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When did Freepers turn so nasty? (vanity)
vanity | 2/12/2016 | Optimist

Posted on 02/12/2016 10:04:27 PM PST by Optimist

Over the past several months, Free Republic has begun to show an ugly side of its members. Although admittedly comprised of many strong-willed, opinion-charged individuals presenting thoughtful, conservative insights into the topics of the day, this forum has begun to show a seamier side as the Trump-Cruz-Rubio-Carson 2016 Primary heated up. You all know what I mean. Many of you have either been at the giving or receiving end of EMOTIONALLY-charged attacks against various candidates or even individuals as their supporters.

Herewith a few thoughts I would like to share:

  1. Passion for a candidate and buying into the campaign is exciting and important for exposing others to knowledge and understanding more about "your" candidate.
  2. Most of us WILL NOT be able to have a voting impact on which individual becomes the candidate, so why such vitriol? A little perspective is really needed. What are you going to do if by mid-March (when only 20% of the country has had any type of primary vote) and your candidate has fallen off the slate? Face it ANY of these candidates are better than any Democrat or potential Independent opposition, and will have a better chance of being elected than nay 3rd/4th/obscure party candidate.
  3. When did we turn into the Ron Paul group? Sorry, I don't mean to offend, but you know what I mean: personality driven, my guy can do/say no wrong, I'm going to get in your face if you don't see things my way, and .... well, you hopefully see the similarity.
  4. None of the candidates is 100% perfect, but they all have characteristics that are admirable:
  5. Yes there are negatives for all of them, but this is THE BEST crop of candidates we have ever had to choose from, unlike past elections when it seemed inevitable that the hand-picked, it's-his-turn, establishment candidate was chosen for us. And, besides, go back and re-read number 2.
  6. And (finally?) a word about pundits: (Glenn Beck, Rush, Fox News, et. al.):

Well, this is what happens when one (Ok, I) become frustrated with the ad-hominem attacks against so many good people both on this site, and otherwise supportive of conservatism and the rise of a conservative Republican Party. We are all decent, America-loving conservatives who are driven to strive for what is best for returning this country to its pride.

Please Freepers, make your best case, and trust that whoever eventually runs against the Demobeast will, with God's light, be the right person for the job.

Let the flame-war begin, I have donned my suit! And God bless.


TOPICS: FReeper Editorial; Free Republic; Front Page News; Miscellaneous; Politics/Elections; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: 2016; 2016gopprimary; cruz; cruzcontrol; cruzorlose; election; faq; trump; vanity
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To: Optimist
Let the flame-war begin, I have donned my suit! And God bless.

You expect flames for that?

I'm sorry, but that was far too reasonable.

Try again tomorrow, or next week.

21 posted on 02/12/2016 11:12:22 PM PST by BlueDragon (TheHildbeast is so bad, purty near anybody should beat her. And that's saying something)
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To: Optimist

Well said, emotionally charged being an understatement. The thing is, I’ve noticed attacks on other benign topics lately - like threads about late night movies and heirloom seeds!


22 posted on 02/12/2016 11:13:05 PM PST by gattaca (Republicans believe every day is July 4, democrats believe every day is April 15. Ronald Reagan)
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To: Optimist

Go Cruz! Trump is a big poopie head!


23 posted on 02/12/2016 11:15:27 PM PST by right way right (May we remain sober over mere men, for God really is our one and only true hope.)
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To: central_va
Because it makes a difference. Levin, Limbaugh, Hannity, Savage et al use Free Republic for the pre show prep. They value our opinions.

Which means we have a responsibility to be civil.

Personally, I like to advance the conversation. But it is difficult to maintain a civil conversation when people think it is their duty to converse by kicking others in their chins.

Like I said, we should be aware that people read this forum, not just Americans. I know that we have a lot of lurkers from India who do not post but read FR in order to understand American culture. And, when we are spending most of our time arguing it makes us look bad.

I think of FR as a large river, when I post something and throw it in, I have no idea who will read my post. I throw it out their hoping that somebody may chuckle or get informed in some way.

Posting on FR is an important responsibility.

