Poohbah's Opus

Vanity of vanities, all is vanity, sayeth Qohotoleth... | 01 April 2005 | Poohbah

[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:

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To: Old Professer

Is being a christian identity sympathizer, a white supremicist, a neo-nazi, a racist or an anti-semite illegal activities in themselves?

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.

212 posted on 03/17/2005 11:05:13 AM PST by malakhi

[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 211 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

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To: malakhi

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Terri's fight being associated with Christianity. That is unless someone is a radical leftist.

229 posted on 03/17/2005 12:02:29 PM PST by Diva Betsy Ross

[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 212 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

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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.

[malakhi]

Is being a christian identity sympathizer, a white supremicist, a neo-nazi, a racist or an anti-semite illegal activities in themselves?

[Diva Betsy Ross]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Terri's fight being associated with Christianity. That is unless someone is a radical leftist.

[Mad Mammoth]

FR is bigger than any one poster. People come, people go, but FR goes on. Some can handle it, some can't. Those that can, stay. Those that can't hack it, well, you know the rest.

[Wolfstar]

I wish I were that articulate.

I'm genuinely glad I could help give voice to your's and others' point of view.

[nutmeg]

Speaking as a long-timer, we go through this mess once or twice a year (often right around FReepathon time).

And often on April Fools Day! ;o)

[Not A Snowbird]

Darn, I left my picture of Opus at work.

[Charles H. (The_r0nin)]

Actually, we need to record not just the best opuses, but also the best laments and predictions that go with them. I think the golden age of laments had to come when Trixie left, with CaL's (and the other Keyes-or-Bust crowd) exit coming in a close second. I mean, there were more predictions of FR's demise than cans of beans in the Y2Ker's basements (remember that dust-up?).

Heck, half the fun of a good opus is all of the solemn declarations about how FR will never be what it used to be...

[Squantos]

LOL.....flush !

[B Knotts]

There is a lot of unintentional irony on this thread. I'm assuming it's unintentional. Maybe I'm wrong.

[don-o]

If you are leaving, this place will never be what it was.

Spare me the dramatics, puh-leeze.

FR is much bigger that egomaia that is exhibited in the usual opuses.

[Drango]

bump...

[Gunrunner2]

>>"You are not worth it."
Why would anyone care what you think? You are obviously a panty waist who can neither engage in reasoned discourse nor rough and tumble.

Given the number of wimps that are polluting FR, I going to buy Kleenex stock.

Boo Hoo. What a puss.<

You have no idea how wrong you are.

[thoughtomator]

Well then, try THIS opus!

[Dat Mon]

You said..."That is someone attempting to appear to be a member of the religious right by acting according to their own personal opinion of how a religious person acts."

BINGO

Some people want this site to not be taken seriously.

So that the serious stuff that IS discussed here gets lost in the confusion.

Standard agitprop.

[Trinity_Tx]

"They called me a death cultist Nazi doctor for reading a CT scan,"

You sound like me. It has mattered not what you felt about the ultimate decision. (with which, I did not agree, either.)

Just simply, factually, and logically disputing the tinfoil, or rumors such that she was only kept from doing the polka after a speech at the UN, by her husband who refused her therapy and toothbrushing, and did so for fear she'd tell how he strangled her...   made us part of the nazi death cult who wanted to kill her. If we didn't admit it, we were liars.

"and I'm staying."

Good. Too many aren't - even if they've left silently.
I've always juggled between multiple favorite web forums, so it's not like I leave or stay. lol

I've just been very disappointed to see FR and some conservative politicians drop their standards in terms of research, and vetting sources and spokespeople.

I hate seeing justifiable criticism of hypocrisy come at us from liberals. Our credibility is critical.

[Coop]

Oh, and perhaps you didn't know but the owner of the site said it the other night. "Facts" don't matter.

Nope, didn't know it. And knowing JimRob a bit, I rather doubt that's what happened. But even if it's the exact truth, so what? Then I guess JimRob and I would disagree. God forbid!

[xsmommy]

hey i still have stuff on my Y2K shelf, are you insinuating i need to throw it out??? ; )

[queenkathy]

No you didn't say anything about FBI making arrests. It was in post 65 and you italicized poohbah's statement and it was in there...sorry...but nevermind. I should have sent it to poohbah

[arasina]

Why would anyone care what you think? You are obviously a panty waist who can neither engage in reasoned discourse nor rough and tumble.

FreedomSurge, you may want to change your screen name to Clueless after those comments.

[Dan from Michigan]

Click on your user posts under your profile - 165291

I'm an old timer....22855

[lilmsdangrus]

Kinda like the playground, hey xsmommy?? I'm takin' my ball and bat and goin' home dammit!! Until they can't stand not giving the rest of us oh-so-uninformed their holy opinion.....

[NeoCaveman]

Catholics and Calvinists.

We are all Unitarians now

(/just kidding)