Posted on 01/04/2004 7:55:31 PM PST by Lead Moderator
Edited on 01/04/2004 8:43:28 PM PST by Lead Moderator. [history]
Hello everyone.
I've been talking to some long time Freepers via email for several weeks (one in particular). His concern was over the immigration threads and how they turn out on Free Republic.
Many times these threads turn into flame wars. There appears to be a lot of pent up hostility that various factions have developed for each other which ends up coming out, over and over, and the result is that the threads turn into a lot of crap. The moderators get hit with dozens of abuse reports over personal attacks and other silliness. Eventually, it becomes more work than is really worthwhile, and the threads get moved to the backroom so we don't have to deal with it.
This is an OK status quo when it occurs just occasionally. But when it happens frequently, it is not OK. That means that there is a problem.
So we are going to try to fix the problem.
There are sincere people on both sides of the debate who have gotten too into the battle that they are no longer being constructive. The goal will be to help them get back on track.
But we have two groups of people who are completely not sincere.
One group is those who really have no other goal other than to try to fracture conservatives and turn them on each other. One group is those who think that those most concerned with immigration are really just bigots and want to shout them down.
The good news is that both of these groups are very, very small. The bad news is that lots of people are firmly convinced that many of those who are just riled up sincere Freepers are actually part of one of these small groups. In other words, a lot of suspicion of motives has come about.
We're going to have to overcome that.
One of us tried something with a topic which had developed a similar problem, the Creation/Evolution threads. We'll give that type of approach a try for the immigration threads.
So here is what is going to happen. Starting tomorrow, when I see an immigration related thread go up, I am going to post immediately a warning that this would be a very bad thread to engage in insulting or flame baiting. When I see someone ignoring the warning, I'll address them personally telling them to knock it off.
What we need those who are serious about the issue to do is to act responsibly during this time. Engage in debate, without the insults. Post arguments, not ad hominems. Post facts, not innuendos. If you don't like someone, figure out a way to not have it get in the way of your postings. If you want to be disagreeable, do so without being needlessly disrespectful and instigative.
What will happen is, over time with this approach, those who are just trying to stir up crap, and those who are unable to help themselves, will stick out like sore thumbs and will get the axe.
And once that happens, then more direct involvement will not be needed, which I think everyone will agree is the preferred way.
So ping those who you know are interested in debating the topic to this thread, so they can see what is coming.
Thanks
That's very observant of you.
But to make my position clear, if it wasn't already, it's the titanic, never ending waves of illegal aliens that "bother" me.
And what bothers me even more is watching the Republican party stand gawking, and many time aiding and abetting these millions of criminals.
A government that cannot or will not control it's borders and maintain it's sovereignty from millions people entering illegitimately, will itself eventually become illegitimate.
Bet the rent.
Thanks !
As to this thread.........well problem is in large percentage of the loving ,caring, polite debates here at FR ....(IMO) .....it's criminal lawless invasion vs legal immigration . That's what gets feathers ruffled almost every time. I believe it is the inability to see the difference.
I'll try to better control my FRage in the future on such issues...........Stay Safe !
Other than that, I have little experience in living along the border proper.
I haven't seen any problems on terror threads, but I don't read every post on them, either.
Not every person who sneaks into the country is a despicable thief or a deadbeat, but every person who sneaks into this country is in fact breaking the law, ergo a criminal. It's a testament to what a great country we are that we deal with this issue as humanely as we do. In most countries, being caught in the country illegally will get you branded a spy and thrown in prison or shot.
It's all part of the "program".
I agree.
Worse than that, I believe, a huge number of them are Mexican first. They are extremely racist. They have no desire to assimilate into our culture, learn our language and adopt our values. They are turning our country into a spin off of their defunct country.
I don't have a problem with anyone coming here, if they want to work hard and accept the hardships that come with the territory of being an immigrant. That means learning the language. If I immigrated to Russia tomorrow I would expect to have to learn Russian and live as a Russian.
In fact I have lived in foreign countries, I never expected them to speak English to me. I learned the language and went through the painful processes of doing things in a foreign language I could barely understand. And I had no intention of actually becoming a citizen and staying in the country. I didn't litter the streets and associate myself only with American groups or other American's. I respected their laws and culture.
We are fragmenting our society into different groups with different protections and language. A huge, probably close to half, by the time this is said and done, demographic our our society is going to see itself as Mexican first and speak another language. They are completely ignorant of our form of government, have no desire to learn and are easily manipulated due to thier position in our society.
I picked up a free publication at our local library Friday called Barriozona. It was an entire publication devoted to hispanic empowerment, activism and basically socialism. One article was based on the "hero" Che Gueverra. And it was only one of three such free publications available in the library that day.
How can anyone think this is possibly going to end well?
Owl_Eagle
”Guns Before Butter.”
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