Posted on 03/29/2005 8:58:34 AM PST by Long Cut
We, the Witness Protection Program For Freepers, aka the Wild Turkeys, aka the Coalition of the Sane, have through mutual discussion and rigourous thought, determined that:
1. The discussion threads regarding Terri Schiavo (hereafter referred to as "TS") have become too full of innuendo, rumormongering, hyperbole, hysteria, namecalling, paranoia, and general poor behavior to warrant participation.
2. Said threads have degenerated into "echo chambers", wherein the same, common thoughts are continually posted again and again, and the same old disreputable, unconfirmed and/or false urban myths are propagated.
3. Anyone who joins in said theads with alternative viewpoints to the most extreme posts are routinely driven away with slander, accusations, and vile namecalling.
4. No data or evidence contrary to the "prevailing opinions" are accepted, considered, or discussed; and in fact are rejected outright in most instances.
5. That the continued calls for armed insurrection, military or paramilitary involvement, impeachements of politicians and judges, and death threats are embarassing, stupid, shortsighted, doomed to failure, and contrary to most if not all conservative thought prior to this case, as well as damaging in the extreme to FR and the conservative movement as a whole.
6. That such emotional, hyperbolic, and propaganda-driven hysteria is in fact contrary to all conservatives USED to stand for.
7. That the holding up of swastika and other Nazi imagery towards the police and the Bushes, the use of children as political props, and the disruption of the peace at the Woodside Hospice can only reflect badly on conservatives in general, and should be discouraged.
8. That the pursuit of this issue to the exclusion of all others by the GOP has damaged, perhaps beyond repair, the pursuit of other important issues as well as the reputation of the GOP, FR, and conservatism.
The WPPFF is NOT of one mind as to the case of TS or its correct outcome. In fact, wide disagreement exists within our little group. However, we are united in our wish that reason and sanity be respected in the discussion, as well as the rights of all parties involved or participating. We wish to discuss this as adults and intellectuals, as conservatives and as FRiends, not as children screaming past each other on some playground of hysteria. We wish for facts and evidence to be provided, discussed reasonably, and considered fairly.
We reject all accusations of Naziism, "death cultism", or other slander as methods of debate. We reject the practice of "spamming" multiple threads, of posting unending vanities, and the posting of propaganda and calls for violence. We reject, in fact, all unseemly and childish behavior which has come to characterize this case on FR.
We DO invite others to come and reasonably discuss the issue. We have no problem with FReepers who wish to debate in a rational and fair manner, and with due respect for their fellow FReepers. We have NO problem with those whose views are formed by religion; however we reject "preaching" or "being beaten with a Bible" as legitemite debate tactics. Not all of us are Believers, and such tactics only cheapen the source.
If a FReeper finds this an acceptable meansd to discuss this and other issues, they are welcome to join in and participate. Those who find pleasure in attacks, flame-baiting, slander, stalking, and personal atacks will be ignored, and their egos will go unfed.
We assume this thread to be a zone of sanity in an overheated atmosphere. Thus, a general amnesty is in effect. If posters conduct themselves within the guidlines above, we will be happy to discuss and debate with you. If a poster wishes to apologize for past slips of the tongue, or for possible "over-the-top" statements to another, it will be graciously accepted, and your company welcome.
Please bring a sense of humor; we feel that too many have been taking themselves too seriously lately.
Let the discussion begin!
Signed,
The WPPFF, aka The Wild Turkeys, aka the Coalition of the Sane.
I'm certainly not worried about, just rather surprised as this sort of thing is new to me. What are they going to do? Stalk me in the forum? Possibly. Send me hate mail? Possible, also. That sort of thing hardly reflects glory on those who do it.
Well, let me be the first to say I hope you aren't contemplating leaving. I consider you one of FR's greatest assets.
Now that Terri has passed on, it's my hope that in a few weeks, tempers on both sides will ease a bit, and we can put this nasty chapter in FR's history behind us. I think it might behoove everyone to take a few minutes of quiet reflection, considering and praying for Terri and her family's situation. I've found such meditative times to be quite refreshing and reinvigorating.
Myself, I'm one of the ones who thought this was a case of "state sanctioned murder" and all those other buzzwords, but at the end of the day it's not my family (thank God), it's not my life. I don't think those on the "other side" are "pro-death" either. It's really something that if one wanted to, one could spend countless hours and days researching and weighing the facts carefully, logically, but never really find the "truth".
This is one of those situations where I just say, "This is God's problem, not mine". It's a wonderful gift, faith in God. It's not always about "avoiding hell". Faith gives us comfort in many ways, if we let it.
May God Bless Terri's family, and FR. Amen.
Oh, isn't that nice, especially since many of us on this thread were not proponents of the death of Mrs. Schiavo.
I think there was an attempt to start a list on the main forum. It was pulled which tells you how inflammatory it was.
And I'm assuming that "Schindler's List" that you posted from the main forum by a terribly misguided freeper still sits there in all its insanity.
I don't think anyone was was a proponent.. However, simply wanting facts, and to clearup lies, misinformation, distortions, not advocating lawlessness etc... means that we wanted her to die... Makes no sense, but when it's an emotional issue, who cares? Frustrating at best, and downright scary at worst...
"Dad, do I have to?"
"Son, you know I'd cross that line and get arrested, but Daddy's record is already long enough. Now get going. There's an X-Box game in it for you if you make it look like the cop used excessive force."
"Wow! Thanks, Dad!"
Well, hey, I've gotta run. I need to take my Nazi storm trooper uniform to the cleaners now. It got a little mussed during the recent "troubles".
ROTFL... Yeah, I know what you mean...
Apparently, if you're not demanding scourges for all involved you're not trying hard enough. I'm in the same boat.
Well, you know how Der Fuhrer likes us to look sharp... ;0)
What boats were ya on?
OS3 (SW), 1988-1992. SUBRON 6... :)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1374334/posts
They apparently consider us heretics.
And I just went to look and see you never received a response to your valid question of the moderator about the two sets of rules question.
And now I am off to be productive around here.
bbl
I halfway expected a suspension for daring to question the mod...
I did, and got an hour suspension.
I bought an XBox a while back, and then never got to use the darn thing. Had to get the kids their own XBoxes for Christmas just so I could use mine LOL...
That's right, that's why Der Feuhrer had only the best tailors. We must have well-designed uniforms, and keep our jackboots clean and shiny.
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