Posted on 02/04/2016 8:06:14 AM PST by HonorInPa
I’ll start off by saying, according to my profile, I’ve been a member of FR since September 2000, long enough to see the site evolve. I think the last three months have been a low point for FR with new lows being set every day.
FR used to be a place for interesting, sometimes contentious, but always considerate debate about issues important to the Conservative movement. Yes, during election cycles there was some push and shove concerning favorite candidates, but mostly involving their true conservative credentials.
Lately it is has become a reflection of the overall decline in civility in America. Gone are the reasoned arguments, peppered with humor, that were meant to persuade. Now many of the posts are nasty, ad hominem attacks – if you can’t use reason as a tool attack the person.
We’ve become, much like society, repeaters of the vulgar; he who speaks loudest or brashest must have the right opinion. We now live in a world where fame can start with leaked sex tapes, conspicuous consumption, and bad behavior (e.g. any Kardashian, Housewives of pick a city, etc.). No longer is much of the discussion here reflective of conservative principles – respect for the individual, reasoned consideration of all sides of an argument, and – dare I suggest – some level of morality.
Today, instead of working through solutions to the big problems facing America, our potential leaders toss out 140 character tweets meant to inflame their supporters or ridicule rivals. You can look at my post history and figure out who I’m supporting in this cycle (just as you can for previous elections) but I’m pointing my finger at all candidates. Put down the smartphones and talk to me like the intelligent adult I am. I know few of today’s issues are 100% black or white but I want to hear how you arrived at your solutions, your thought process, your ideals, your foundation. We’ve had enough of leaders who speak in platitudes or take a poll to decide what to have for lunch.
As a group we’re supposed to better than this. Over the years we’ve made fun of the idiocy over at DU but sadly of late, idiocy has found a new home here. We can raise the quality of the debate at this site. We can use this as a forum to demand that our candidates do the same. I will try my best to not get sucked into the morass and join in any undisciplined discussion.
I ask that each of us – myself included – take an extra second before pressing “post†to think about what we’ve typed. Does it insult needlessly? Does it raise the level of the debate? Is it a good reflection of our Conservative principles? Does it add fuel to the perceptions of others that the Right is made up of heartless, mean luddites?
Rather than sinking to the lowest common denominator, let’s all try to lead by example. Ok, flame away!
Awww CRAP, the wiggly characters! There, fixed it.
I think that what is going on here is a reflection of the hyper partisan antics used by the left. Since we as conservatives really don’t have anyplace out in the world to have our views discussed rationally and are subjected to abuse by those on the opposite side, many bring that mistreatment here, when they are challenged and cannot support a position effectively.
It is not everyone, to be sure. Also, bear in mind that Onambla has coarsened the conversation with his childlike temper tantrums, and demand for fealty from all.
An in the almost 20 years since FR went live, many who were good at intellectual sparring with some humor have passed on (Dr Raoul), moved on (Kristinn), or been banned such as pissant, the comedian, and others.
There is an ebb and flow, to the people who post here, and I do not think that this time is any different than 2000 when it was an open field on the republican side. 2008 was an open, and many hated McAmnesty, and Willard. others were vociferously for Duncan Hunter and if you didn’t support him you were just plain stupid. It is not new, just more intense at this time.
Take a breath, step back and unplug for a while.
No problem whatsoever.
A few years ago Freeper Marie started a thread addressing the behavior of some Freepers who insist that in some circumstances sex between adults and minors is no big deal. The thread drew people on both sides. The site founder eventually deleted the thread.
But deletion aside, it became clear that the idea that sex between adults and minors was no longer considered to be an uncrowded blessed line.
Uncrossable line,
hillarys cankles wrote:
I admit that I as a trump supporter flew off the handle a couple days ago. I had completely had it with the name calling from the Cruz supporters. I've been very even keeled up to a week ago. I never posted more than a couple times a week. Then, seeing some of the stuff flowing on here, the lies, the snide remarks, the name calling of trump supporters. I lost it.It felt like Bush and mittens, trying to take the high road while your just getting ravaged and made a fool out of. This not respond is just wrong in my opinion.
I know the feeling - but I'm less forgiving than hillarys cankles. :)
Piranha - check first for a pattern of ARTICLE POSTING.
Of course, I want to support the most conservative candidate, and it's not always easy to figure out who that might be. It's always easy to see who's not conservative. It's always easy to see who puts personal gain above philosophical gain. And it's always easy to spot who shouldn't be trusted.
But what happens when all the choices have some weaknesses, and personal faults? And doesn't that happen in just about every election?
I'm in Missouri, and we don't have to choose until mid-March, and who knows, the race could effectively be over by then. Still, I would much rather find out why one candidate is the best, rather than being told which one is the worst. I understand the slams against Trump, Cruz, Rubio, and Carson, and the rest. But they have become so commonplace, and simplistic that they don't have an impact on my decision.
Nice post, though, and I hope that it brings a little more civility and thoughtfulness to the discussions.
Bump
I myself need to skip some threads at times, and not add to internecine warfare.
I got the senior discount.
That’s one thread. FR has become a trash heap of crappy threads lately, mostly mudslinging against candidates.
Balderdash!
Yeah okay....
When was the last time you donated to Free Repulic?
Oh and now you want to censor Freepers you disagree with.
That is very Authortrian like.
I’m not saying you have to agree wiith very Freelee, but you should defend all Freepers right of speech.
+1
You do have allies in this quest FRiend.
Again, it's not about vigor, it's about tone.
It's too bad you don't see the difference.
garbled character in tag line, you copied and pasted!
LOL
This too shall pass, but we have to live with it until it does. I say that about my Democrat relatives...
Yes, he and his 1001 sockpuppets were tricksy little bastiches. :)
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