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.
Extremism in the defence of liberty is no vice. Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.
I guess so... ;-)
But seriously, if longing for a bit more civility makes me a RINO, I'll gladly accept the label.
I blame Bush!
I'm reknowned for my summarizing! Have a nice day!
I find the atmosphere on FR to be particularly heavy with methane lately, but I think that's mostly my fault.
I agree totally.
How about a return to correct grammar?
Weren't you supposed to be somewhere unexpectedly?
Agreed entirely, but it does give the opposition quite a bit more firepower when you're just as bad as they are...
Donations to FR help pay for the bandwidth you've used up. I've paid mine; have YOU?
With all due respect, Free Republic is nothing like the DU in any way, shape, or form...and most folks who post as if they were posting at the DU typically get banned in short order.
Thank you. I knew I wasn't the only one...
NONONO I meant the original poster. You are the nicest Niceness Nazi ever!
Insult demoncraps???? Phooey!!!,,,we want to disembowel and eviscerate the demonrat party and kill it off for once and for all!!! Gawdam it,,,it is an instrument of the friggen devil, and if you don't realize that, your terribly ignorant or deplorably foolish!!
Not really. If you haven't noticed in the past few months, the Democrats HAVE NO FIREPOWER.
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