Posted on 04/01/2005 4:26:00 PM PST by Poohbah
First, this is NOT an April Fool's joke.
I am leaving Free Republic.
Over the past two years, civility and thoughtful discourse has vanished from this site, replaced with demands for ideological conformity that are straight out of Stalinist Russia or China's Great Cultural Revolution, and unrelenting uncivility if said conformance is not forthcoming. This trend began with the California recall election, where certain posters were allowed to flame the living beejezus out of those who didn't wholeheartedly support Tom McClintock, or thought that he wasn't running a campaign capable of winning. It extended into the Keyes campaign last year, where any critique of Keyes' campaign strategy was shrilly flamed, despite the obviously flawed execution of his campaign.
(Aside: one person who flamed me during the Keyes mess later said that he hadn't intended to start a fight with his remarks that accused me of homosexuality, pedophilia, and other evils; I was instantly reminded of the time I had to bail one of my Marines out of the local lockup. "Honest, Sarge," this Marine told me, "I didn't mean to start a fight when I called that Army Ranger a faggot." My response was not [and still isn't] suitable for public consumption.)
Since then, the Terri Schiavo case has pushed FR over the edge. We had posts calling for people to ensure that "accidents" to befall Schiavo and Judge Greer. We had posts praying that Iran would soon develop nuclear weapons, so that they could destroy the United States. And until the FBI started making arrests, those posts were allowed to stay up, completely abnegating Free Republic's standards.
We had people on both sides of the issue point out that the Schindlers were associating with some people of extremely low character, and that our uncritical embrace of these parties would not rebound to our favor. Rather reasonable attitudes to take, actually; but the loudest of the loud were in no mood to think.
My personal favorite was the following exchange:
The issue is not legality, but public opinion. Which will not be helped in this case if the pro-Terry side becomes associated in the media with Christian Identity, white supremicists, neo-nazis, racists and/or anti-semites.
Diva Betsy Ross made a valiant attempt to...ahem...whitewash Christian Identity, but it didn't work.
To top things off, we had people embracing as some sort of conservative icon, to the extent of posting a fundraising link.
I always thought that conservatism valued thinking over feeling, careful contemplation of facts over wild-eyed repetition of every damn rumor to come down the pipe, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. For a while, Free Republic met those criteria in spades.
Those days are long gone, and I have serious doubt as to whether or not they're coming back.
I know that many of the usual suspects will cheer this on, as their longtime nemesis is leaving them the field.
Be careful what you wish for; you are in the process of getting it. You may succeed in driving the folks who disagree with you from the site; but you will end up being just another collection of shrill voices in Bedlam. When everything is an over-the-top scream, no one will be heard.
Farewell.
That's a dark, primitive place. Ick.
I was in a motel with no internet access and sleet, snow and ice outside and missed all the fun. My Christmas dinner was Chef Bo are d heated in a microwave.
Oh, I wish I was posting then, using my patented 100,000 btu flamer, it is just rusting away on a hard drive.
FR is best. Bar none. Where else can you see a guy to the right of Buchanan debate an ultra-libertarian. :)
There may be eventually. Who knows. But, the numbers mean a lot to me because I know at FR, I get a wide variety of views. I sometimes go to Liberty Post or something, but don't post there. Threads aren't near as interesting and don't get as many responses. Not near as many news stories are discussed, either.
FR is tops, even with occassional problems.
Now you understand why I didn't post the link.
Dear sinkspur,
That's your opinion.
I thought it did nothing but put the poster in a better light.
Whether it did or not, whether the poster deserved it or not, it nonetheless, it vitiates your (false) assertion.
It hasn't been one-sided.
sitetest
LOL!!! Under attack again!
Thanks. :-)
The art of the original FR opus was truly a sight to behold.
Nam Vet
I'm not leaving .. I have tougher skin than that!
And .. no foul mouthed, snot nosed punks are going to run me off!!!!
Besides .. people .. we have to stop taking it personally .. AND .. nothing requires you to answer the post even if it sends you up the wall.
And .. we must remember that a lot of these people who come and drop bombs - come here specifically for that purpose. They drop their bomb (outrageous statements) and then they just sit back and watch us go ballistic.
It's a game they play - and I've seen them do this for 5 years or so. And .. when you respond - they call in their buddies and pile on in tag team fashion. DON'T BITE!
The way to fight them is to do 1 of 3 things (or all 3 if you have to):
First: Don't answer them. Ignore their post. I saw this on a thread the other day - right in the middle of the thread was this over the top comment. None of us even acknowledged that the poster was even there. Guess what - no other posters came to join in the attack (there's a clue here).
Second: Laugh at them - by using ROTFLOL - that's all - no other comment - no bad language - nothing. It absolutely catches them off guard. Then - ignore them. Actually - it drives them crazy and they will say the most outrageous things just to get you to respond. DON'T!
Third: If they use bad language or call you names - report them. I never hesitate - and I SIGN IT - finally the word will get around - don't mess with them - they report you. Refuse to respond to foul language.
Remember .. a lot of these really old timers who do the attacking are from the Pat Buchanan and McCain groups. They are frustrated because they have no political power - they don't agree with NORMAL conservatives - so they just like to pick fights for amusement.
Time for us to act like the adults we are and not allow idiots to run things.
Look at all the fireworks! You sure know how to go out with a bang.
I am not sure I would agree that folks discussing a way to make the FR experience more enjoyable would be considered whining. Perhaps it is a day late dollar short, or worse to soon after a heated national issue that has raised the blood pressure of many on FR.
Many of us have been following the Schiavo case. I actually think all the threads that were started as a result of updates in the news were valuable to help those unable to be near a TV or have lot's of time on line to get caught up.
Some threads were far from hostile. However when someone would say that they believe in the relationship of a husband and wife, some would cry fowl. I may not like but that is the fact. Her husband was a smock. Not a guy I would want to have care for me, if had been that way the entire time but he was not. Point in fact her parents felt she gave her excellent care.
Frankly I am for states rights and I felt after all the previous reviews in the courts one had to trust that they got it right. Same judges send folks to death row we had better hope they get it right.
I think their family relations were right up there with a popular soap opera. I do not like those and did not like having a view into someones very personal event in their lives. A parent should never out live their children. Their agony was understood. They drew the lines in the sand.
I feel that if this had received more coverage back in 1990, that we were able to follow their court decisions in real time, I think it would have helped those who had felt marriage trumped parents.
Had I wish the guy gave her back to her parents, hell yes. Had I wish I would not have to watch the news and wonder who is being more honest in their desire to get their side out there, it is tragic. He wants to bury her with his family in another state. Come on what is up with that? I know, my father is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The burial plot allows three deep. In other words should a spouse remarry that spouse can be bured in the same spot. How well ODD is that? Would love to watch my parents up in heaven should my mom find a new guy. I would sell tickets to the event. OK, I will return to my serious nature.
I hope that maybe we can find ways to improve Free Republic. Most importantly we need to help those new to FR find a common thread updated regarding excerpts, solicitation, duplicates, searching and I am sure there are many more.
Would that not be for the common good of all?
I do appreciate reading folks comments.
Amen. There is no other board. I never believe any of these opuses... or it it "opra"?
One other thing:
The software that powers FreeRepublic is the most logical, cleanest interface I've ever seen.
Every try to follow a thread on DU? The posts are not in chronological order. It's odd.
It is human nature.
DUers are probably united in their hatred of Bush. That holds them together. Once a Dem wins the WH, they will have time for more petty squabbles.
And then it will be our turn to be united and FR will probably expand rapidly then like it did after its creation.
I don't think idiots are running FR..
Well, good point.
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