Here's a term that I would really like to see put to rest on this thread. Who are these supposed "Smart haters," sandude? Do you include anyone who has questions about the Smart family's behavior during this widely publicized saga? Anyone who has voiced the feeling that the Smarts are not telling all that they know? Since when does that constitute "hate"? Many of us on this thread do have questions, but not many of us see things in exactly the same way. Why the need to lump everyone together under such a nasty term as "Smart haters"? It's not only inaccurate......it's offensive. Would you care to list those posters whom you are calling "Smart haters" and provide documentation for their inclusion in the group? Or would you rather just drop the term?
I actually, truthfully,feel sorry for sandude. It seems when something new comes along, such as that article in the SLCT, and people take it line by line and comment on it (because there is so much there) the term "Smart haters" comes into play.
HATE is a very strong word. And using it, as a put down, and name calling is soooo 7th grade.
Come on, dude..you are better than that.
Since you are asking a fair question I'll try to give you an equally fair answer - at least from my perspective. Certainly there are Smart haters on these threads, just as there are Mormon haters and even Catholic haters on these threads. We could speculate as to why some FReepers hate the Smarts. There have been some indications in recent days that at least some of it stems from the Smart's percieved wealth and their "huge" home. Never mind that their home is laughably small to someone who is really wealthy. There have been other indications that it stems from their Mormon faith. Some of the attacks on the Smarts and the LDS church have been venomous. Maybe you missed them. The moderators have pulled some of the more blatant threads and posts. Some users have been banned. Other Smart or Mormon haters now couch their criticism in cleverly worded phrases or post threads from other boards in attempts to say things that would draw the ire of other posters if they posted them directly.
Suffice it to say that the Smart family has been thrown into a whirlwind and have often flailed around trying to get their bearings. I have daughters near ES and MK's ages and my heart goes out to them every day. They are not perfect - individually or collectively - and by all accounts of people who know them well, are very decent, God-fearing, Christians.
I take it personally, as do many other FReepers on these threads, when the Smarts are smeared day after day without a single shred of evidence of their involvement in the abduction. Many of us are open minded and have often asked for such a shred of evidence and have never received one. I doubt that we will since it appears not to exist.
What I am describing are very insensitive people - a very sick side of society. They make me want to throw up.
I was simply trying to describe an attitude that certain posters exhibit. Hate is a strong word but "Smart haters" rolls off the tongue easier than "People who won't give the Smarts a break" or "People who twist every Smart family statement into some kind of effort to cover a criminal act." I really don't think anyone on this thread is offended by the term "Smart hater". How would you describe the group that is suspicious of the Smart family? It's got to be snappy or nobody will use it.