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.
You got an hour suspensions for that innocuous post?
And yet the most vile, hate ridden, violent, sick and blasphemous stuff is allowed to remain on Free Republic.
There are indeed new rules here.
A more pathetic and loser-looking group you cannot imagine.
Pretty much... If a person who's only been around for a month or infers that your opinion is invalid, after spending days calling you vile names, do not.. I repeat do NOT reply "Like I care what you think, Newbie"...
LOL... Yup. If ya need anyone with experience using a firehose on 'em, give me a yell ;0)
I've been talked down to for being a "newbie" by people who have been here for about two weeks more than I have.
I must be doing something wrong. I haven't gotten any hatemail.
you aren't disagreeing with anybody.
I've been called a "liberal" by people who have been here just a few months. It's a hoot. I can only laugh.
You'd be amazed... The stuff on the forum was nothing next to this...
Nor have I, which surprises me no end. Disappointing, too...I'd post it after forwarding it to the mods. Names deleted, of course, but just as an example of the mentality.
Not on this thread, but I have on others. I have always tried to maintain civility when doing doing so, but have been blasted for disagreeing. Nobody sent me any hatemail, though.
I fyou need some lessons, let me know. ;0)
I believe I saw a thread posted by someone who has been here for about a year, saying basically what this thread says. He was immediatley pounced on as a newbie, and he had no basis for his argument, and I believe the poor guy was banned. Crazy.
I tried Halo, which my 35 year-pld son raves on about...couldn't even get off the transport ship in the opening sequence.
I've "killed" everybody...just hear the loud cadenced warning sound (like in the Alien movies), but alas, I'm unable to find a way out of there. Just smoke and dead monsters and that damned buzzer sounding.
Turned it off and never plugged it in again.
It would appear that he's obsessed with those on this thread. Almost all of his posts mention us.
It makes you wonder about that question we've all been asking...just what is it about wanting to discuss this matter with dignity and reason BOTHERS so many people so?
Nah. I don't think I will. He's a big boy and can handle himself. Maybe I should post a thread based on all the hatemail from fellow FReepers I've gotten in teh past week?
No? Didn't think so.
I've pretty much limited my posting to this thread. The rest of the forum is simply too crazy right now. If I do finally end up staying on FR, I'll probably wait a few weeks before going on other threads.
exactly what I am doing
Of couse, I'd eat it for lunch. ;^)
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