It's been a blast but it's time to say goodbye (GOPcap's opus)

4/20/04 | me

[GOPcapitalist]

I'll keep this short and simple. After six years of membership on FR I've decided to resign from the forum today. I'll keep checking my freepmail for a few days and wind down my posts here, so if any of you wish to contact me please do so there and I will provide you with a means to do so. I hope to continue future posting activities elsewhere - perhaps a blog - but only time will tell.

It's truly been a blast and left me with many fond memories, but all good things had to come to an end. My favorites comprise a long list, the most noted being the exposition of Rathergate, leading freeps of Algore in the 2000 recounts, protesting Hildebeast's book tour, and giving her impeached husband a freeper's welcome to Texas on several of his visits. Thank you to all who made these events fun and entertaining. Unfortunately the past few months have made it clear to me that FR and I are drifting apart on key issues of conservatism. I'll spare the details, pausing only to state that it isn't just the usuals like illegal immigration, but also things like religion, the culture of political correctness, an overall decline in reasoned civil conversation that used to flourish here, and the purposes and uses of the site in general. More concerning, for the past few months I have been unable to even obtain rational discourse and commentary on many routine threads and issues without being personally maligned and attacked - many times out of the blue and on topics unrelated to the given thread - by a small, petty-minded, and vitriolic group of posters who conduct themselves in a manner unbefitting of what this forum used to be when I joined in 1999, and do so with apparent impunity.

I also find that I simply don't have the time to post as much as I once did, and regrettably so.

I'll leave it at that, as my fond memories outweigh the unpleasant ones. A time arises when parting courses on friendly terms is best before something less desirable arises. Therefore I have volunteered my resignation. To everyone who has made my FR experience enjoyable, I thank you and wish you only the best.

[Always Right]

I started lurking in 1999 and signed up in 2000. I remember plenty of flame wars, childish name calling, etc. even then (Eshoir, Trixie, various other AFers, and so on).

I consider the time we were invaded by McCainiacs about as bad as any. The great thing about cyberspace is if you don't want to be bothered by someone you just ignore it.

[Xenalyte]

FR used to be a site where conservatives, libertarians and even the ocassional stray, introspective Liberal could discuss issues rationally and agree to disagree civily,

You're supposed to ping the token lib when you mention her, yo. ;)

[cbkaty]

If somebody wants to bail, that's cool. I got my nose out of joint and didn't post for a couple of months a while back, but didn't write an Opus or anything.

I too have taken a vacation from FR at times...but it never occurred to me that anyone would care.........

[Dead Corpse]

You'll notice that "New Posts to You" is the same as "Pings". At least hte page the link takes you to is the same one. The "New Posts" thing is to help alert you to when someone has responded to one of your posts...

Hope this helps.

[Getsmart64]

It is\was not satire, the same post from an article is running on another forum, the posts on FR was pulled. My question is why are posts pulled without explanation?

The only reason I could think that such a thread would be even allowed on FR is 'cause it could be ridiculed...maybe some people took such rhetoric to heart instead of see'ing how the subject is so assinine....

[TravisBickle]

Come up to NYC and spend a day on the subways.

Or better yet, spend a few minutes on some other sites where dissent or disagreement isn't even allowed.

The anonymity of the whole thing makes people a little more bold, but all in all, this place is a lot more interesting than it used to be.

[anniegetyourgun]

You may not have seen my later posting on this thread. I agree that many of the old-timers are crumudgeons who think they have a right to rude. That's not good either.

[leapfrog0202]

Thank you ruiner for responding to John Lenin's post number 9.

I was about to say the very same thing.

[RushCrush]

Dude lawn darts were outlawed years ago. Seriously, it's hard to find them. My fiance has one coveted set left...

[Xenalyte]

Tell me and the rest of us here on FR, What is profanity?

Oh, for #$%*'s sake, don't EVEN !#$*&ing tell me you can't *%^# recognize !#-$%*ing profanity when you #%^ing lay eyes on it.

[RushCrush]

Takes two to fight, as my dad always said- usually with the leather belt placed menacingly in his hand... LOL!!

[MeekOneGOP]

LOL!

[Xenalyte]

Like so?

[robertpaulsen]

And you believed who? Or are you too embarrassed to say?

[Richard Kimball]

You got my attention.

[Xenalyte]

And that's not even me! See how well it works?

[Dead Corpse]

There she is. My link broke or I woulda posted her. ;-)

I know we've been losing "good people" lately due to rancor on some of the more flammable threads. It's sad, but life goes on.

[Willie Green]

I knew you wouldn't leave. It was just wicked rumors.

You got that right.
I can't stand opera and have a much stronger preference for '50s Doo-Wop.
So IF I was ever going to bid farewell, it would sound something like this:

(Tum tum tum tum tum)
Goodnight, sweetheart, well, it's time to go,
(Tum tum tum tum tum)
Goodnight, sweetheart, well, it's time to go,
(Dum dum dum doum)
I hate to leave you, but I really must say,
Goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight.

Of course, then I'd be right back at it the next morning!

[Redcloak]

I also find that I simply don't have the time to post as much as I once did

You need to get your priorities straight!

[Not A Snowbird]

Could be, although there are so many to choose from lately!

(If I remember, I'll ping you next time I witness the banshee in action.)