Posted on 12/30/2004 12:26:25 PM PST by K1avg
For the past several months, fate has conspired to keep me away from the computer. I haven't posted nearly as much on FR as I used to. With the holidays, though, I've had an opportunity to catch up a bit.
What I found on my return is a bit disconcerting. While there's always been an element here that refuses to reason and does little more than insult Democrats and RINOs, it seems that this mentality has taken over a large portion of our membership. I've encountered more shrill, radical nonsense in the past couple of days than I had in the months before my absence.
Certainly it's acceptable to gloat a bit after our enormous gains on November 2, but I do believe it's about time to get back to normal business.
Referring to Democrats as Rats or some variant thereof may be somewhat amusing, but seeing the reference in nearly every other post really gets annoying at times. Pet names for Democrats and RINOs may be funny the first time, but quickly get old. It's one thing to respect someone, and it's certainly acceptable to not do so for one reason or another, but it's never alright to be downright incivil.
Just the other day, I was in an argument here with some other members who were supporting Yanukovych over Yushchenko because Yush had pledged to remove Ukraine's 1600-some-odd-strong force from Iraq and was *gasp* more liberal than Yanukovych. Seriously, that's absurd. I'd be happy to debate with you here, but anyone can tell you Yushchenko as president will be much better for the Ukrainian people, our interests in Iraq be damned.
But I'm getting away from the subject at hand. These are just a few examples of the devolution of discourse here. While everyone is certainly allowed to have their own opinions, there is a certain level of civility that should be maintained, regardless of the context.
This is the sort of stuff you find at DU, not here. I recognize there's plenty of good, civil users here, and I'm thankful for that. To those guilty, though, it would be nice if you could tone it down a bit.
I love being here. Things like the Undead Thread, Daily Dose, and crushkerry's Lib Pundit tournament, along with the usual daily banter of normal news, makes FR like no other political site on the web. Let's keep it that way. Thanks for your time, and have a lovely day.
We calls em as we sees em...
But how will we know how to act while you're gone? Perhaps you should replace the FR home page with your likes/dislikes and rules.
Your points are well taken and appreciated. I agree sometimes some posters make the spirit here a little testy. Intolerance and mean spiritedness is present nearly everwhere you go. I would agree sometimes that I have been turned off by a particular post or poster, but by-in-large, the majority of the posters here are generally polite and kind.
Please give it some time and steel yourself. Grow thick skin because sometimes the written text can be (or appear to be) much harsher than verbal communication.
Back already?
~snicker~
You could look it up.
Worthless pomposity, thy name is Klavg.
Hey!! You're back!! I thought you had things to do!!
LOL! You should've been around in the "good old days" with A+Bert, Illbay, et al. You missed some interesting times.
The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others.
-- Bertrand Russell
I certainly appreciate you summarizing this fetal opus for me. I lost focus after the first couple of sentences and skipped right to the replies.
Things to do. Posting on Internet forums is not particularly at the top of my list.
This is what keeps me coming back. Nothing better or funnier than watching these types of people (usually Trolls) being debunked by Freepers in real-time.
Certainly it's acceptable to gloat a bit after our enormous gains on November 2, but I do believe it's about time to get back to normal business.
We will need at least a couple of more wins like Nov 2 to get the sting of Klinton out of our systems. BTW, I forgot to mention that I'm still tap dancing because W won! We can still celebrate and rub it in while we go ahead with our business.
This is the sort of stuff you find at DU, not here.
DU is a bunch of the sky is falling, unhappy, whiners. I cannot say the same for FR.
I think somebody has spiked the punch.
Bottoms up!!!
Should I resign as Niceness Nazi?
Sarcasm is lost on some...
Then why do you do it?
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