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.
Oh, the research time freepers can save themselves. I'm sure our families will benefit from our spending more time with them.
No need to chase down facts and try to hold the media and politicians to account.
I think we could spawn a cottage industry of conspiracy theories here too. Why just today I was thinking maybe there wasn't a moon landing after all.
There are those of us who don't consider the legislative and executive branches exercising their constitutionally ordained functions as 'BIG GOVERNMENT'.
Nope. Nope.
I just looked out the window and pigs were not flying. LOL
Your lawyerly mind has helped considerably, there is no doubt. And Trinity_Tx who researched and put things into links separately instead of all globbed together (that's a technical term for all us non-lawyers).
But just think, we don't need to do that anymore. Because "facts" don't matter. And if you need more information on why we keep repeating that sentence, freepmail me.
Thanks for not holding my previous rudeness against me.
What is the deal with this Pavone guy,and his "Priests For Life" group? Something about that guy, and that article, just seems hinky to me...
Sigh. It isn't really getting better out there.
I had such high hopes the one night that I was able to have real conversations with people about the bigger picture and how this has harmed the pro life movement and the face of compassionate conservatives who think that yelling into bullhorns all night out side a Hospice is justified.
You have NO idea how nice and refreshing it is to see two FReepers who have had a quarrel be able to make it up and be good to each other.
Thanks.
Everytime I see an article posted from "Life News" I close the thread right away.
Maybe we'll set a trend for all the relationships that have been harmed during the turmoil on FR the last two weeks.
But since I still see the Nazi references hurled around, I'm not holding out hope.
And it's making me ever so glad I'll be gone next week.
I hope you are getting to go someplace fun.
Do I correctly assume that the reference to 'facts' is the post from JR himself to Trinity TX?
Just more fuel for the MS is an mudering aduterous, kitten killing SOB point of view.
I'll believe that drek after I've seen the videotape. What's that? The camcorder batteries suddenly died? How unexpected!
Oh. So you know. It's probably been discussed on the thread which I haven't read since early this morning.
New rules and all that. Think of the research time it will save. LOL
I meant to mention. I've have two phones call from the GOP in two days fund raising.
I told them how unhappy I was that the Congress and president inserted themselves in what has always been a private family decision to be made with their doctor.
Today's fund raiser said very firmly and *somewhat* convincingly "Oh, they regret that believe me."
I told the fellow that until I had evidence of just how much they regret it, I wasn't sending any money.
And now I see a thread that Tom DeLay wants to impeach some judges. Sigh.
The cannibalism is gaining steam, and not just on this issue. I did see the Club For Growth taking the head off of your Senator the other day...
hehe
Until last Friday and the birth of the WPPFF, spectre and I were quite rifted ourselves.
It is 1:20 am on Friday April 1 in Vatican City.
The Republican fundraisers have been driving me nuts. They always request my husband specifically, and they always call in the middle of the day, no matter how many times I tell them he's at work, it's only 2 in the afternoon in Hawaii, etc., etc. I got a bit testy with one today, telling him to PLEASE put us on their no-call list.
The past couple of weeks haven't made me want to give ANYTHING to the GOP.
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