Be Kind to your Fellow Freepers

today | Me

[DiogenesLamp]

I think many of us come here for some fellowship with like minded conservative allies and it makes us happy to see that we are not alone.

But, over the years I have noticed something that seems amiss to me, which is the lack of responses to people who have expressed their opinion.

Many is the time that I see a comment to which no one has replied; a situation in which no one responds to a Freeper who has expressed an opinion.

I think most, if not all of us, would likely enjoy an acknowledgement that people have read our comment and agree with it, or even that people have read it and disagree with it! (So that we can have an argument, which is something we contrarians tend to enjoy! :) )

I urge people to respond to comments from other Freepers, especially if that comment is directed at you. I encourage Freepers to acknowledge the people who have posted a message to you, because we all want to believe our opinions matter and are worthy of consideration.

At the very least give them a "+1" (which means "UpVote") to indicate you've read their comment and agree with it. A more thoughtful reply is even better!

Let people know you care what they think and are not indifferent to their existence.

Not only should this boost the amount of traffic on Free Republic, it should encourage a happier more pleasant experience for all participants. It may even lead to more people wanting to join Free Republic!

[DiogenesLamp]

That was a fowl reply, sir. It seems, sir, most obvious that you can play toe to toe.... :)

Didn't they say "Puns are the death of wit"?

If they didn't, someone should. :)

[jdt1138]

If you want a friend get a dog.

[DiogenesLamp]

This is a current thread that we should all look at, it is a reminder of the different states of mind and levels of physical pain, and different moods and sometimes a day of stress of the posters here, not every post is made when that person is in a perfect and fully thoughtful mood and may not always be coming from that person’s best personality.

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4268591/posts#12

I am all too aware of such bleak situations, which is exactly why I wished to encourage everyone to be kind to each other. It may not be so much longer before we ourselves are in such situations.

My heart goes out to people who are experiencing any form of sadness in their life.

[DiogenesLamp]

I agree with that but I’m not going to push them to comments on things they don’t want to.

I am not suggesting that people should feel the need to comment on a topic they don't care about, only to respond to people who comment to them.

And people’s opinions will vary all over the tundra, plain, waters and hills.

Such is the spice of life!

Learn to adapt and let others adapt also. JMO & enjoy your 70.

It will be awhile before I reach 70, but thanks for the advice. Hopefully by the time I am that old, I will be able to follow it. :)

[DiogenesLamp]

Being kind is fine. Having an opinion is fine. Having an opposing opinion is fine. Lurking without commenting is also fine.

Having an opposing opinion is GREAT! IT gives me someone to argue with!

[al baby]

Is that old windbag still on the air ?

[wardaddy]

True dat

And admit when factually in error

Some here simply refuse that one despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary

[wardaddy]

And show sympathy or empathy for fools who get themselves killed

Freepers can be very cruel

[wardaddy]

Well u and DL on the same side
Like me

Getting the usual performative morality over the original sins of anything race from non southerners ,

[DiogenesLamp]

I was met with opposition (mostly infantile in nature) by a few Freepers who looked up my posting history and immediately filed me under the name of “troll”. I was struck by the willingness of some to quickly shut down a “seasoned” Freeper and the unwillingness (inability?) to engage in reasonable discussion.

I see this problem on other websites too. People are so intent on labeling someone "enemy" just for disagreeing with them about something, that they actually create enemies.

I know a bunch of people on here who I wonder whether or not they are Trolls, but I don't normally accuse them of being Trolls.

It could well be that this attitude has always been present and, being a daily contributor, I just never noticed it before. That said, it did come across to me in a decline in civility and an inability to engage in reasoned discussion.

I think much of this attitude can be traced to the setbacks we have had, especially from presumed allies stabbing us in the back and trying to help the other side. (John McCain, Dick Cheney, Jeff Flake, and various other backstabbing RINO types.)

People are wanting to lash out at any hint of opposition, and I think they are doing it because of frustration with the number of traitors we keep uncovering in the last decade.

If we were winning and advancing, I think people would be less likely to do this.

I can only counsel patience to the extent that you are able.

[DiogenesLamp]

LOL. In my old age I’ve lost my hard edge in some of these discussions. :-)

I can only encourage those of us who are old and wise, to act like children.

Firstly, because it is easy.

Secondly, because it helps us feel young.

:)

[DiogenesLamp]

Thank you, fellow human being.

You are welcome Brother... or Sister.

:)

[Georgia Girl 2]

I love the smell of virtue signalling in the morning. 😆

[DiogenesLamp]

Part is, as you say, the demographic has changed as we age out to that great shuffleboard court in the sky. But I also note that too many feel beaten down and near hopeless after the Big Election Steal of 2020 so feel keeping their heads down is the safest way be.

I mentioned this very thing in an earlier response in this thread. People are somewhat despondent because they see the country on the wrong course and they see tyranny and corruption as the future. It depresses everyone and makes them hostile.

I still haven't gotten over the election steal of 2020, and I want people to go to prison for it. (Katie Hobbs comes to mind, as does Brad Raffensperger.)

That inspiration was contagious enough to overcome tyranny and establish a better form of government. It's painfully obvious that that government is now in dire trouble and needs it's patriots now more than ever.

Alas, I fear too many of us have become accustomed to a relatively easy life compared to what the founders faced. We have become indolent and lazy as a result of our prosperity, and many of us have forgotten what is really important in life.

Let us hope we can reawaken that spark we have seemingly lost.

So you good people please keep up the good work and never shut up.

Amen.

[FamiliarFace]

Yep.

[FamiliarFace]

Sometimes people aren’t in the mood to argue, and sometimes…they are!

[DiogenesLamp]

You're starting to sound interesting.

Good. I've only been working at it for several decades and it's good to hear that it is finally starting to show signs of success!

I suspect you selected your screen name because you are looking for Truth.

Yes. Always.

But sometimes I think I made a mistake and made it too pretentious.

That wasn't my intent, and I often wonder if it interferes with me getting my point across from time to time. People don't like pomposity, so I try to make up for it by being sillier than I should be from time to time.

[DiogenesLamp]

Nice thought but a lot of comment responses are rhetorical.

To paraphrase Captain Jack Sparrow, "Well at least they are giving me comments!"

[Jamestown1630]

I lurked here from the beginning of FR until actually joining ten years ago.

It is much worse now than it used to be. I could buy some really nice champagne for the night of Nov. 5, if I had a buck for every time I’ve been called a leftist, a troll, a ‘never trumper’ or sworn at.

The way to deal with it is to ignore it.

[ClearCase_guy]

I wish I could change my handle to “TheRum”.

That way, if I get hit by a bus, someone here might notice my absence and ask “Why is TheRum gone?”