Give us some actual examples. Context is everything.
BTW, we do have a few fag defenders on here. That is not allowed, by the Owner’s own policy.
Too many trolls. Lots of members left in the last decade.
You could post about puppies and some jerk will start a fight and never give up.
Not enough zits.
Reasons I no longer give monthly.
Let’s start first with rogue mods labeling FReepers ‘concern trolls’ (see my tagline; other concerns? please contribute) and deleting valid posts without explanation...
This place is overrun with trolls.
Maybe they contribute, so they get to stay.
Been around here for 20 years and have never seen it so bad.
You’re not the only one who’s noticed that.
I’ve had other and seen other FReepers bemoan the same thing.
" but swearing seems to be tolerated."
maybe you really pi$$ people off, work on that
" I have been called gay, a lair, that I am talking out of my *** and I am full of ****. "
That's a lot to take in. But if that "lair" part triggers you, what meaning do you ascribe to that word? Take your time.
Yes, a handful of people have really destroyed FR. Rather than engage in meaningful discussion these few people prefer to insult, name call, and attempt to bully people. Jim has some very clear rules for the site, but they have not been enforced in recent months or the past year or so.
This site is inundated with democrat trolls/political establishment operatives. That’s one of the key problems. There are topics of legitimate disagreement between conservatives like The war Ukraine but there are just way too many never-Trumps for it to be organic. You don’t see this level of trump-hating “conservatives” anywhere else. Most conservatives know it’s Trump or America is over.
“The state of discourse on Free Republic”
There really isn’t much discourse left here anymore, it’s just fighting and name calling, conspiracy nut jobs and a few racists. The days of great political discourse have been gone from here for ages. Now it’s all Biden crapped his pants at Normandy (didn’t happen) and Feds burned Maui with laser weapons, (didn’t happen), Vax fights, and my favorite, the Yogi and Boo Boo crowd, who think they’re funny not realizing the harm they do to the Real MAGA agenda. People that count in real life don’t come here anymore out of fear of embarrassment. It’s sad. I can predict the replies just by reading the headlines. They are the same replies day after day like clockwork.
I agree. I have been here for a long time and have noticed it. You would think that we as conservatives could set an example for how to disagree without insulting someone. Alas, it does not seem to be the case.
I live on a lake, but it’s not a lake of regard. It’s a lake of water.
A long time ago on the site it wouldn’t be tolerated if you called someone a “lair”.
It is my suspicion that we have one or two Kremlinbots getting paid by Vladimir Putin to post Russian propaganda. They know that if they want to win the war in Ukraine, they have to stop the American support of Ukraine.
I’m not sure if I understand you. If we have a lot more anti-conservative trolls here then pushback is warranted, usually severely. I don’t have a problem with that.
If you are talking about discourse between long-time Freepers without a leftist bent, I have not noticed any significant acrimony, at least not more than has always existed here.
BTW, I discovered and joined FR during the 2000 election battle over “chads.” There were plenty of trolls on here then.
I read a post and I disagree. Now I have a choice. I could respond and say, “I disagree and here’s why...” or I could preface my disagreement with personal insults. Many people here - and everywhere else on the internet - choose the insult route.
And then someone responds to me with insults! Of course I have to be cuttingly, sarcastically insulting back at them - showing off my wit and feeling the sweet satisfaction of revenge.
According to God there is an alternative. Check out my tagline and then read about the fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5.
I now pretty much just read the articles I’m interested in and skip the comments and commenting.
Things really started going downhill when Humblegummer was allowed to stay and abuse everyone. I don’t ping him because my contempt for him is so strong that I feel he is not worthy of that simple courtesy.
But prior to that, even 20 years ago there were some real waste of bandwidth posters. Once I made a comment about Israel and the Pallies that an ex military poster thought was too weak.
He followed me around from post to post for weeks, pinging his buddies to any comment I would make, for all of them to insult me with the likes of “pedophile”
because I had recently commented that I had a newborn son.
So yes, it can be pretty distasteful here sometimes. But just read the articles for their own value, ping the mods on out of bounds comments, and let the rest float on by.
my favorite was marcus saying everyone who didn’t want to fund ukraine was a jane fond marxist, and then proceeded to post lots of pics of her from vietnam
I have contended that this site has gradually been taken over by many D and F students who like to hear themselves talk. On a site like this, they have as big a voice as anyone else; and, if they persist, they can last the longest. They aren’t necessarily dissuaded by the facts as long as they can hear the pleasing echo of their own voice, right or wrong, emanating from their keyboard.
Now, it is all about getting points for the snarkiest comment in the fastest time.
Overall, I get the feeling that the adults have left the room on most threads. I almost never go past three comments on a thread anymore.