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.
Someone please tell Chad Fairbanks I found his post highly entertaining.
Sorry nopardons. I didn't make this public at all.
Is there a Yahoo club ?
I like you, so you can post to me, but only during business hours, Pacific Standard Time. ; )
But you are keeping it going. Why not just refrain from replying and let it go?
Would everyone stop posting to everyone?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1375682/posts
"Open letter to wife" thread is worth a vist...
I like you too, but I'm on EST...which complicates matters greatly. :-)
testing to see if it is possible to post without addressing anyone.
When you hit 'reply', countess, just remove any names in the "to" field.
Naw, you'll just get banned.
You know, I've been spending a lot of time over on the Civil War/WBTS threads during this whole Terri thing. The posters on those threads have been insulting each other for so long that they now sort of call each other names in a kind and loving manner.
It IS possible to post without addressing anyone. Just delete any names in the to: portion of the reply screen. This way, I can post, but I'm not posting it TO: anyone. Simple! And if someone wants to flame what I said, they can do so without actually addressing their flame to me. What a wonderful concept!
Yeah, what the hell ever. Just shut up, flamebait ;0)
After two weeks of all Teri, all the time, he's surprised that people might want to talk about something else?
LOL! As long as you all keep posting to me I'll probably reply :0)
You don't know that poster very well, then. If you're breathing, and even the slightest bit warm, he loves you.
But that being said, didn't that thread get pulled? And here you are, posting piecews of that thread all over FR - when FR didn't want it.
GUess I'll have to hit abuse again. Sigh.
I'm never posting to anyone again.
Good read. Thanks for pointing it out.
(Hope you don't mind I posted this to you.)
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