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.
There are many of us who disagree with what happened to Terri, due to all the competing testimony and evidence.
I don't think you can characterize people as pro or con euthenasia based on their opinion of the Schiavo case.
But the venom that shows up on some of these threads is hard to miss. Folks really ought to learn that calling someone a "nazi" or a "racist" just doesn't have any sting anymore, it's way to overused, and has lost all meaning.
If you can insult a person in such a way that they don't realize it, that's always the best!!
ROTFLMAO!!!
I supported Terri, but all the people saying both Bushes are guilty of murder or something really make me angry.
Then there are those who are claiming they are leaving the GOP since not enough was done for Terri. Oh come on. More was done for her than 100 other people who have had the same exact thing happen to them.
Who is it that's whining? I made a statement of fact. The level of low discourse is the worst I've ever seen around here. I gave you specific examples. I've accepted it for what it is and moved on. Now we can't note a simple fact without being called whiners?
LOL. You're a piece of work. Just itching to have an argument.
I'm leaving on vacation and am too happy to be distressed by your little act. It's cute the first time but quickly gets old.
I have the same experience with the Mods -- they did a really good job under the circumstances.
Lions and tigers and bears... oh my! You better git while the gittin's good!
What a puss!
Those of us who have been here, in fact, for a long time and actually read a lot of threads and comments KNOW the site well. Thanks again. Disarmed the naysayers again!
Nam Vet
A howling crowd, is still a howling crowd filled with mass hysteria.
Huh? No big deal anyway. I was providing a citation for the poster who was wondering where JR was to have said "Facts don't matter." Anybody who is interested can go read the thread for themselves and draw their own conclusions.
What chutzpah.
With comments like these
-- not to mention some of the most ghoulish 5000+ post threads I've ever seen ... far more grotesque than that you might expect to see on some DUmbed-down deathist liberal site --
you have to wonder sometimes if the real intent of Free Republic these days is to let "conservatives" show their backsides to all and sundry.
You are right: good manners are integral to civil discourse.
When I am on a thread and receive a post that seems that it might either be intentionally rude or that it might be inadvertently so, I find it valuable to read the poster's posting history to see if it appears that the poster engages in contumely or in baiting of other posters. If so, I generally ignore the poster; it's simply not worth my time or effort to engage in rancorous billingsgate.
Of course, I often read a poster's posting history if they seem to be making intelligent points also. Some people here make tremendous contributions of time and of their own knowledge; unfortunately, others seem to be willfully contentious to no point except to display contempt and disdain for other posters.
It takes all kinds to make an Internet, I guess. Sometimes noise drowns out signal, but I personally find that Free Republic does a good job of filtering the dreck.
It is an online forum. I get called named all the time and don't run home and leave.
Toughen up. I am sorry you were attacked as much as you were, an I bet I played a part due to how emotionally wrapped up I got in the issue last week, but getting called names is no reason to leave.
Also, I doubt there are other conservative forums with as many posters as FR.
Because you had no other interests,except for the Terri threads. ;^)
Thank you -- I was hoping you would see that post because I saw vanity after vanity by new posters this past week and I kept hoping you all would say NO MORE VANITIES! I even hit abuse on a couple of them they were so far out and nothing happened. But then other times they would be pulled.
Excellent. Two in one day.
Yup. And I think its fine people agree on certain issues with no problem, or disagree, but for me, Terri Schiavos death will not make or break the GOP. The GOP will make or break it, and likely over a battle that has little or nothing to do with it. Schiavos death was a national disgrace, not to be politicized. If anything it points to an issue with the courts (incl. judges and lousy attorneys - on both sides) and laws. It all turned for me when Jesse Jackass got involved, along with a few other ambulance chasers. I tried to stick to facts or find them out as best I could and even changed my stance on a few things after finding out I was incorrect. But Nazi? Murderer? Christ hater?
Yea, right. Hey, people are whacked. This place...I can take it or leave it and sometimes do both.
Well said! [round of applause]
Ooh la la!! ME-dic!! (wolf whistle)
But seroiusly. Please don't leave.
I hope not. We disagreed strongly on Terri, but you would be missed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.