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.
I'm just amazed one can get away with doing that to the owner of the forum and survive....
LOL!
I'm sort of laughing now. It's like watching Exhibit A without the Nazi card being played.
'Nite.
Or - in other words - you're smarter than me. :-)
Yep, I'd say this vacation of yours is a bit overdue.
If I ever leave, I am going to repost OneWhoKnows Opus.
*LOL*
What's really weird is why anyone would get upset over what the Poo' quotes you as saying. I mean, it's true.
Maybe some kind FReeper could explain it for me..
Most of the people posting OPUS's have been the ones who have opening agitating or 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.
In all honesty, this Forum probably had a far more libertarian view when it started than it does now.
Part of mainstream libertarianism is a palpable disdain for religion and those who follow religions, i.e., faithful Christians for the most part in this country.
The battle has been engaged for several years now on this Forum, and social conservative Christians are now the majority, and the original libertarian anti-theist types just cannot stand it! It drives them crazy, and is the driving force between the divisions on this forum, and the derision, mockery and cynicism of the libertarians against the majority social conservatives.
This week, Jim Robinson told the libertarian anti-theist types to KNOCK IT OFF!
They've never really been disciplines before as a group, in such a straightforward manner, and like most poorly disciplined children, this is their temper tantrum.
The battle for a good parent is to ride out the temper tantrum and apply further discipline when necessary, not give in to the temper tantrum due to embarrassment of what others might think.
That's where the Forum stands now: do we give in to this temper tantrum, or hold our ground, as a decent parent should.
Obviously, there is NO future for Libertarianism in this country. None. Nada. Zilch.
But the social conservatives elected George Bush and are now the majority voting block which needs a voice against this culture of death judicial tyrrany.
I don't believe in writing an OPUS and should I leave,I won't post one. But thanks for realizing that unlike YOU, I am both reasonable and sane; though it really was uncalled for, for you to use the word "arse".
yep.
Ahhhh, yes. Another simple posting of the facts, to educate the ignorami.
At least.
Brown nosers......
nite-nite
If you ever post ANYTHING worth reposting you should be happy someone even read it. ROTFLMAO
I too quit, after many years, but I told myself that is not my nature to be a quitter under fire or adverse circumstances. So I came back and hell I ain't taking no crap from anyone.
Conventional wisdom sez that if you want to change things, one has to stand firm and fight for his beliefs to the end.
I subscribe to that point of view and that is why I am back and a paying member.
Hush. I don't think they want to talk about that. : )
I've always said religious people are the most dangerous and unstable ones on the planet...whether their god is the Sun, Moon, Allah, Jehovah or Jesus Christ.
Well I hope he will come back when he cools down a bit. We all get frustrated and I know I have said things here I didn't mean when I was angry.
I read ALL of the DUFU threads,but don't post to them. You too?
I usually post to ZOT threads,because I belong to the RBKA group. :-)
Why don't I post an opus? Because I'm not one of the ones whining about this forum, thread tones, etc.
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