24 posted on 02/12/2016 11:19:01 PM PST by Slyfox (Ted Cruz does not need the presidency - the presidency needs Ted Cruz)
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To: central_va

Rush quoted me verbatim on air (uncredited, you’re welcome Rush o) at least three times when I was listening.


25 posted on 02/12/2016 11:19:31 PM PST by Yaelle
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To: Yaelle

I’ve been quoted too, but one led to embarrassment, regarding Michael J. Fox playing up his symptoms for the camera.


26 posted on 02/12/2016 11:21:07 PM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: Optimist

[I’m going to get in your face if you don’t see things my way.] Good point. Lame expressions.

Boethius, died 422 A.D.: [He who is without fears and desires can disarm the furry of impotent men.]

FR in 2012 was intense with fears about Romney and showed the sad weakness of political skills of a few commenters.

FR in 2015-2016 is a walk in the park compared to 2012. I have a huge desire for a new president and a massive fear about Black Lives protestors given guns by Democrats to shoot Christians. However, to be politically prudent and morally powerful, I need to take my huge desire and massive fear and throw them out the window.

Intense comments here for or against candidates are sloppy and signify that the writer is forgetting at the moment that the Supreme Judge is in control.

Skip a meal and pray that a pro-life candidate becomes president.


27 posted on 02/12/2016 11:28:33 PM PST by Falconspeed ("Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others." Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-94))
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To: Califreak
I just want to let you know if you don’t support my guy you’re a commie and you suck and you should be permabanned from this forum!

Like that?

Yeah, it’s getting old.

:)

Unfortunately, it's as old as Free Republic itself.
28 posted on 02/12/2016 11:28:44 PM PST by BluesDuke (Write by your thumbs and hang if you get work . . .)
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To: Optimist

Don’t take it personally. This election I’m in a unique position. I don’t hate anyone. I started as a Cruz supporter but now support Trump but in reality I would vote for almost any one of the Republicans running if it came to it. I’d be very disappointed if the promise of a true political Revolution embodied by Trump is lost but if not now there will be another. Its not as if confidence is the way Washington DC works is going to improve on its own. The debt will grow, we will get involved in more conflicts wasting the blood of our soldiers as they die at the feet of political correctness, the invasion will continue legal and illegal and trade deficits will grow and eventually we will become Greece but worse.


29 posted on 02/12/2016 11:31:09 PM PST by Maelstorm (America wasn't founded with the battle cry "Give me Liberty or cut me a government check!".)
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To: Optimist

I’ll tell you why Freepers are at war. Freepers are smart enough to know that this country and this world is in serious danger of being plunged into a dark age where freedom is nonexistent. Freedom loving people see the walls closing in economically, politically and culturally. You see, the Nazis and the Communists didn’t really just blink out of existence after they were defeated. Soros, a Nazi, is using religious Nazis, Muslims, to further his plans and is allied with European Communists and American Communists (Democrat leaders), who call themselves socialists or progressives, to conquer the citizens of Europe and America. It actually sounds crazy as I write this and I instinctively recoil from these ideas but I know them to be true. I have seen too much and there is too much at stake to lie to myself.


30 posted on 02/12/2016 11:31:46 PM PST by Crucial (At the heart all leftidsts is the fear that the truth is bigger than themselves.)
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To: Yaelle

I’ve heard Rush do that in the past to a lot of people, and not just Freepers.

It’s great message is getting out, but I wish Rush would not pretend he came up on his own.


31 posted on 02/12/2016 11:33:41 PM PST by Enlightened1
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To: Twink

Yes. Compared to the Lucianne and Clinton’s A Liar wars, these are tame. At least I don’t think anyone has started their own site. ;-)


32 posted on 02/12/2016 11:36:17 PM PST by SubMareener (Save us from Quarterly Freepathons! Become a MONTHLY DONOR!)
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To: Optimist

Well, I remember the last primary, I liked Herman Cain, but they knocked him out, then I liked Newt, but I knew he had too much baggage, and I liked Michelle Bachmann, but she could have done so much better with her knowledge.

