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.
> Sick people like you simply have to be locked up so they can't hurt themselves.
And that's what they think of all of us "infidels."
Just damn.
*Sigh.
Why is the "Latest News on Terri Schiavo" still up? Why not a "Latest news on the death of the Pope?"
I don't seem to be able to control myself.
I just have to try to give some of these extremists a stroke before they give me one.
So9
The Pope died?
I can't for the life of me understand the underreaction to that.
You did well. However, the person you were arguing with is one of FR's most prominent proponents of government regulation of PRIVATE matters. I've seen him call for the complete banning of all adult, consensual pornography, all drugs, and the official recognition that America is a "Christian Nation", with laws to reflect that.
Priorities.
Yeah, I just asked the same thing.{see post#4383} Maybe someone thinks Terri Schiavo's death is more important?
*sigh*
Hey, Swerve. If nothing else, this case has caused my husband and I to duscuss the matter of living wills and advance medical directives. I know full well that if some catastrophic event causes the loss of my cerebrum, then I'm not there any more, even if my heart is beating, so please, shut off the respirator, and don't let anybody stick in a feeding tube. And he wants the same kindess from me.
Also, no extraneous sexual or family tensions, no shady hangers-on and lawyers, no protestors with signs.
Too boring.
And I put "facts" in quotes because most of the so-called "facts" posted here were in fact "opinion." Whether it was a poster's opinion, a reporter's opinion, her husband's opinion, a relative's opinion, a supporter's opinion, a detractor's opinion, a politician's opinion, a lawyer's opinion, a doctor's opinion, the president's opinion, the governor's opinion, or even the judge's opinion - they were and are all opinions.
And none of them are incontrovertible or indisputable fact.
In fact, they continue calling in more doctors and more experts to give their opinion even after it's all said and done. In this battle of press, public, politicians, doctors, lawyers and "experts" the side with the most thumbs down votes won and she was killed. What was it, two out of three or three out of five? How about we go for seven out of twelve? How about one "no" vote out of twelve and you don't execute?
The last I heard, in this country when you are on trial for your life, if there is one doubtful juror, you don't receive a death sentence. The accused receives the benefit of the doubt. Of course, Terri did not even receive the benefit of a trial much less the benefit of the doubt. She was simply snuffed out per a judge's order based on three out of five expert "opinions." It's a shame and a disgrace and a mockery of justice.
Pretty much the same with my family, though I predict a shouting match with my daughter-in-law if something should happen to my son. However, I hold the power of atty.
So9
You nailed it.
If my older sister is around, there might be a shouting match, so I'd best get some paperwork done. I haven't done so yet, so I'd better get moving on it. I've seen her in action, and I'd like to spare my husband that particular agony if I can help it.
The most loved and respected man ever to be Pope. Admired and loved by people of all walks of life; all races; all religions. Certainly the biggest uniter in our life time.
Sadly, a footnote at the end of the day here.
You are certainly entitled to that opinion, many agree with it, even many on this thread.
I think what we are upset about is the breakdown in civility that was allowed to continue. It seemed that half the posts made, including many of mine, were personal invective, not argument.
In the past when issues became contentious, you always suspended as many people as necessary to restore order.
This time, it seems to me that the pro Terri people were allowed to say absolutely anything about anyone, even advocate armed insurection, with impunity, while the Pro Michael/Legal posters had to be very careful or be 'timed out'.
I'm waiting around to see how things shake out.
So9
He spent his retirement years fairly active, even after having a leg amputated. But only after gangrene had set in from a blister.{Circulatory problems.} When he was 86 he was diagnosed with pancreatic and liver cancer. He survived surgery and was told he would live for 2-3 years but would be pretty much bedridden and on dialysis et.al. He was doing well and expected to leave the hospital in a day or two. He died unexpectedly during the night. The doctors were all stunned. I firmly believe that he just decided he didn't want to live that way.
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