[Bob J]

I'll go first. I've been on this Forum for a while and have had the time to make a lot of enemies. I'm putting everything that's happened in the past into the grave and making a new start with everyone (you know who you are). I pledge to argue my case, but will always remember that even though we have differences, you ultimately are my friend in the trenches.

[Frank_Discussion]

This thing has pushed past 600 posts, so I won't get too verbose. It's probably all been said, but here's my piece:

Yeah, sometimes we go for the jugular, plenty true. Often, though, the person for whom you issued venom on one thread is the same one who on another one you'll dust off and say to them "Let's get the b*stards!". And thus run off to smash some lefties and their ideals.

The flames here don't last long, and rarely even leave a mark. Those that do burn long and strong indicate a dysfunction that needs ferreting out for the health of our FR community.

I think you worry too much.

[gimme1ibertee]

KUM-BY-YA,M'LORD,KUM-BY-YAAA!!!
;)

[Freemyland]

I avoid flame wars, which is why I for the most part stay away from threads involving religion, Civil War, diets and bicycling.

[ex-snook]

Ya mean it will be safe to post comments favorable to that pro-life, pro-American jobs, anti-illegal immigration, anti-troops-for-foreign-wars, truth telling, America first conservative Buchanan?

[GraniteStateConservative]

Yeah, get off my jugular.

:-)

[GraniteStateConservative]

Yeah, get off my jugular.

:-)

[Dr._Joseph_Warren]

Bless me Bob for I have flamed.
My last post was a few days ago.

I have committed the sin of name calling.
I have questioned the sincerity of others.
I have questioned the intelligence of others.
I have questioned the biological legitimacy of others.
I have look at bad pictures that will make me go blind.

What is my penance?

[Texas Federalist]

You suck!!!!!







(I kid . . . )

[The Libertarian Dude]

I'd like to clear the air about why I can't respect conservativism as much as I'd like to.

When you look at the good bits of social conservativism - personal responsibility, individuality - it looks a lot better than liberalism. Yet both ideologies have their streak of social control through legislation as their answer.

Liberals may seem to want everything to be "okay", but they use the courts to suppress behavior they don't like. The same goes for conservatives. It all hinges on their goals and personal belief systems.

Personally, I want laws to exist. I just wonder if we need so many of them. I don't want the right to murder, rape, burn down buildings, steal anything, or be a Congressman; therefore, anarchy isn't my goal.

[Young Werther]

PING

[Ciexyz]

I unsubbed from the FR PA state thread because the Toomey supporters jumped all over anyone who disagreed with them and they were brutal, rude and crass in their comments. It was sickening.

[SunkenCiv]

There are debates about sometimes minute details (I'd say nuances, but that term has been sullied by the Kerry campaign), which I consider healthy. Then there are those who take any comment (not even a critical comment) as an attack. To them I just say "goodbye". Life is too short to waste. There are actual debates here which are quite worthwhile. Mostly I ignore nitpickers. Ad hominem I will condemn (y'know, if it's directed at me).

IOW, in short, I agree with you for the most part. That's my nuanced response. Have we met here? Just curious.

[KeyLargo]

Is this the part where we all hold hands and sing Kumbyah, or would 'We Shall Overcome' be more appropriate?

"Can't we all just get along?"

Rodney King

[U S Army EOD]

Well I think the main problem is the half ass comments from all those damnyankees on the civil war threads. They can't be at all civil, like all the decent folks, and good old boys like we have in the South.

[1L]

At the risk of getting attacked for this, may I suggest the following (minimal) honor system:

1. If you are a conservative (like I am) and have sneered at what you call RINO, just make a passing reference in the future to those in the Republican party that don't share your conservative views without the sneer. Likewise, if you are more moderate and don't share the views of Conservative Christians, just make that reference and go on. Better, try to convince the other side that your views are correct through argument and analysis, not sneering or backhanded comments.

