Why, yes of course everyone is entitled to their opinions. And when someone disagrees they should be able to respond in kind. That means everyone, GS, not just the ones who diagree in the minority opinion group. If someone visits a thread and posts opinions that are in the minority for that thread they are going to get responses the may not be as nice as they had hoped for.
And, by the way, I have a very difficult time culling any wisdom from someone who describes one of their children as a "chick-magnet" while describing their other children as "pasty white, slightly nerdy kids". And the problem with our children is ... hmmm.
The problem, truthluva, is that those who disagree too often do NOT "respond in kind."
Rather, they respond with vicious personal attacks.
Too often I have seen people come on these threads with the very same question as onja, civilly put. Now, you may get "tired" of that question. Fine. Don't answer it!
Worse is the hounding of people who come on here with thoughtful ideas that happen to be "minority" opinions. CitizenM is just one who comes to mind.
Now CitizenM is a very nice lady. I've had several private exchanges with her, I now consider her a friend. (And btw, I think spectre's wife does too.) Now she won't post on these threads.
And I've had many private replies from others to the same effect.
I don't know why you want the NH threads to be an echo chamber of people who think just like you. FreeRepublic is and should remain a freewheeling place where people can post what they like --within civil bounds, of course. I see an awful lot of incivility on your side of the argument.
(*spectre, I pinged you since I mentioned your name re CitizenM.)