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.
Anti-Christian bigot leaves FR. Big hairy deal.
You and the other WPPPPPFFFFFT! members should start your own site.
As usual, I come in at the very end. (And Daylight Savings just started.) Does this make me the "bottom line?"
Wish you would stay. Not just because your posts are intelligent. But because they're needed for the balance.
I've only been with the FR for 6 months, and I'm amazed how much it has become a part of my life.
It reminds me a little of the religious community I live with. We're all practicing the same brand of Judaism, so we're pretty cohesive. Although our general beliefs are the same, we all differ in tastes and personalities. Some people here are pretty "normal." Others are way out there. Really out there -- the planet hasn't even been discovered yet.
There were times I wanted to leave & move away; the crazies got me so demoralized. But I know I can never leave. I need this community. I don't know if they need me -- to assume they do maybe shows an unhealthy ego. But I realize that my own condemnation may be laced with arrogance. I have to learn to tolerate all kinds of people, and, when defend myself, if need be. Besides, they're tolerating me.
From my assessment the FR seems to get a cross-section of America. There are intelligent, thoughtful people. Then there are the nutballs. Actually, I kind of enjoy the raunchier stuff here. OK, I'm sick, but I get a good laugh. Maybe either just tune out these people or just appreciate them.
Besides, you don't have to read all the threads, anyway. I don't have time -- just the ones of interest (especially the zots and the offbeat humor). If something is just too ridiculous or illiterate, I skip it. Period.
I honestly can't believe someone was paging Jim because you are going against his stated purposes for FR, by not going along with the 'culture of death' mentality. There is no CULTURE OF DEATH in this country OR at Free Republic. It's okay to say so.
Rush has done just about as much damage as anyone could for our side, by helping push the "culture of death" attitude, which is self-servingly wrong.
We certainly don't raise our kids to fly planes into buildings or to behead innocent people, we care for our children and old folks well, we are caring and compassionate and respectful of life right down to our dumb animals, and we are always quickest to donate money and labor to the needy of the world. That's hardly a culture of death. Jeeze.
The majority of GOP members and representatives went dead-silent, because most do not want the government meddling in people's private affairs, and do not want to be associated with what is perceived as the fringe elements of the party. (In fact, the fringe elements are the types who often claim not to support the GOP anyway--they haven't been with us in years, already. They show up every so often trying to hijack the party back to the days when they had some real influence. Gack.)
You're right about Rush being consistently antideath---but I'm still very surprised at his disregard for the law and especially his praise for known wingnuts, or liberals like Jessus Jackson. Rush and Linda Bloodworth, both Ozarkians, both dramatic-both expert preachers.
CTDs.
Crix Nadine just about sums it up. ;)
I miss him.
Cute. I've been around a while, seen crap like this come and go and FR and the Rep party continue to pile up win after win. With that said, I will say whatever I damn well please within the standards of the board.
ROTFLMAO!!!!
(sigh)(whew!)(wiping tears out of eyes)
ONLY, on Free Republic!!!
I suggest the opposite. You should find a mountaintop where you will be safe from Caesar's law. I could even suggest an historically accurate name for the tribe.
Wow! Very good!
I agree.
The United States Constitution is what is at issue here not a bunch of moderate nobles wanting to protect their vested interests.
A judge is part of government, and he was not given the authority by the US Constitution to pass a death sentence.
You're more pompous and arrogant and incivil in an oh so civil way, than ever,I see, Askel.And in the same spirit as your post, watching you post one CCPed bit of this from one author and that from another,pretending to be the great intellectual/superior being ,whilst eating up far too much bandwidth, with lengthy, mostly boring to most, philosophical prose, because you are incapable of any intelligent thought and discourse of your own,is about as worthwhile and fascinating as watching paint dry in the midst of a deluge.
I remember you best, for all such posts of yours. Which is precisely why, my dear, your opinion of me causes nothing more than sneering merriment at your banal and ineptitude to type what you assume to be a wickedly clever insult/put down. If,OTOH, you gave me compliment, I'd begin to worry.
sneering merriment
My compliments on summing up in two words the cast of most WPPFF'ers during the deathwatch of the past fortnight.
Thanks.
I don't talk about it too much, so I wouldn't expect too many to know about it.
Nice GIF!
I hear what you're saying.
Yes, her memory is never far.
Again, thanks.
Why then, are you still here, if you were treated so badly by other FR posters? Couldn't you find the courage to "pull the plug" on yourself?
>"I live my compassion, I don't just don't talk and write about it.:<
Yes, I'm sure you are a combination of Mother Teresa and Joan of Arc, incarnate:
You shout from the mountaintops about how everyone despises you for your deeds of "compassion" for the weak, the retarded, the crippled, and the infirm; all while flying your flag, which is inscribed with the Latin motto: "Mors Vincet Omnia" - "Death Conquers All"
Call it what it is - the cult of slavery, which demands life but not the liberty to leave it.
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