Posted on 04/03/2007 7:24:18 PM PDT by Reaganesque
It is always disappointing to be reminded that there are people in the world who do not like you so much that they are willing to debase themselves and others in order to get their way. We, as conservatives face this from the Left on a day to day basis. But when such action comes from another supposed Conservative, that is truly disappointing.
The posters at DU think nothing of swearing and posting the most filthy, perverted and twisted things about their political rivals. We here at FR are, for the most part, better than that. At least we try to be. Unfortunately, there's always someone who proves that both sides have their ugly side.
I have posted a number of pro-Mitt Romney threads recently as have many others. I discovered this afternoon that several of them have been the victims of childish and down right purile dirty tricks. Now, political dirty tricks are nothing new and nor are they uncommon on either side of the aisle. But some simply cross the line of decency. Such is the case with whomever played their little game of messing with the Keywords on these Pro-Romney threads. Here are four examples:
Romney Tops Republicans in Fundraising
KEYWORDS: ANTICHRIST; CULT; FUNDRAISING; MITTRAPESCHILDREN; ROMNEY; Click to Add Keyword
Why I Think You Should Vote For My Dad
KEYWORDS: 2008; ELECTIONPRESIDENT; ELECTIONS; MITTBEATSHISKIDS; MITTISTHEANTICHRIST; ROMNEY; Click to Add Keyword
Parsing the Polls: Answering the Mormon Question
KEYWORDS: CULT; JOEYSMITHDELUSION; Click to Add Keyword
KEYWORDS: ELECTION; FRED; FREDTHOMPSON; MITTISTHEANTICHRIST; ROMNEY; THOMPSON; VP; Click to Add Keyword
People, campaigning can be a hard and painful thing. You have to have a thick skin to run for office and heaven knows, all candidates take their blows, some more than others. But there is such a thing as decency. And this little prank doesn't just cross that line, it obliterates it.
Disagree with the thread? Fine. Present your arguments. You don't like the candidate? Great. Tell me why and make an attempt at intelligent conversation. That's the way this place is supposed to work. But, resorting to such sophomoric, vulgar and quite frankly bigoted childishness is beneath contempt. If you can't manage a reasonable level of maturity, then there's a whole bunch of like minds over at DU you can have fun with.
In Victor Frankel's masterpiece, "Man Search For Meaning", he tells how even under the horrible Nazi death camp conditions, some of them still managed to tell jokes. It was interesting that most of those who were humorless died first.
The HUMORLESS ones die first.
It’s sort of the equivalent of the 90’s Net-tradition of “signing the guestbook”. You can tell a keyword-abused thread by sheer volume. Look up anything Al Gore-related, for instance.
Yes, the keywords are often the best part of a thread, since one is limited to 20 characters, and the little “taggings” are usually thought out and funny. It’s just the tag-and-run dissent that I think was being objected to.
I agree. I never looked at the keywords before until your thread but I’ll be watching and reporting from now on. There’s no place for this kind of childishness on FR.
Moderators - Just wondering, do you have the ability to remove these keywords, or just determine who posted them? This has got to stop and those responsible IMO should be zotted.
Ok...we can't all be you. Since we all have different types of personalities, you must expect different kinds of posts.
This may be one of your peeves. Don't forget some people are peeved with your expectation that we should all be serious when you decide it's appropriate.
I'll bet that levity has saved both lives and sanity. Relax.
I don’t think it is. Yet. I think of it more as occassional preventive medicine. A lot less is required than would be later on.
Anyway, my unscientific observations say to me that emotions are already getting pretty primed considering how far away the election is. And skins are getting thin, also.
I am a conservative snob in a sense. I believe we are better than they at DU. I’d like to be able to continue to believe it.
“rudy’s pickle puffers.”
Will PICKLEPUFFER be a new keyword? lol / sarc
I'm going to start noticing them from now on, and vigorously report them.
I still hear only crickets....
Heck, I’ll add it. Funny is funny, no matter what side you’re on.
Liar. That’s not why you were “attacked”. People who ask sincere questions get answers.
Thank you for alerting us. : )
No, we're not better than that. Nor do we try to be.
I'm laughing at this one. Next to "If you don't vote for Rudy, Hillary is going to win!", their second favorite saying is, "Why don't you support your own candidate instead of tearing other candidates down?"
Yes, Rudy fans are kept busy in their own Rudy threads defending Rudy, but they take the time to sling plenty of trash about other candidates and being in a Rudy thread is the next best thing to reading a thread at DU.
I don't like the religious trashing that is going on around here. I don't think it's just Rudy supporters, but I have experienced it in Rudy threads. Those threads are one of the few places on the board where you can be called a 'religious nutjob' because you don't support a candidate that is pro-abortion. We all need to stand up against this no matter which thread we find it in.
If you see something that’s abusive, use the abuse button. That’s what it’s there for. (And yes, the mods do know who adds what keyword.)
The rules for posting keywords should be the same as posting articles or replying to posts, and the same consequences should be applied.
Thank you.
Really?! Have you been posting in some alternate universe FR? It is NIGHT and DAY different!
I’ve read many of the Rudy threads too. IMO, the mud-slinging, personal attacks and childish comments have been posted by some of those on both sides of the “Rudy” debate.
Form a committee. Get some uniforms. Folks'll take ya series then. Snazzy uniforms will get ya a hugh progressive following.
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