Posted on 04/01/2005 4:26:00 PM PST by 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:
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.
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.
Well the trucks here. I gotta go move 40 tons 'a hay. Hope y'all have a great day. Oh, and frig 'em if they can't take a joke. LOL
Please understand...nobody gives a darn what you think. Get over yourself.
Well said.
You said..."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."
Good point mon.
You dont need anybodys permission on this site to post your own opinion...especially if it consists in restating the OWNER of the sites philosophy....but of course you and I know that.
The pro-life cult--I do mean CULT since it's a religion unto itself--has taken over the GOP and most conservative talk show hosts. There doesn't seem to be any discussion when opposing views are assigned to the all encompassing umbrella "culture of death." It's absolutely insane. And these are the people who get bent out of shape over the Supreme Court declaring it unconstitutional to execute children. I'm not thinking about going to another party, just not being affiliated with the GOP :\
It's obviously to all, that's not true. You got very, very, excited and interested over what I posted. And it's most likely that the reason you're agitated is because you fit the profile.
Need an OPUS?
Murder is wrong. Period.
What don't you get about that?
I think if I disagreed with the owner of the site I'd be a bit more careful about poking the lion with a stick.
Love your tag. :)
What a complete display of stupidity.
Rather then just silently "pulling the plug" on themselves, they whine and complain, and generally behave as if they were being burned alive at the stake.
They seem to think they can somehow control other peoples behaviors by their departure. It is only delusional thinking.
None of their lives collectively, will ever come close to having the kind of impact that the "meaningless existence" of a brain damaged woman in Florida had on the entire world...and that probably troubles them greatly.
"A+Bert was something special"
Just curious-- whatever happened to him? I vaguely remember him when I first started to lurk before joining, but seems he left shortly after that.
I believe he threatened Lazamataz.
Then, shortly before that, he put up 2 vanities in a row... "JIM ROBINSON GO TO HELL" followed by "JIM ROBINSON GO TO HEAVEN".
I know. I just don't get it. If I disagreed I'd at least say so respectfully.
Ouch-that one is going to sting. The truth usually does.
It's in the sense that you will be so sinful, stupid, bigoted, whatever, by remaining behind. Anyone 'intelligent' like the opus author should leave also. And it does seem to happen around FR fund raising times.
Think I should donate some money in Pooh's honor?
I have no idea. I used to try and talk to him but rarely got responses. I think he was talking more to himself than anything.
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