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.
Actually, the only thing affected by my not reading every single post was my question to you about the word "punk".
Which you addressed.
My original post stands.
Junior? I suppose that's your way of being clever - in your mind, at least.....
I agree, and will forevermore keep a lower profile. Debating is fun, personal attacks are not.
ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's great!
This guy's on the RKBA list.
We gotta start screening these people...
I never considered you a troll, since you have been posting for a while, and Illbay wasn't one, either.
Not everyone likes me, either, but I do not make it my obsession to respond to them or up the ante by inflaming the situation.
Of course it has changed, but not so much in the 9 months that he's been here.
You are forgetting both the context of this thread and many years preceding your enlightened presence.
You are annoying me and that isn't a good thing when I'm hungry.
That is a great photo.
If you must know...
I am, yes, 16, and a senior in high school. In elementary school, it was the concensus of the principal, teacher, and my parents I was too far advanced for my class and I was skipped from first to second grade, and thus I am the youngest member of my high school class.
I am ranked third in my class, and am taking six AP courses (seven next semester). I have already taken six, passing the exams with five 5's and a 4, and will enter college with enough credit to classify as a sophomore.
I scored a 1560 on the SAT, 35 on the ACT, and am a National Merit Finalist. I am already accepted to college and will be going with enough scholarships to pay for tuition, housing, books, and everything else with some spending change on the side.
I do not, however, consider that relevant in any way to the topic at hand and thus have not yet brought it up, and do not plan to bring it up again.
Context - a thread which, prior to the flamewars was simply about the changing tone of FR. Period.
Which was my reason for weighing in. Period.
My "enlightened presence". You just can't let up, can you?
Go eat something, for pete's sake. I'm sure your family will be happier, as well.
Did I forget feeding time?????
Livingston doesn't need 'em; he spent most of today trying to break into the closet that I'd just emptied and cleaned. 22 pounds of pear-shaped kitty, hooking his paws around the doorknob and swinging his considerable weight therefrom, making indignant noises the whole time.
My level of sympathy is not what it should be.
You're right. i wish I had taken it.
Es nicht braucht jedoch, ein Krieg von Beleidigungen zu sein.
There you have it folks - he's 16 years old.
HOW DARE HE be a little more sensitive than the jaded adults?
Congratulations, everyone, on ganging up on a high-school senior. Now go kick your dogs.
Like I said, I don't think my age plays any part, for better or for worse, in this debate, and I sure as heck don't expect any special treatment for it.
Lighten up.
If he can't handle playing with the big dogs he needs to step aside.
I don't see where he has even come close to needing to be defended. Just because some of us don't like his condescending attitude, we were all 16 once, and if he's going to dish it out, I expect he should be able to take it.
It's all part of growing up.
...and I should also expect that people would not blatantly dismiss me for or attribute my comments simply to being a teenager either.
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