2. Don't argue like a liberal: i.e., get emotional, name call (no matter how benign), and try to change the subject. Comparing what someone else did to show hypocrisy is a bit overused, and is often just changing the subject to avoid dealing with the errors of argument.

3. On criminal matters such as the Peterson deal, please stick with known or reported facts and if you must speculate, make clear what you are saying is speculation. Nobody (and yes, I mean NOBODY) on this forum knows exactly what happened to Laci Peterson (for example), so let's have some respect for our justice system and not jump to conclusions that just because a person is charged, he or she is guilty. Once all the evidence comes out, there will be plenty of time for the "got away with it" if that is what happened.

4. Don't accuse someone of being a troll. If they have a valid point, debate it. If not, either ignore it or say its invalid. Who cares what the motives of someone posting nonsense here is. If its nonsense, it isn't worth your time.

5. Don't make excuses for bad or dishonest behavior regardless of the political views of those committing such behavior.

6. Remember that the general sentiment on this forum is that, regardless of faults, it is better to have a George Bush as President even if he allows too much spending (for example), than a Democrat of any kind. If you can not, on principle, vote for a candidate that doesn't share all or most of your views (or one view that you consider of great importance), fine -- that's your opinion. Support it with analysis and not ad hominem. For those of use who think this "principled" only view is wrong, lets all understand that it is based on principle and we should at least understand that regardless of whether we agree with it or not, that is admirable.

7. Searches for previous posts on the same subject to avoid duplicate posting is not always successful. If there is something posted elsewhere, point that out, but don't accuse the poster of not searching before posting. How about a standard "This has been posted here (link) as well, if you want additional comment."

Finally, if someone's analysis is clearly based on erroneous information, correct them on the information and ask them to reevaluate their position. Don't say, "why don't you get educated before posting that dreck, dumb-$%#." In 24 hour news cycles, information flows free, fast, and sometimes its wrong. Give posters the benefit of the doubt and at least a chance to correct themselves. If they don't, then you will have plenty of time to respond.

Flame away.

[Steve_Seattle]

I've been coming here for 5-6 years and can't remember a time when there wasn't a lot of "domestic violence" going on. That's because there are different kinds of conservatives with different values and agendas: free-market conservatives, Constitutionalists, evangelical Christians, libertarians, traditionalist Catholics, isolationists, neo-cons, Buchananites, 2nd Amendment people, and so on (not to mention trolls and disruptors). I think the disagreements are healthy if the language doesn't go too far into the gutter or become personal in a nasty way.

[jtminton]

bump (with a LITTLE 'B')

:)

[Cindy]

?

[GOP_1900AD]

Most of the enemies I have on this forum are ones who I consider to be my enemies because they call me a Marxist, or tell me to go to DU, if I so much as slightly critique the current Center Right lukewarm GOP orthodoxy. The particular hot buttons which seem to invite such withering attacks appear to be, in no particular order, any critique of what I consider to be a naive, globalist, economism which is reputed to trump most geopolitics, any critique of currently planned continuing overall military drawdown (particularly drawdown of strategic forces), any critique of anti nationalist, border busting corporations, or pretty much anything which questions the main planks of the quasi liberal, Center Right world view. It is pretty amazing to me, that people far to the left of me would be telling me I don't belong here. To cut to the chase, in order to stop the back biting, we must marginalize or at least gain better behavior from the Leftist factions here instead allowing them to vigorously assail us Rightists. Rightists are not the problem, we are the solution.

[Not A Snowbird]

Kidding aside, there are certain topics that draw certain posters, and I avoid them like the plague. If you are not drinking their kool-aid and post a differing viewpoint you are summarily leaped on by all and personally attacked. It's certain posters, who inhabit certain topics, that I refuse to even acknowledge.

There's one thread ongoing right now that I have an opinion on but I'm not going to go near, because the posters so far are like rabid dogs. And I haven't had my shots.