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.
No, it's not new, but this is far worse. And it's not a matter of being toughened up, I've developed a pretty thick skin. It's a matter of being sickened over all the death threats, Nazi images, and the like. I've never seen FR like this.
Please don't go. No one else gets it when I talk about molesting cute Mohawk guys at pow-wows.
To: Trinity_Tx
It was wrong to kill her. No other "facts" matter.
46 posted on 03/31/2005 2:54:00 AM CST by Jim Robinson
This is EXACTLY what I'm talking about on another thread about someone saying they're NEVER going to forgive. HATE HATE HATE...
But the Terri posts aren't going to go away. We don't have the results of the autopsy yet...God help us all.
I honestly wish Jim Rob would call for FINAL THOUGHTS on the main forum, then allow only the Backroom Terri discussions.
It's the only way left to save FR...
sw
However, this still does not adress the "LIFE Uber Alles" mentality.
I'm sure there are some who do not support the death penalty, either, but the calls for the deaths of MS, Greer, etc. do not exactly lend weight to that.
as far as I was concern I saw folks posting for both sides on this thread than all of sudden......this is suppose to be a ONE opinion thread in "Smoky Backroom" that is a new one to me....I think I was civil in my post.... I did not think someone would come running after yelling at me you can't do that or to get my off block!
If the theard bearer was sincere he would have ask me please in future just link you URL
Terri went home to her Heavenly Father and HE is aware of what took place here on earth.....how so many here on earth want to push one of his children off the earth, even to the point of straving her to death!
How many here participate in America in arguing why she should leave this planet!
Well, I am against the death penalty. I haven't even dared to say it openly around here, but since this is the Smokey Backroom, and since mostly really nice people participate here on this thread, I'll dare to come out of the closet :-)
Cheers.
I didn't say I'm leaving, necessarily. But if "Facts" don't matter, then...
A point to consider -- Given the amount of disinformation in this case, I wonder how many FReepers look at this as a euthanasia case.
It would certainly explain the level of support from people who we wouldn't have thought would take that position.
I listen to the conservative talk shows and I'm embarrassed that they're not telling the whole truth. Now I'm mentally questioning their veracity on other issues.
This case will end up hurting the conservatives more than anyone else.
I see. Putting the word "facts" in quotes is pretty telling.
You were civil, but your post was false.
You forgot to post the letter where the Nobel Committee asked the good doctor to stop telling people he was a Nobel nominee.
(Baffled Smiley.)
I saw that thread.
You were right, too.
That guys gonna give himself an ulcer at the least.
That's why i am thinking of leaving. Too much of that.
Oh good! Well... I stopped participating a lot because of the pointless speech going on. Too much hate.
On the contrary, the judges followed the law. The Schindlers were asking them to engage in precisely the sort of judicial activism you claim to decry. If you want to blame someone, blame the Florida legislature for passing bad law.
I certainly won't flame you for being against the death penalty, although I'm not against it. I believe that good people can disagree, and can have civil discussions about the issues.
It is very disturbing to see supposedly good christian folk calling for Michal's Schiavo's children to be tortured, which one poster did I agree...
Did anyone btw read Mark Steyn's take on this in today's Spectator?
Seems it always does...
Come out, come out, where ever you are!
BTW, can somebody explain this "the doctors are killing people to clear the beds for the next patient" talk?
Are they claiming there is a killing machine in this country?
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.