Poohbah's Opus

Vanity of vanities, all is vanity, sayeth Qohotoleth... | 01 April 2005 | Poohbah

[Poohbah]

First, this is NOT an April Fool's joke.

I am leaving Free Republic.

Over the past two years, civility and thoughtful discourse has vanished from this site, replaced with demands for ideological conformity that are straight out of Stalinist Russia or China's Great Cultural Revolution, and unrelenting uncivility if said conformance is not forthcoming. This trend began with the California recall election, where certain posters were allowed to flame the living beejezus out of those who didn't wholeheartedly support Tom McClintock, or thought that he wasn't running a campaign capable of winning. It extended into the Keyes campaign last year, where any critique of Keyes' campaign strategy was shrilly flamed, despite the obviously flawed execution of his campaign.

(Aside: one person who flamed me during the Keyes mess later said that he hadn't intended to start a fight with his remarks that accused me of homosexuality, pedophilia, and other evils; I was instantly reminded of the time I had to bail one of my Marines out of the local lockup. "Honest, Sarge," this Marine told me, "I didn't mean to start a fight when I called that Army Ranger a faggot." My response was not [and still isn't] suitable for public consumption.)

Since then, the Terri Schiavo case has pushed FR over the edge. We had posts calling for people to ensure that "accidents" to befall Schiavo and Judge Greer. We had posts praying that Iran would soon develop nuclear weapons, so that they could destroy the United States. And until the FBI started making arrests, those posts were allowed to stay up, completely abnegating Free Republic's standards.

We had people on both sides of the issue point out that the Schindlers were associating with some people of extremely low character, and that our uncritical embrace of these parties would not rebound to our favor. Rather reasonable attitudes to take, actually; but the loudest of the loud were in no mood to think.

My personal favorite was the following exchange:

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To: Old Professer

Is being a christian identity sympathizer, a white supremicist, a neo-nazi, a racist or an anti-semite illegal activities in themselves?

The issue is not legality, but public opinion. Which will not be helped in this case if the pro-Terry side becomes associated in the media with Christian Identity, white supremicists, neo-nazis, racists and/or anti-semites.

212 posted on 03/17/2005 11:05:13 AM PST by malakhi

[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 211 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

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To: malakhi

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Terri's fight being associated with Christianity. That is unless someone is a radical leftist.

229 posted on 03/17/2005 12:02:29 PM PST by Diva Betsy Ross

[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 212 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

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Diva Betsy Ross made a valiant attempt to...ahem...whitewash Christian Identity, but it didn't work.

To top things off, we had people embracing as some sort of conservative icon, to the extent of posting a fundraising link.

I always thought that conservatism valued thinking over feeling, careful contemplation of facts over wild-eyed repetition of every damn rumor to come down the pipe, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. For a while, Free Republic met those criteria in spades.

Those days are long gone, and I have serious doubt as to whether or not they're coming back.

I know that many of the usual suspects will cheer this on, as their longtime nemesis is leaving them the field.

Be careful what you wish for; you are in the process of getting it. You may succeed in driving the folks who disagree with you from the site; but you will end up being just another collection of shrill voices in Bedlam. When everything is an over-the-top scream, no one will be heard.

Farewell.

[malakhi]

Is being a christian identity sympathizer, a white supremicist, a neo-nazi, a racist or an anti-semite illegal activities in themselves?

[Diva Betsy Ross]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Terri's fight being associated with Christianity. That is unless someone is a radical leftist.

[xJones]

To: Poohbah Freepmail me if you want my email address.

I thought you were leaving.

1,645 posted on 04/02/2005 11:23:09 AM CST by
TheRedSoxWinThePennant

A higher-grade opus has the departed still replying on his own thread. It's like a corpse sitting up in the casket and waving at all his visitors. Or you could compare it to the Groucho Marx classic:

"Hello, I must be going.
I cannot stay,
I came to say
I must be going.
I'm glad I came
but just the same
I must be going.

For my sake you must stay,
for if you go away,
you'll spoil this party
I am throwing.

I'll stay a week or two,
I'll stay the summer through,
but I am telling you,
I must be going."

[68 grunt]

... o when I am ready to present my case that you are the real disruptor here, I've got as big a pile of documentation as possible (not that it's not already more than sufficient).

LOL ~ oh, the irony

Go for it! That would be about the most divisive thing that you could possibly do, further outing yourself!

[Paul Ross]

Not sorry to see you go in the lest. I'm sure this will result in an overall improvement of the site. You're self pontification and agrandizment made me ill. Even when you were caught dead in a lie/story fabrication you still played the egotistical, know-it-all

B'zzzt. Correct! Unfortunately, it is likely too soon to expect him to leave. It is posted on, after all, April Fools day. Disclaimers on such a day have no standing...

[MrDem]

This is so very, very simple! Read the founders statement of what FreeRepublic believes.

As a conservative site, Free Republic is pro-God, pro-life, pro-family, pro-Constitution, pro-Bill of Rights, pro-gun, pro-limited government, pro-private property rights, pro-limited taxes, pro-capitalism, pro-national defense, pro-freedom, and-pro America.

If you disagree, join some other forum or start your own.

Enough already with all of these 'ACTIVIST FREEPERS'! This is not RinoRepublic or ModerateRepublic or O'ReillyRepublic or AtheistRepublic!