Finally Myth was the last one standing.

I think this primary is completely different from the last one. At least in the last one, all the candidates were eligible, and there were several conservatives.


33 posted on 02/12/2016 11:39:34 PM PST by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate "Republicans Freed the Slaves Month")
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To: Optimist
I don't remember it being this bad before and I've been around for a while.

I'm happy we have a pretty good crop of candidates this time, relatively speaking.

But, yeah, it gets pretty disheartening to see the ad hominem attacks, piling on, bumper sticker slogans, vulgarity, vitriol, and immaturity when we should be arguing the facts and the policies.

34 posted on 02/12/2016 11:41:38 PM PST by Washi (All lives matter, or none do.)
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To: Optimist

Your post reminds me early Fortran programming... “if then go to 2” (nicely done).

I agree with you but would add that the country is going towards socialism/communism more so now then ever before and OPENLY with a popular backing. (recall the news showing the lines of same day voters keeping lines open for registration and voting... all youngsters, who now are children under healthcare rules)

There is and has been open lying and lack of reporting by the media, our so called fourth arm of government.

As an aside, but in line with current policy, it seems that the admin is spitting on the military since they weren’t able to back in the 60’s (or are continuing to do so).


35 posted on 02/12/2016 11:43:13 PM PST by This_far
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To: Optimist

There seems to be a spirit of desperation and fear in a lot of people right now. People are really fearful that this is our last chance to rescue the Republic from the corrupt globalist uniparty Establishment.

But what will be will be. And you are right that none of us are going to be able to rescue this nation so our feelings of personal desperation are misplaced. No one President is going to be able to fix all of the deep problems America is facing. We are that deep into the muck of hate, immorality, treason and carelessness in DC.

If we were smart, we would pray and love more and go to war against others in our fear, a lot less.

Thanks for your post.


36 posted on 02/12/2016 11:46:46 PM PST by SaraJohnson
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To: Optimist
When I saw this vanity post, I checked to see when Optimist joined FR.
You joined one day after me - Sept 10 & 11, 1998.
37 posted on 02/12/2016 11:47:35 PM PST by jobim
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To: JPX2011
I really want to say "Bite me junior" but that'd likely draw an Administrator's attention.
So I'll settle for "grow up FRiend" :)
I haven't seen a lot of old timers spewing flame at those who support other candidates but I note that several have left for other sites & I'd speculate that FR fund raising has taken a hit.

Eating your own is not a winning plan.

38 posted on 02/12/2016 11:49:26 PM PST by norton
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To: Washi
I'm happy we have a pretty good crop of candidates this time, relatively speaking.

Actually, I think we have a pretty bad crock of candidates, none of whom inspires much of anything other than resignation that once again no matter who wins the races freedom and limited government lose, but never mind for now. (Said crock puts me in mind of Murray Kempton's observation, from 1962, "It is difficult for one who has enjoyed both the taste of our beer and the flavour of our politics to decide which has gone more sour in my lifetime.")

But that's just me.

But, yeah, it gets pretty disheartening to see the ad hominem attacks, piling on, bumper sticker slogans, vulgarity, vitriol, and immaturity when we should be arguing the facts and the policies.
My own rule is, insult the politicians to your heart's content if only because they earn it. (Perfect example: His Excellency Al-Hashish Field Marshmallow Dr. Barack Obama Dada, COD, RIP, LSMFT, Would-Be Life President of the Republic Formerly Known as the United States.)

But don't attack someone for preferring the candidate you don't prefer, or for holding a view contrary to your own for no reason better than that they do hold a view contrary to your own.

39 posted on 02/12/2016 11:51:47 PM PST by BluesDuke (Write by your thumbs and hang if you get work . . .)
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To: SubMareener

Well, I’m still “new” but I think the one I was on was great but that was years ago :)

I think it’s fine if posters start their own site. More power to them. I was a member of one and I still miss it. I just think it’s hilarious that Arrogant Kate is involved in one because she was such a suck up and fooled so many posters on here. Rock/Boulder.


40 posted on 02/12/2016 11:53:18 PM PST by Twink
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