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.
Really.
That's an admission that took some courage and maturity on your part to make.
Nicely done.
Scroll through the thread.
Oh, I agree with his points. But the follow-ups get a little, well, y'know...
Because, he has decided to 'attack' those who disagree with his vanity.
Most voiciferously.
Making him appear hypocritical, really.
As do I.
*I* have no idea what is going on here.
I request that EVERYONE INVOLVED cool their jets for the few minutes it will take for me to read this thread.
I suspect there is no justification for the venom I have seen in the latest posts.
Ahem. And my name isn't on there because???
:)
Does getting drunk with Seabees at Cam Rahn Bay count?
Careful. Agreeing with him, even in the intended spirit of his original post only, will open you up to equal treatment.
If that's all you gleaned from my post the you are in for a hard life. Good luck. You're gonna need it.
Barring the one "jackass" comment, I've tried my absolute best to be civil in my replies, and nearly every one that seems otherwise can be attributed to sarcasm.
We've seen, after all, that apparently my type is far too dry for some members here.
After a spirited debate as to the merits of my conclusions, the thread quickly devolved into a flamewar not exceeding ten participants.
Sorry to drag you into this, your Kingliness. ;-)
I gently reproached him, invoking the spectre of Illbay, Patron Saint of Posters Who Enraged, to make my point.
Just one of those sad cases when someone wants everyone to like him but winds up becoming the unpicked child in the corner of the schoolyard.
It was the only thing of any seeming value. The rest was useless ad hominem.
Guess I am in for the hard life...
Why do you only respond to the posters that flame you?
(PS -- the flamers notice that too. Think about it.)
I most certainly did not post this with the intention of getting everyone to "like me." Rather, I expected some of the troll treatment, but felt I needed to register my concerns nonetheless. I never thought it would grow to this magnitude.
Know-it-all, hypocrite kids screaming "look at me" make me queasy.
From #328 Entirely, entirely true. My posting this was meant only to give my opinion on those few. Folks who are not guilty can just move along their merry way.
Between you, me, and the rest of the forum, though, I think some of the reponses here have proven nearly every point I made much better than I ever could've written.
I have responded numerous times to the folks supporting me too. Most of those, however, chose to do so via FReepmail, hoping to avoid the flamestorm brewing here.
I do thank Coopster, King, NMC, Abram, Asphalt, and others for registering their support here in the thread. I thank Coop particularly, though we've never met, he is to be commended for standing up and speaking his mind too.
I would advise any who desire to joust with me to read my FR homepage in its entirety, and come to a just conclusion as to whether they have the wit for the bloodletting that might ensue should I decide to envenom my writ.
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