Posted on 12/30/2004 12:26:25 PM PST by K1avg
For the past several months, fate has conspired to keep me away from the computer. I haven't posted nearly as much on FR as I used to. With the holidays, though, I've had an opportunity to catch up a bit.
What I found on my return is a bit disconcerting. While there's always been an element here that refuses to reason and does little more than insult Democrats and RINOs, it seems that this mentality has taken over a large portion of our membership. I've encountered more shrill, radical nonsense in the past couple of days than I had in the months before my absence.
Certainly it's acceptable to gloat a bit after our enormous gains on November 2, but I do believe it's about time to get back to normal business.
Referring to Democrats as “Rats” or some variant thereof may be somewhat amusing, but seeing the reference in nearly every other post really gets annoying at times. Pet names for Democrats and RINOs may be funny the first time, but quickly get old. It's one thing to respect someone, and it's certainly acceptable to not do so for one reason or another, but it's never alright to be downright incivil.
Just the other day, I was in an argument here with some other members who were supporting Yanukovych over Yushchenko because Yush had pledged to remove Ukraine's 1600-some-odd-strong force from Iraq and was *gasp* more liberal than Yanukovych. Seriously, that's absurd. I'd be happy to debate with you here, but anyone can tell you Yushchenko as president will be much better for the Ukrainian people, our interests in Iraq be damned.
But I'm getting away from the subject at hand. These are just a few examples of the devolution of discourse here. While everyone is certainly allowed to have their own opinions, there is a certain level of civility that should be maintained, regardless of the context.
This is the sort of stuff you find at DU, not here. I recognize there's plenty of good, civil users here, and I'm thankful for that. To those guilty, though, it would be nice if you could tone it down a bit.
I love being here. Things like the Undead Thread, Daily Dose, and crushkerry's Lib Pundit tournament, along with the usual daily banter of normal news, makes FR like no other political site on the web. Let's keep it that way. Thanks for your time, and have a lovely day.
Sure. Uh huh.
Well, you write like a girl, punk.
Sorry. It won't be long now. It was fun this afternoon, but this loser has to go.
There are over two hundred thousand registered FReepers (or more), and I wouldn't delude myself for a second into thinking I was missed. My "I've been gone" comment was more in the context of FR has seemed to have changed for the worse since I left.
Maybe you should come down from that dais before you get a nose bleed.
Jeez, talk about a over abundance of self worth.
I didn't command anybody to do anything, I simply registered my opinion that some of the rhetoric here was getting increasingly and unnecessarily shrill. How is that wrong or arrogant?
I seriously doubt that.
You are barking up the wrong tree here.
It's getting fun now - bcause he just came back......we need to let him catch up so the kitties can really play with him.....
He's sinking himself into oblivion with each and every post he makes.
Here's a clue. Get over yourself Sparky.
You are correct, sir. We'll let JR and the kitties deal with this Rat. Should be fun!
You are correct, sir. We'll let JR and the kitties deal with this Rat. Should be fun!
How about just "wrong?"
SHEESH................
If you think FR has changed for the worse since you left (not that anyone noticed) why bother hanging around anymore?
And FR changing for hte worse is just your personal opinion, and apparently is not embraced by very many others considering the comments you have received from folks that have been FAR longer than you have or probably will be.
No real dog in this fight, but Klavg is right. I came across FR during the election of 2000, and have been here ever since. There's a lot more infighting/plain rudeness here than there ever used to be.
And while Klavg is absolutely (as so many of you tripped over yourselves to point out) welcome to hit the road, insulting/berating him doesn't mean he isn't telling the truth - whether it hurts of not.
In fact, it just serves to prove him correct.....
Am I going somewhere?
Fetal, or fetid?
That's what I'm waiting for.......can't access any of my kitty pix, so I'm awaiting the troops - and I think I'm going to clal some of them in!!!!
(BTW, it's ma'am, not sir - but don't worry, I'm not offended!!!)
Thanks for proving my argument so nicely.
Both!!!!!!!!!!
For the third time, sarcasm is apparently beyond the comprehension of many here.
It looks like Klavg's roomate entered and started up his own computer (post 392).
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