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

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:


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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
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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
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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.


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To: All

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


1,741 posted on 04/02/2005 12:22:49 PM PST by Allosaurs_r_us (Idaho Carnivores for Conservatism)
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To: MrDem
This is not the 1st time you've posted your little rant...nor the only thread in the smokey backroom.

Please understand...nobody gives a darn what you think. Get over yourself.

1,742 posted on 04/02/2005 12:26:32 PM PST by DCPatriot (Charter member in the WPPFF and Class of 98.)
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To: MrDem

Well said.


1,743 posted on 04/02/2005 12:29:29 PM PST by Godebert
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Comment #1,744 Removed by Moderator

To: MrDem

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.


1,745 posted on 04/02/2005 12:38:43 PM PST by Dat Mon (will work for clever tagline)
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To: xJones
Hi xJones, long time no see. :-)

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 :\

1,746 posted on 04/02/2005 12:42:21 PM PST by firequarrel
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To: .38sw
I've seen more Nazi references in the past couple of weeks than I can count. It's beyond disgraceful.

What else would you call a group who is hellbent on murdering someone who is disabled?
1,747 posted on 04/02/2005 12:58:44 PM PST by wasp69 ("You're done, Rather! No more 'Divine Right of Kings'!" - Oliver "Buckhead" Cromwell (sorta)
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To: wasp69
>What else would you call a group who is hellbent on murdering someone who is disabled?


1,748 posted on 04/02/2005 1:25:26 PM PST by theFIRMbss
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To: DCPatriot
Please understand...nobody gives a darn what you think. Get over yourself.

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?

1,749 posted on 04/02/2005 1:27:33 PM PST by MrDem (Monthly special: Will write OPUS's on a non-fee basis for all 'Activist Freepers')
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To: theFIRMbss

Murder is wrong. Period.

What don't you get about that?


1,750 posted on 04/02/2005 1:28:53 PM PST by k2blader (If suicide is immoral, then helping it happen, regardless of motivation, is also immoral.)
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To: thoughtomator
distorting Jim's words to attack even him.

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. :)

1,751 posted on 04/02/2005 1:31:43 PM PST by DJ MacWoW (Life is always the Right choice)
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To: DJ MacWoW
I pointed the same thing out in post #934 and you should have seen how fast the little putz tried to backtrack.

What a complete display of stupidity.

1,752 posted on 04/02/2005 1:41:19 PM PST by MrDem (Monthly special: Will write OPUS's on a non-fee basis for all 'Activist Freepers')
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To: Diva Betsy Ross; hchutch; Poohbah; Hildy; Petronski
>"Of course anyone who really gets off on attacking anonymous people over the Internet has some serious issues."<

Without a doubt. Similarly, these folks who post "opus" threads seem to have a martyr complex. They were so abused, you see; (on the Terry Schiavo threads); and by posting a peevish "Goodbye cruel Free Republic"; somehow we will all be guilt ridden for their leaving.

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.

1,753 posted on 04/02/2005 1:41:45 PM PST by FBD ( “The measure of a society is how it treats the least of us.)
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To: Types_with_Fist

"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.


1,754 posted on 04/02/2005 1:43:45 PM PST by mupcat
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To: mupcat; Lazamataz

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".


1,755 posted on 04/02/2005 1:45:53 PM PST by Nataku X (Food for Thought: http://web2.airmail.net/scsr/)
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To: MrDem
What a complete display of stupidity.

I know. I just don't get it. If I disagreed I'd at least say so respectfully.

1,756 posted on 04/02/2005 1:49:18 PM PST by DJ MacWoW (Life is always the Right choice)
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To: FBD

Ouch-that one is going to sting. The truth usually does.


1,757 posted on 04/02/2005 1:54:12 PM PST by Diva Betsy Ross (Code pink stinks!)
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To: FBD
They seem to think they can somehow control other peoples behaviors by their departure.

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.

1,758 posted on 04/02/2005 1:57:37 PM PST by xJones
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To: xJones

Think I should donate some money in Pooh's honor?


1,759 posted on 04/02/2005 1:59:14 PM PST by Diva Betsy Ross (Code pink stinks!)
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To: mupcat
Just curious-- whatever happened to him?

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.

1,760 posted on 04/02/2005 2:02:05 PM PST by Types_with_Fist (I'm on FReep so often that when I read an article at another site I scroll down for the comments.)
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