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.
You typed the word "nuance".
Now let us go to the bar and order a shot...
Dang! Everyone's leaving? It's not even my bedtime yet...
Geez...
^^^ Sarcasm, every bit of it ^^^
Posts said vanity in News/Activism forum,
is found guilty of the same things he complains about,
yet still he feels he is in the right.
No, it hasn't...and it is waaay too late for an apology.
You're both newbies. Difference is, OSHA knows it.
Appreciate the summation and the sentiment, Prout.
Don't necessarily appreciate the JUDGEMENT though.
I think people are quite capable of making up their own minds on what they should and shouldn't drop.
I've no dog in this fight, per se. But I won't be 'told' either.
Then I rescind my opinion that the 16 year old poster is a "sanctimonious pr*ck."
He's merely a sanctimonious punk, as stated by harrowup.
Being classy around here depends on the quality of your thinking and writing. Nobody gives a fig about anybody's background around here, unless they lie about it. We've had a few major examples of that.
Congressman Billybob
So if someone disagrees with you it's automatically a flame?
You left out arrogant, pretentious, condescending, irritating and a bunch of other polysyllabic words that I can't think of right now.
Your tagline is GREAT!!!!!!!! And so dead on right as to be a classic!
Oh, and I agree with yout post.
harrowup flames. Brad's Gramma didn't.
Both disagreed, but surely you can tell the difference.
Quite right, and precisely why I didn't bring it up and don't plan to again.
Also, I do hope you'll run in '06 - Charles Taylor needs to be taken down.
a moment, please.
I must set a pot on the brew and then, casting my eye fondly back across the yawning gulf of nineteen years, type up an illustration of my own arrogance and -hurm- talent for causing ire when I was sixteen.
It shall amuse, as well as make a point.
Please, hold all hostilities in abeyance betide.
(Dyed_in_the_wool: this should bring a tear of merriment to your eye, old friend!)
Peacenik
I am a mere temporal rex, unconsecrated and unmitred.
I shall see about bribing the Keep's Cardinal, if I can find him.
Damned hippie, if you ask me! ;-)
That's right! LOl
This isn't a fecking daycare.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.