DU Tactics at FreeRepublic

FreeRepublic | 4/3/07 | Reaganesque

[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

Romney-Thompson Ticket?

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.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“Concepts like “honor” and “integrity” and “duty” are lost on the political types...”

I have seen more puerile tripe posted here in the last few months as I have seen in 2 years : )

[aruanan]

the victims of childish and down right purile dirty tricks.

That's "puerile" and it means "childishly foolish; immature or trivial."

[dleecomeback07]

How about making it so you can only add your own keywords?

If you see a thread and have one to suggest you can PM the originator or put it in a post.

For example if I posted an article about the Cubs being sold. One of you might think I should add mark cuban to the keywords. So you could PM me or say “Hey dleecomeback add mark cuban”

A general thing about Romney and I like him myself is how is making comments about his religion any different than someone making comments about Obama’s color?

[EternalVigilance]

Great posts.

[Killborn]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1809858/posts

Yeah, some idiot has been making the rounds on this thread.

[dleecomeback07]

I think this is going to be one of the more interesting elections if not the most interesting one in a long time.

Serious battles for the nomination on both sides for starters. I could see the final 2 on each side going down to the wire for the nomination.

And I think the general will be very close.

[Reaganesque]

Did you hit the abuse button? If not, go on! Do it! You know you wanna!!

[Reaganesque]

Sounds good to me.

[dleecomeback07]

I’m not sure I want to know but what is a pickelpuffer anyway?

[dleecomeback07]

If anything exemplifies the difference look at the Elizabeth Edwards thread here compared to their Tony Snow thread.

[Graybeard58]

how is making comments about his religion any different than someone making comments about Obama’s color?

Religion is a choice.

[Beagle8U]

Ask someone at a pickle park ( truck stop)...lol

[Killborn]

Got it. That makes alot of sense. It was pretty weird because gallantry is more often associated with positive attributes. Thank you for the clarification.

[scratcher]

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.

There's a whole bunch we can have fun with here.  The unwashed DUers are signing up in droves.

 

[Killborn]

The thread was several days old but it would be nice if the abuse reporting works.

Anyone who calls Rep. Paul the devil in light of the Hildebeast is smoking something pretty strong.

[Elyse]

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.

Oh, I agree with you. Some of the things I've seen non-Rudy supporters say have made me cringe. I think there are idiots on both sides.

[conservative in nyc]

A more insidious problem, IMO, has been the dilution of dialog over the past few months, with the emergence of sleaze/"entertainment" threads that get posts up in the 10s of thousands.

Unfortunately, trends on Free Republic have tended to mirror trends in the MSM lately. As the MSM has printed more vapid crap on their websites, the number of articles about vapid crap posted here has increased. Vapid crap sells because people are interested in vapid crap.

How about making it so you can only add your own keywords?

That's an overly broad response to a relatively minor problem that maybe affects 5% of things posted. Sometimes, the original poster doesn't use any keywords. I've occasionally added keywords on topics of interest (like the Sandy Berger caper) so that I can find all of the articles later if I wanted to search for it.

[Elyse]

Rudy supporters tend not to trash other candidate cuz were a cheery lot. We like all the candidates but we just prefer Rudy. If Rudy doesn't’t get the nod you'll we will find close ranks behind the nominee. What makes Rudy threads like DU is the fault of the RudyHaters.

A cheery lot?!? Now you all have to quit making me laugh like this, it's hurting my sides.

[Nam Vet]

I think it's obvious that these lowlifes are NOT Conservatives. You've been here long enough to know we get our share of infiltration. Sometimes the dims try subtlety, but more often than not, it's blatant childishness like this. Sorry it's happened to your threads.

Nam Vet

[Elyse]

I’ve just got to add that I think this is one of the things that makes me think DU when a lot of Rudy supporters post. It’s not so much that they trash the other candidates, it’s that they speak down to other posters in patronizing tones as if they are so much more mature and intelligent and above the rest of the posters.