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.
Well, with a screen-name like yours, I wouldn't expect anything less! :)
Can somebody please post the pic of the "Aw, geez, not this shit again" guy????
Personally, I'd rather you not leave; one of reasons I signed up was because of posters like yourself, but you do what you gotta do.
You are correct though, the FReeping has been bloody - but that should be an indication of how important the issues were to some people.
There ain't many of '98 guys left anymore. I hope you come back. Keep in touch.
You know how to reach me. ;-)
It can be a rough forum Frannie, but people are usually responded to in the same manner in which they post. You'll probably receive some things that are uncalled for, just pass them by...
See my #198.
I'll leave my window unlocked if ya want to sneak back in.
It wasn't an attack. It was a musing. Perhaps too flippant, in hindsight. I just don't understand oldtimers getting so upset after all that has happened here. There are still so many great threads and discussions. I long ago learned to avoid the spitting matches and can spot the 'crazy uncles'. You know this place will settle back down in a week or so. Remember McClintock, W signing CFR etc. Hence, my confusion. In any event, gotta run, and have a great weekend OF.......
rofl! I agree.
There has been no debate recently. It's been vicious, comparable to the Clinton days. And you know I don't like mentioning his name.
You have been a solid contributor here for many years and the forum will be poorer without your thoughts. I'm sure those who deride you on this thread only help reaffirm your decision, but I do hope you reconsider if and when the nutcases who've been permitted to rampage through the forum are reigned in.
You will be missed, except for all those who called you a nazi, etc.
Poohbah owes you an apology.
bye bye.
Just damn. Don't know what to say. Losing some good people today.
HOOAHH! THAT'S THE SPIRIT!!!!!!!
Too much despair going round these days.
Pfft! Just barely.
If you want a laugh see if you can guess which "rule to FReep by" I just added to my profile page =)
Thank you kindly. I missed ol' hutch's self-centered exit, but poohbah's is just... lame. I mean, look at the example he/she provided as to why poor, persecuted poohbah must depart this cruel world. How pathetic is that??
Yeah, one time I was listed on someone's troll warning ping list. On poohbah's self pity scale, I guess I should have hung myself from the shower.
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