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.
It's so beyond the pale, I believe it might be something with which the overwhelming majority of FR would agree. Many of us who spoke out against Terri Schiavo being dehydrated/starved are not easily offended, yet are horrified by the perceived legitimacy of Auschwitz graphics being posted on FR. You articulated that position very well on the linked thread.
After Rathergate, the MSM began watching FR in a big way, just HUNGRY for some means to discredit it and its posters. Look at what happened to NCPAC...he lost his job over a FReepmail post, fer corn's sake.
Now, whilst they watch, they see literally HUNDREDS of posts with Nazi imagery. It's not too far a leap for them to label us as Neo-Nazis all. After all, they won't be predisposed towards the interpretation the posters of such imagery want to project, and can simply spin it to mean that FReepers, and by extension conservatives, LIKE such images.
Just imagine the headlines.
"Alec Baldwin is a bigot. Anyone who refers to the 'Christian looney bin' ranks up there with Josef Goebbels."
Not true. I am pro-Terri, and I was suspended for 4 days without cause. I was targeted for "Freepanasia" by the pro-death squad. They didn't succeed in getting me zotted because they couldn't goad me into breaking any rules. They did manage to keep me from posting just before and just after Terri died. Sometimes it just boils down to a game, and the best players win. Having a moderator on your side who's willing to abuse their power is a real advantage.
Yes, absolutely! Abortion is murder. Murder is immoral.
And you were just channeling with him and that's what he said?
So much for intelligent discussion...
My channeling is superior to yours.
;)
Very well written, detailed response. You are a credit to WPPFF. One of the few who Lives the Manifesto.
Someone also posted autopsy photos of the woman who was starved to death by the Scientologists. I doubt her family appreciated that little invasion of privacy and lack of common decency.
Between that and all the "Greer as Mussolini" photos, it's not surprising anyone would consider this a strange website (I'm being generous). All this outrageous, offensive, hyperbolic, unchristian, meanspirited hysteria and namecalling didn't save Terri Schiavo's life, but it may have destroyed FR.
I suspect your unrelenting personal attacks were the cause.
Ain't victimhood grand?
Then point to one of my personal attacks. I was attacked on a personal level. I didn't realize being the victim of personal attacks was cause for suspension. Several of your buddies insulted our troops, and when I objected I was called an "ignorant POS." So don't tell me that I'm guilty of launching personal attacks unless you can provide a link.
Indeed. So attractive, too.
BTW, your observations are spot on. I had heard through the grapevine you had been given a timout...I was stunned.
What a sad state of affairs this site has arrived at.
Yes, I was suspended without warning, but found it more amusing than insulting.
How about nine posts ago, when you referred to a "pro-death squad" here on FR? That's not a personal attack on a set of posters?
A personal attack against an unidentified anonymous squad of people who support death? Could you be a little more specific?
You're not the only one who noticed. The WPPFF member, who is also a moderator, abused the priviledge, in the opinion of many.
And who would that be? Don't be shy - name names.
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