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.
"of posting unending vanities"
Then please remove this one, too.
Cripes!
He, like Jesse Jacka$$, will not go away.
Nonsense is the word. I am particularly against euthanasia, but I am for truth, honesty, rational discourse, and judging of my information sources carefully.
Terri had her day in court, and now she is with God.
Now we can talk evil about each other or work to change the system. I know which choice will get the most results!
Yes, he is.
I asked him in Freepmail why, since I had always defended him when anybody attacked him.
He said tit-for-tat.
Claims he's a no-compromise pro-life conservative. One of the "unappeasables".
I'm begging you...
That is a joke from another thread to the rest of you, so don't start calling me names and trying to get me banned like a person did a few days ago.
Asphalt:
Age:14
Name:Asphalt
Hight:5'81/2"
Date of birth: 10/10/90
Weight:132 lbs
Take a hike son. After you get through puberty and have a little experience in the workings of the world, come back and maybe the adults will speak with you.
Thanks for the bump.
- A large chunk of FReepers voted in polls here that they supported the governor calling out the Guard.
- A large chunk supported the use of children as political props, and getting them arrested and placed into danger.
- Many FReepers began PRAISING Jesse Jackson, and some even shilled for donations to him.
- Many FReepers posted nonstop Nazi imagery. Do they really think that everyone "gets" what they are trying to say, rather than just assuming that they are neo-Nazis themselves?
- Many FReepers are calling for solid Republicans to be thrown out of office "for not doing ENOUGH".
There are widespread calls for people to violate the law.
- Death threats to public officials has been tolerated.
What am I to think?
It's not just you -- I've been noticing the same things, mind you if I even dare suggest that people step back from the precipice and cool off a bit, I get bombarded with Nazi images, and with being called names.
And you know what? When the MSM and the DUmmies point at us as examples of unhinged right-wing extremist fringe folks, they'll point to posts like those to bolster their arguement. And furthermore, we won't have a damn thing we can say about it. Because they'll be right.
Just damn.
You're kidding.
Freepathon starts tomorrow?
Oh my....
THAT will be interesting!
Well put. The more I think about this whole situation I find that there are no heroes in it. Everybody involved is distasteful to some extent. While I agree with MS having the right to make decisions for his wife, he seems a pretty slimy character. While I admire the Schindlers for their devotion, I don't get the feeling all this was done purely for the good of their daughter. For the rest - Jesse Jackson, Randall Terry, Hammesfahr, Greer, the circus outside the hospice, judges, politicians, Tom Delay, et al, they all need to shut up and go home.
The only innocent in all this was Terri, who no matter what her wishes were has been poorly served.
Thanks for the bump, and for being such an encouragement to teenagers. I'm sure the future generation of conservatives will thank you for your hard work and effort in bringing the truth to the leaders of the future!
Thank you. My bad. I guess people forgot to tell me that 14 year olds are complete idiots that can't know anyting. I'll make sure to not learn anything until I am older and can be taken seriously by the adults. Until then, farewell.
It struck me, when he mentioned the "right-to-life position", that for some of these people "right-to-life" is an inapt description. More accurate would be something like "duty-to-life", wherein you are obligated to go on living for as long as medically possible. Obligated to impose extraordinary means to keep people alive as long as possible. Regardless of the wishes of the people involved.
Because, they say, to withdraw treatment and to allow a person to die is "murder". God will take them when He is ready.
The problem is, God didn't invent modern medical technology. And we are becoming more and more capable at keeping people's bodies alive. Can this really be God's will?
Suppose we reach the point where we can sustain the physical function of the body indefinitely. Must these living corpses be kept 'alive' in perpetuity, out of some sort of misguided "duty-to-live"? I picture something out of The Matrix, with untold numbers of bodies being kept alive artificially. Only in this case, there is no 'virtual reality' for the mind. No mind left at all. Just the mechanical processes of the body kept alive until the sun grows cold.
Morbid, I know. But it is the logical conclusion of the "duty to live" philosophy.
It really was extraordinary tv, wasn't it? These days talking heads on the tube are predicatable- but that was really a spirited and genuine exchange.
I've written 3 and then put them away. Long term I can't hang here if what I call "common sense" doesn't return. Yet, I've not been to other forums so I don't know which ones I'd turn to...
Ignore him, asphalt. After all, he's a day late and a dollar short... when it comes to civility.
Well said.
The fringers, much like those on the Left, have done their level best to marginalize the entire conservative movement. It's going to be a long time before we live this fiasco down.
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