Posted on 09/10/2013 3:25:56 PM PDT by 1raider1
The vast majority of stories posted here that support conservative positions or trash liberals/progressives are from publications that only conservative minded people read. It makes FR kind of an echo chamber, in that, no or very few minds will be changed unless the articles posted here start showing up in the popular media of big city newspapers and network television. I wish it was different, but alas, it isn't
Oh geesh...not this shit again...
“The bigger the cushion......”
Entirely true.
If you look back a century every political party had it’s own newspaper. These days pretty much every newpaper is run by the left. The mass media has become irredeemably leftist in its selection of news and opinions. What we need is to bypass them to get the truth out to people. But only a concerted and ongoing effort can accomplish that.
I often see lefties walk around with books asking for signatures against the oil industry or in favour of some other leftist cause. And I often see leftie posters against war/pollution/racism etc...
But I have never seen a poster for our side or bumped into a conservative activist. I expect the same is true for most of you.
So the real question is why can’t we get some actual opposition organized? An echo chamber is nice and helpful to keep up morale and stay informed. But it doesn’t convert anyone.
Lots of disagreement, most of it very civil, on this site.
Free Traders vs. America Firsters
Libertarian-minded vs. Social Conservatives
“Neo-Cons” vs. “Paleo-Cons”
“Pro-Snowden” vs. “Anti-Snowden”
etc.
As far as it being an echo chamber, there are many other forums out there to get the balance you seek. I spend time on other forums/websites which have different views and interests. I go to each for a different reason. If I want to torture myself with the liberal take on things, I will visit msnbc, Salon.com, Huffpo, etc. Of all the sites I visit, Free Republic is the place most like me. So, it’s sort of like coming home after a long, hard day at work.
Are you saying FR is missing a lot of the news?
no or very few minds will be changed unless the articles posted here start showing up in the popular media of big city newspapers and network television.
___________________________________________________
People need to struggle through the consequence of their vote in the real world, to appreciate how political gamesmanship trickles down to real policies in their everyday lives. Reading an article or editorial, not that liberals would even in a likeminded paper, is not the most effective persuasive tool for changing hearts and minds.
Except FR is routinely read by liberals in the media, has been quoted more than once on national television and on various popular radio programs.
It has been an educational tool for many that read FR.
It has organized and supported many local and national political events.
I’d say it has made a significant difference.
Changing a Liberal’s mind isn’t going to happen. Sorry if that injection of reality causes you any acute cognitive dissonance.
Discussing conservative perspectives with a Liberal is similar to trying to teach a gorilla to write. It wastes your time and eventually the ape just stabs you in the eye with the pencil.
FR is a success because of the wide variety of informed posts. Reality based people visit FR because of what they learn.
Summation: FR is the site for conservative autodidacts.
I only naps a lot......
To: JimRob and fellow FRiends,
Don’t change a thing.
Very many times when I will google an issue one of the results will be a thead on FR.
Many political junkies and of course the media echo chamber for Obama will be watching his speech - lies tonight but millions will, especially his voter base will be watching either sports or other usual TV trash programing tonight. I am sure the media will have their usual phony viewer watching number out tomorrow, but we know it is all a lie.
I would say that most of us freepers will be doing something useful tonight like cutting are toenails or some such...
You replied to yourself to say people aren’t posting what you want them to post instead of posting what you want posted yourself? Are you insane or just a troll? (Hint: It’s a trick question.)
I have put forth many ideas for actually activism.
Conservatives are very good and writing and reading “white papers” and thinking something should or will be done about it.
It’s logic after all.
As far as gaining any real traction here on FR, unless you include some POP STAR in your vanity you will rarely find any constructive debate.
Lots of opinions, lots of very cleaver, very funny, very talented people here but establishing a baseline for furthering a meaningful discussion has been lost.
I love you guys, I really do!!
Yeah, and there are so many conservative news sources out there....oh, wait. There isn’t!
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.