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.
Thanks Howlin.
Sad to see Poohbah go.
Wish a "Schiavo" forum was created off the news forum.
Good job. Congratulations.
An Opus shouldn't contain misspelled words. Loved your take on the Liberty incident.
You don't stay married 30 years if you leave just because you had a fight.
This is exactly why we need people like you to stay -- although I can't blame you. I don't want to be associated with people like this either. I never did see posts like you mentioned, but it is those kinds of things that tarnish the image of this forum and all those who post here.
Perhaps an effort could be made to clean this up through Jim and the moderators.
I wish you the best.
Then please at least do it with some dignity and spare us the opus.
c ya, wouldn't wanna be ya
You, my friend, were very badly treated. I was very unhappy to see that. Things have certainly changed.
Hold! I saw that thread. It turns out that Diva didn't know who Chritian ID was, a bunch of racist thugs. And of course with the left calling McCarthy a drunken fascist, Bush Hitler, and assorted other squat, I can understand why she didn't quite believe at first the truth aboout CI.
And I really ask you to reconsider. I disagree with so many FReepers but I would never think of leaving. Discourse is vital, even if it isn't that civilized. Those who can think independently will look at both sides and come to a conclusion that one side is right and the other was full of it.
Whatever.
If things don't start settling down over the next few weeks, I think I just might have to second that suggestion. It's too bad, too, since I just found FR. :(
This OPUSing reminds me of all these "coming out of the closet" campaigns.......Hey Everbody!! Attention!!! I got something to say so listen to me!!! I'm coming out of the closet. I'm straight!!!
Although it's not nearly on the level of TLBShow..or even Jack Thompson...
"A few crazy uncles post "
This place has been filled with crazy uncles for the past few weeks.
I've mever seen such a whining opus.
Don't let the door hit you in the ass.
don't hurry back.
No the opus is a time honored tradition here at Free Republic, I'll give Poohbah's a 6, it started out pretty good, but it needed a stronger ending.
Terri's war was a brutal one, so opuses are to be expected, there we be more after the 2006 eection too.
I thought it seemed like it was about her too.
Wild-eyed repetition of every damn rumor to come down the pipe is exactly what happens around here too often.
Think of it as a challenge.
Noooooooooooooooooo, don't go! You and hchutch in one day? Pls stay, P...
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