Posted on 03/29/2005 8:58:34 AM PST by Long Cut
We, the Witness Protection Program For Freepers, aka the Wild Turkeys, aka the Coalition of the Sane, have through mutual discussion and rigourous thought, determined that:
1. The discussion threads regarding Terri Schiavo (hereafter referred to as "TS") have become too full of innuendo, rumormongering, hyperbole, hysteria, namecalling, paranoia, and general poor behavior to warrant participation.
2. Said threads have degenerated into "echo chambers", wherein the same, common thoughts are continually posted again and again, and the same old disreputable, unconfirmed and/or false urban myths are propagated.
3. Anyone who joins in said theads with alternative viewpoints to the most extreme posts are routinely driven away with slander, accusations, and vile namecalling.
4. No data or evidence contrary to the "prevailing opinions" are accepted, considered, or discussed; and in fact are rejected outright in most instances.
5. That the continued calls for armed insurrection, military or paramilitary involvement, impeachements of politicians and judges, and death threats are embarassing, stupid, shortsighted, doomed to failure, and contrary to most if not all conservative thought prior to this case, as well as damaging in the extreme to FR and the conservative movement as a whole.
6. That such emotional, hyperbolic, and propaganda-driven hysteria is in fact contrary to all conservatives USED to stand for.
7. That the holding up of swastika and other Nazi imagery towards the police and the Bushes, the use of children as political props, and the disruption of the peace at the Woodside Hospice can only reflect badly on conservatives in general, and should be discouraged.
8. That the pursuit of this issue to the exclusion of all others by the GOP has damaged, perhaps beyond repair, the pursuit of other important issues as well as the reputation of the GOP, FR, and conservatism.
The WPPFF is NOT of one mind as to the case of TS or its correct outcome. In fact, wide disagreement exists within our little group. However, we are united in our wish that reason and sanity be respected in the discussion, as well as the rights of all parties involved or participating. We wish to discuss this as adults and intellectuals, as conservatives and as FRiends, not as children screaming past each other on some playground of hysteria. We wish for facts and evidence to be provided, discussed reasonably, and considered fairly.
We reject all accusations of Naziism, "death cultism", or other slander as methods of debate. We reject the practice of "spamming" multiple threads, of posting unending vanities, and the posting of propaganda and calls for violence. We reject, in fact, all unseemly and childish behavior which has come to characterize this case on FR.
We DO invite others to come and reasonably discuss the issue. We have no problem with FReepers who wish to debate in a rational and fair manner, and with due respect for their fellow FReepers. We have NO problem with those whose views are formed by religion; however we reject "preaching" or "being beaten with a Bible" as legitemite debate tactics. Not all of us are Believers, and such tactics only cheapen the source.
If a FReeper finds this an acceptable meansd to discuss this and other issues, they are welcome to join in and participate. Those who find pleasure in attacks, flame-baiting, slander, stalking, and personal atacks will be ignored, and their egos will go unfed.
We assume this thread to be a zone of sanity in an overheated atmosphere. Thus, a general amnesty is in effect. If posters conduct themselves within the guidlines above, we will be happy to discuss and debate with you. If a poster wishes to apologize for past slips of the tongue, or for possible "over-the-top" statements to another, it will be graciously accepted, and your company welcome.
Please bring a sense of humor; we feel that too many have been taking themselves too seriously lately.
Let the discussion begin!
Signed,
The WPPFF, aka The Wild Turkeys, aka the Coalition of the Sane.
I'm not sure...it could just be the high number of posts coming in across the board.
It has chapped me raw. My grandmother was in a hospice for several months until she passed. I would have been out there taking a baseball bat to those kooks.
Family feuds are horrendous and I see this a family feud played out by the courts, special interests, political junkies, the press with predictable horrible consequences.
I don't see this as the end of our country or some presence of a death culture, etc. I just don't see it in those catastrophic terms. And soon, someone will accuse me of being on Satan's friend list and probably some other horrible thing. I am tired of it.
You make excellent points- and I think many agree with your sentiments.
I sure hope not. I was a bit disturbed by us getting our own "yard duty teacher" who bailed in less than 2 hours and the troll who was banned getting back on the board in less than 24 hours.
Let's start a new conspiracy theory! ; )
A total lack of respect.
Yes Dr H is NOT part of the Global Ethic/Bioethic team which speaks an alternative language from the one that has served mankind from the beganning of time here on earth!
You it seems have embraced the BRAVE NEW WORLD ? A Defence Of Paradise-Engineering
WANT TO REFRESH YOUR MEMORIE PEACH?
No doubt because this is human nature...we all have our triggers...some just don't go all the way down.
Please do not ping me to these posts.
Most of us could go out there and counter attack, but it's out of "respect" for their grief that we are being quit.
I wish they could be as charitable.
sw
You seem to be speaking an "alternative language," appropos of nothing.
MS probably ISN't a good guy, but then, he's been subjected to the worst sort of namecalling and invective now for ten years. His reputation and life have been destroyed in public. I don't think I'd be in a conciliatory mood, either.
Did you know that the Schindlers actually had Terri at home and were caring for her for a while? It lasted three weeks, and they sent her right back to the hospice, saying it was too much.
Opps..I meant "quiet"...for the spelling police :~)
One of the primary reasons I started this thread. You're safe here; just don't feed the trolls. Discuss, don't flame. Let the flamers and hysterics make themselves look foolish all on their own.
And don't forget those who use emotion to whip other people into a frenzy...sometimes they are already in their own frenzy, but sometimes, I think it's just their favorite tool to get people involved - the all's fair in love and war people.
Family feuds should be just that FAMILY - this public spectacle making is just plain wrong.
Please do not spam the thread. If necessary, post links and people will find your documents.
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.