Most of the people posting OPUS's have been the ones who have opening agitating and trying to undermining the stated philosophy of the board. Good riddance to them. Some of them think that because they've been here a long time, that 'they' can hijack the site, and mold it into their liking, rather than respecting what the founder and owner has stated above.

This is the same form of arrogant activism that we see in the judiciary.

[thoughtomator]

Oddly enough, all the invective that came down on me for approving of Tom McClintock wasn't enough to drive me away. I guess I'm just too stubborn to know when to fall in line and go with the crowd, or to pack up and be a quitter.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

:] That is why I love Freepers. (silly)

[ozzymandus]

1700 posts on this crap? Somebody hungry for a little attention?? I have to deal with people who demand special attention every day, but not on FR.

[griffin]

"What the hell is going on with all these people leaving. Sounds like the kid who loses at babeball and runs home with the bat and ball b/c they're his. Let's change the name of this site to FaiRies.

Jeesh"

Used ta be that guys would go down like men, fighting, swingin', and swearing....only to be banned.

Now they have to prance off stage waving a banner.

The only thing more aggravating are all the opuser brown nosers that kiss up. The jimrob butt kissers are the most nauseating. 'Jimrob can do no wrong' thing drives me nuts. Just my take.Wah! Wah! Wah! I've been on this site since 97-98, been banned once and came back under my current name. This site has ALWAYS been confrontational and rabid at times. Seems like many conservatives are getting soft and the calluses are going away since the conservatives won majority and the Presidency.

Toughen up, sheesh!

[Polybius]

Aw c'mon! They called me a death cultist Nazi doctor for reading a CT scan, and I'm staying. Stick around!

Someone blamed me for 40 million abortions just for being a doctor. That's just part of being a member of a large Forum.

This is a very high volume Forum and we can't expect the Mods to keep their heads above water 24/7/365.

[griffin]

Hey gents....appears like phooie took his keyboard and ran away.

[Dog Gone]

1700 posts on this crap? Somebody hungry for a little attention??

That might make sense if Poohbah had made more than just the initial post. He didn't.

[Allosaurs_r_us]

"People disagree, and sometimes uncivilly, and sometimes they're not open to what others have to say. That doesn't make them evil because they happen to be on the other side of a particular matter."

 

Did you see the word or the supposition of "Evil" in any of my posts?

 

That is particularly the point. Walk away! Ever heard of turn the other cheek? Geez ,this is particularly the attitude that most on this thread are talking about. Why did you even respond to this? Just to get something started? Don't you have anything better to do? I think we all agree a little civility could do wonders around here. When in doubt just leave it alone. You don't need to respond just to up your post rate. Does everything have to be an argument? It sure as hell appears to be that way with some. I have seen threads where a group is having fun with a particular thread, and someone undoubtedly will have to take offense with us not being serious, and piss on everyone's cornflakes! Not everything is meant to be taken to heart. Try and see that yours is not the only point of view. That is all we are asking.

[MEG33]

Does that make you feel better about yourself?

[firequarrel]

the decisions were being made by the wrong people

I won't say that's an unreasonable conclusion considering how Michael Shiavo has been characterized--especially on FR. But that's one of the problems I have with this case. I haven't walked in Michael Shiavo's shoes. But if I had and knowing my wife wouldn't want to continue in such a state, I still would've pursued treatment to see if anything could bring her out of that state, just as Michael Shiavo did. If over time I found no treatment would work, I would give in and carry out her wishes. I would also see her wishes carried out regardless of what others thought. Once the decision is made, I wouldn't expect him to put his life completely on hold. And anyway, no one knows how his relationship with the other women began. She may have offered moral support which over time blossomed into a relationship. But that's speculation no different than speculating Michael Shiavo a wife beater, which BTW, the other women who bore his two children seems to be unaware of.

But what really bothers me is that all the arguments being made against Michael Shiavo can be used to contest a living will. "The surrogate is an adulterous cheater who doesn't deserve to make such a decision." "The person is not really in a persistence vegetative state." "Artificial feeding is not really artificial." Conservatives and the Republican Party entertaining such arguments disturb me to no end. This is enough to make me seriously consider leaving the GOP and becoming independent.

[griffin]

re 1701

LOL! That is spot on!

[Allosaurs_r_us]

"This pic?'

 

Yep, that'd be the one. I'll see what I can do.  LOL

[griffin]

correct...waiting and hoping the other shoe doesn't fall....

[DameAutour]

I didn't say you called anyone evil. I just don't see what the big deal is that people disagree, vehemently, and seemingly forever without "resolving it".

Why do you care if people walk away or not? If it bothers you, YOU walk away. I gave a lot of examples of threads that go on even longer than this one and much of the time it is the same old participants going at it but guess what...some people like to debate! And sometimes people are really passionate about their point of view! And sometimes people think a particular subject is REALLY IMPORTANT and they can (seemingly to you) go ON AND ON about it.

The people who are taking it personally are the people who are doing all of the whining.

I am bemused by all of this. I think it is ludicrous that people are behaving as if NOTHING LIKE THIS has EVER IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF FREE REPUBLIC been so vociferously debated.

[MrDem]

The reality is that politics (and the discussion of it) is a bare knuckled, contact sport. Those who don't understand that either need to or quit and take up knitting.

[sitetest]

Dear griffin,

"Used ta be that guys would go down like men, fighting, swingin', and swearing....only to be banned.

"Now they have to prance off stage waving a banner."

Aw, c'mon. The opus has a long and venerable, if somewhat checkered, history at FR.

;-)


sitetest