guy kept breaking in with awards Obama had won. My favorites were “The Kentucky Derby” and “Hooter Girl of the Year.”
Yesterday went from Rolling Eyes in the morning to LMFAO by afternoon.
That post has that essential element of good satire, a large grain of truth. After all, the Nobel Committee set the hurdles so low that, to mangle a phrase, even a gecko could do it.
I enjoyed it very much. I was laughing so hard I thought I’d hurt myself.
To all the funny people here, THANK YOU !!
I agree Alinski’s rule works and work very well. The Democrats tried to lash out at our “anger” and there wasn’t any. We were laughing hysterically t them. They do not deal well with us pointing at them and laughing. Probably takes most of them back to the playground where they were the kids who were bossy and no one wanted to play with?
Humor is the best medicine. It has been a long 9 months and a day of laughter was just what the Dr ordered.
I think my favorite was “Obama Wins Pillsbury Bake-Off!” His winning cookie recipe had “no nuts.”
Freepers are really some of the funniest peeps on earth!
I added it for you at The Patriot's Flag. You are correct, that was a good one, I hadn't seen it. I bet I missed a lot of great ones yesterday. (Thanks!)
Thanks and it was an amazing day. Have a Pulitzer, on me.
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