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A Comment on the Atmosphere of FR
A concerned FReeper | December 30, 2004 | K1avg

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.


TOPICS: Free Republic Policy/Q&A
KEYWORDS: aconspiracyguy; aselectfewareguilty; assassk1avgassass; assholeoftheyear; assk1avg; assk1avgass; assk1avgassass; backlaterthisevening; calledaway; cantweallgetalong; civilitycischmility; crazynutjob; dashthisoffquick; democratsasrats; devolutiondiscourse; dirtyrats; dopeykidstuff; dufusrats; effete; emilypost; failsasanopus; filthyrats; fopus; gimmeabreak; girlieman; goldwaterite; havealovelyday; hoipolloi; iloveyou; immolationbyzot; intercourseevolution; itisaphase; k1avg; k1avgass; keepaneyeonhim; knowledgeandwisdom; krusgnet; letskeepitthatway; manyaholeshere; missmanners; molassesmiasma; nance; needabetteropus; needagoodopus; needsopuslessons; noopusrequirements; noratsplease; nostinkinopushere; notagoodopus; onetowatch; opus; opusrus; peckerhead; pleasebeniceplease; poofter; pooropus; possiblyinthefuture; rats; ratsratsratsratsrats; rottenapple; samnastytoright; sandinhisvagina; sorelosers; superiorintellect; sweetsixteen; switchhitter; thanksforyourtime; thatboysnotright; troll; vanitymyarse; wellcraftedposts; whatdoesincivilmean; whativealleged; youdirtyrat; youwillgrowoutofit; zotbait
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To: Fresh Wind

We calls em as we sees em...


21 posted on 12/30/2004 12:36:16 PM PST by Armedanddangerous (Yep, ya caught me, ya caught the tater)
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To: K1avg
I'll be back later this evening, though, to address any concerns.

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.

22 posted on 12/30/2004 12:36:20 PM PST by OSHA (My problems are all in your head.)
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To: K1avg

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.


23 posted on 12/30/2004 12:36:23 PM PST by Abram
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To: K1avg

Back already?


24 posted on 12/30/2004 12:37:30 PM PST by Sam's Army (No witty taglines currently come to mind)
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To: Tax-chick
Bless your heart :-).

~snicker~

25 posted on 12/30/2004 12:37:32 PM PST by Corin Stormhands (CHRISTmas: One season. One reason.)
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To: bullseye876
Despite the election results, there's a lot left to do. Agreed entirely. Calling the opposition "Rats," for instance, doesn't accomplish a bit of it...
26 posted on 12/30/2004 12:37:37 PM PST by K1avg (Dino for Senate '06!)
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To: K1avg
The abbreviation "RATS" has historical implications which obviously have escaped your attention.

You could look it up.

27 posted on 12/30/2004 12:37:37 PM PST by thulldud (It's bad luck to be superstitious.)
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To: Tax-chick
What is this, a semi-opus?
28 posted on 12/30/2004 12:37:39 PM PST by OSHA (My problems are all in your head.)
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Comment #29 Removed by Moderator

To: K1avg

Worthless pomposity, thy name is Klavg.


30 posted on 12/30/2004 12:38:38 PM PST by BCrago66
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To: K1avg

Hey!! You're back!! I thought you had things to do!!


31 posted on 12/30/2004 12:38:44 PM PST by cwiz24 (Hey Democrats---Now who's ya daddy?)
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To: K1avg

LOL! You should've been around in the "good old days" with A+Bert, Illbay, et al. You missed some interesting times.


32 posted on 12/30/2004 12:38:48 PM PST by Fiddlstix (This Tagline for sale. (Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: K1avg

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


33 posted on 12/30/2004 12:39:02 PM PST by cfhBAMA (Alabama Republican Party)
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To: Tax-chick
"Somebody disagreed with me, and wasn't particularly diplomatic about it!"

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.

34 posted on 12/30/2004 12:39:06 PM PST by Rokke
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To: Sam's Army
Why the delay?

Things to do. Posting on Internet forums is not particularly at the top of my list.

35 posted on 12/30/2004 12:39:07 PM PST by K1avg (Dino for Senate '06!)
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To: K1avg
I've encountered more shrill, radical nonsense in the past couple of days than I had in the months before my absence.

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.

36 posted on 12/30/2004 12:39:07 PM PST by frog_jerk_2004
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To: K1avg
These are just a few examples of the devolution of discourse here.

I think somebody has spiked the punch.

Bottoms up!!!

37 posted on 12/30/2004 12:39:19 PM PST by socal_parrot (Go Blue!!! Beat Texas!!!)
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To: OSHA

Should I resign as Niceness Nazi?


38 posted on 12/30/2004 12:39:33 PM PST by Tax-chick (To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just.)
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To: dawn53
You want a return to civility...how about a return to humility????

Sarcasm is lost on some...

39 posted on 12/30/2004 12:39:36 PM PST by K1avg (Dino for Senate '06!)
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To: K1avg

Then why do you do it?


40 posted on 12/30/2004 12:39:56 PM PST by Sam's Army (No witty taglines currently come to mind)
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