Things have always been pretty feisty here...that’s just the way it is.
But even by FR standards, I have noticed an uptick in gratuitous slamming of people for the most innocuous of statements. I’ve always skipped over the rough and tumble for the most part, but I have to say it’s starting to bother me now.
I agree.
JimRob’s rule on no name-calling goes a long way toward civility for just a little effort.
The more it is ignored, the more it is ignored.
Pretty soon it sounds like “them” around here.
Plus, the value of FR is, at bottom, when it is used as a place for people to have substantive, intelligent discusions and analysis. If every thread is nothing but “you stupid,” “no, you stupid,” FR stops providing value.
I’ve been noticing for most of the year now.
Some posters just like to cause havoc, and the Mods let them. They even let them come back after being banned.
There seems to be some uncivility allowed by certain Freepers, and this is growing into what you see today.
SOME can be allowed to break all the rules, and other Freepers notice. If only some are allowed and others notice, it is not surprising that it has come to all feeling like they can behave like they have the mods backing.
I have seen this for more than a year now.
I hardly come here anymore because of it.
What I see is people taking a difference of opinion as some sort of personal slur and flying off the handle.
As long as most of us have been around the net, people ought to know by now how easy it is to misinterpret the attitude of online exchanges.
I have had some rather nasty responses to posts that were completely unwarranted (IMO anyway). Most of the time when I responded back calmly and courteously the other person cooled off and we had a worthwhile exchange.
Common courtesy is not a sign of weakness. Despite what the ingrates at DU and Koz seem to think.
Eye on the ball folks. FR is *much* more important in the scheme of things than many realize. Strong disagreements do not mean we aren’t on the same side. And we ARE better than our liberal opponents.