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.
The Christian Identity Movement truly is a white supremacist sect. To wit:
WE BELIEVE the White, Anglo-Saxon, Germanic and kindred people to be God's true, literal Children of Israel. Only this race fulfills every detail of Biblical Prophecy and World History concerning Israel and continues in these latter days to be heirs and possessors of the Covenants, Prophecies, Promises and Blessings YHVH God made to Israel.
Source: http://www.kingidentity.com/doctrine.htm
Likewise. I'm considering the same...seriously. I have challenged a few lately and even wrote to the mods. The discourse has become deeply personal and judgemental. I have other things to with my time than to be challenged in such a way. I never want scripture - chapter and verse - thrown at me in judgement. I simply don't and won't accept it. Some decent FReepers have had to endure a lot, lately.
Lando 
Why thank you for kind advice. I actually do post other articles of interest. Generally they center around the military. My beloved is abroad serving our country and I posting articles from other parts of the world helps.
I think and perhaps I am wrong but you are putting to much on the "WPPFF" can folks not understand a little humor.
I do not know of the plight of the other groups but as far as I am concerned if we can discuss issues and perhaps how to make FR better what is the harm.
Hey, I am resenting all media and their persist ant repeat of the same story. I understand the concerns as it pertained to Terri, but, come on did we need it 24/7. I think many were just feeling pushed in all directions and those who believe that the courts did the right thing, that they are for that they felt that the case went before many courts that in the end if it were her wish not live like that then her husband has to decide.
I did not like the husband, I found his lawyer right up there with snake oil salesmen. I am glad it opened the discussion for living wills. I think many on FR were passionate in their thoughts on both sides, there were no winners in this, let's not have this tear at the fabric and purpose of Free Republic.
Thank you for taking the time!
ahhh.. ok, sorry I misunderstood you!!
Isn't that exactly what you are doing: claiming you have the truth and other Catholics don't?
Man, what a whiner. You leave over this?
Wussy.
Ugh...just reading that little snippet gives me the creeps! I remember coming across some stuff about them doing some research on a different thread...chilling people.
My post was very clearly ambiguous.
;O)
Sorry.
You are so correct! Frankly, it is folks like her and the ones she calls to every thread that are ruining it for others like myself. I'm not going to opus but it is stifling to others. She says she only presents "facts" but she is rude and crude in the process.
*grin*
But seriously, I completely understand, even if I'm not quite ready to follow you out the door. The opportunities for rational, reasonable discourse and disagreement without being disagreeable are few and far between lately, which is why I don't post nearly as often as I used to. There's only a handful of folks around here, maybe a couple dozen, who I can count on for intelligent, informative and witty conversation and friendly banter, and you and Catspaw are two of them. I've learned a lot from both of you. Unfortunately, it's harder to find the wheat for all the chaff.
Kooks, wackos, nutburgers, hatemongers, racists, Pharisees, godless God-hating heathens, tin-foily grassy-knollster General Rippers and other assorted dangerously unbalanced screeching harpies and loons abound around here these days.
Valid points Miss Marple. I think the whole Terri thing got people way too nutty. Personally I was sick of the whole thing. I'm glad she's in God's hands now and beyond the reach of the circus.
On a couple of occasions, I said my peace on the issue but didn't seem to get flamed for it [I was for everyone staying out of a family's difficult & heartbraking business]. And having been on the net since 1979, I was quite prepared for it. Perhaps it was not so much my words but my tone. In any case, I agree that we cannot allow this forum to be overrun by the single issue, can't think critically, fringe of whatever they are.
Conservatism is SUPPOSED to be better than that!
Poohbah, if you're still listening; I'll be sorry to see you go, we need those with solid minds to fight the good fight, and you're just one of those that we need.
Keep the faith Marine!
They're in Iraq; tired, dirty, underpaid, underappreciated and dying to come home.
Friend, war is hell. -- Even a culture war.
Please don't leave because it's too hard or too ugly. If you do, you're simply answering the enemy's "prayer".
Take some time off....but please return and help us win this.
Godspeed.
It's a forum, no one has been bull whipped.
Oops, I guess I wasn't supposed to say that.
It is not a requirement to be a born-agin fundamentalist to be a freeper. I do hope most of these lunatic fringe paid goons will soon go away as their budgets dry up.
You're still posting on the Religion Forum, are you not? I wouldn't think you would need to have that error corrected.
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