[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.

[PJ-Comix]

Bob J---Since Nov 28, 1997

Lousy newbie!

[najida]

~~ahhh~~
~sniffle~

Group hug guys!
(but if someone starts singin' Kum Ba Yah -- I will hurt them).

[88keys]

Who are you?? What are you doing here, and why did you post this???

Oh...that "Bob J"! ;)

(*ping* to con and Dave, in case you aren't already here somewhere...LOL!)

[OPS4]

You either are for what is right on the right, that means help elect George W over the Kerry/Edwards Commie ticket, or my guantlet will be cast on the round table in the smoking backroom.

Ops4 God BLess America!

[inquest]

Well, after some of the responses, it should be clear that there are certain individuals who aren't interested at all in rational discussion - in fact, they're absolutely terrified of it. They're afraid that someone might actually be convinced of a position not their own, so they do every thing they can to disrupt it, while putting out lame justifications for their behavior.

Gentle persuasion is obviously going to be ineffective with these losers, so I suggest a more forceful approach: Let there be a feature whereby freepers can make comments about other freepers, and on each poster's home page there would be a link to all the comments made about him, listed in random order. Then anyone reading a discussion will be able to see right away the nature of the person they're looking at, and judge his imbecilic comments accordingly.

[ChevyZ28]

I will only say I agree with you 100%. I will decline to comment any further.

[joedownthestreet]

I could not agree more Bob. I am still a newbie to FR, and as far as I know, I haven't made any enemies, although I wouldn't doubt they are out there. The point you make here rings loud and clear as the truth does. We have a serious common enemy to bring down here. An enemy with allies all around us. This is real life. It's the good/evil struggle we all read about in books like the Lord of The Rings (if you haven't read it, you should :) ) and how we always pictured ourselves in the role of a character like Frodo Baggins. Little guy saves his world with the help of valiant friends along the way. Those friends had their differences too, but put them aside in order to defeat a common foe. It is the only way to win.

[LincolnLover]

Nice idea, this civility thing. Sincerely hope it takes.

I never take anything personally around here, other than the fact that some dismiss whatever I say just because I supported John McCain four years ago.

It's that unthinking, knee-jerk "This person's opinion is worthless because (fill in blank here)", totally avoiding debate on the merits of the opinion itself kind of mentality that bugs the hell out of me, but unfortunately such narrow-mindedness is pretty pervasive here (e.g., "liberal" source/you supported so-and-so, and therefore your opinion is worthless/you're a new member and, therefore, are prejudged to be a disruptor, et cetera) and I doubt it'll change anytime soon.

I can hum the Barney theme song each time I post, if that helps. :)

[mlmr]

Can't we all just get along??

[rodguy911]

I was only on for a handful of weeks before
I was accused of being a rat in hiding, it
didn't sit well with me but I am rather thick
skinned and slogged my way through anyway but
you have an excellent point.

[VOA]

Honestly,
I've not really noticed a big change...and I've hung around since the Clinton impeachement.

Yes, there is an "ebb and flow" of rhetorical and pointed speech...but I've
not seen any significant changes over time...except for the
ZOT-ing of some trolls.

[American in Israel]

I flame fast, and forget even faster. If someone is a wolf in sheep's clothing inviting me to dinner, I fire up the barbecue and try for wolf burgers.

I tend to ridicule liberals because they are so darn funny in a touchy feely sort of brainlessness, and when a poster that is liberal sticks around I tend to become more tolerant as they are showing guts and a willingness to learn. But with all the slander and run types I tend to be quick on the trigger to at least get a shot in before they fade into a new identity.

But I too see that flaming is addicting and am trying to cut back on my smoking...

[RasterMaster]

A good fight once in awhile is healthy....that is, if the one on the receiving end doesn't immediately run to Admin. crying that they were "personally attacked"!

I would refer to the "alley" for disputes in the future since we have so many thin-skinned FReepers joining us.

[astounded]

Are you a democrat???

[Spacetrucker]

OK, you win. I'll forget the fact that you're a no-good, lying, cheating drunken sot of a lib... er, forget that. I was just reading the Teddy K. thread. Sorry.

[Badray]

Rodney King Bump.

You're right Bob. We have to keep the focus on the ideology and not the personality.

[visualops]

United we stand, divided we fall.


BUMP

[fight_truth_decay]

All the stories I have posted (do the background check) have received commentary from very knowledgeable Freepers..often
laced with wit. Even those stories I have commented on myself have been the same. Guess in my past couple years at FR I have not experienced this "eating our own"...and these stories to which I refer have most always had heavy response.

No problem here.

Regards
fight_truth_decay

[tobyhill]

Yea, you're right to an extent but I could really care less about internal squabbling as long as I see postings tearing the DemoRats a new a*shole, as they deserve!

[Snapple]

Thanks for writing this. I have been told that I am really not a Republican. I have been accused of being a Democratic operative. The person even made disgusting off-color remarks. This makes conservatives look really crude and ignorant---everything the opposition says about us.

All I said was that I thought that Kerry probably didn't know about what Berger was up to. I gave all my reasons.

The people on the forum were misquoting a Republican Senator and making it seem like he said something he really didn't say. Here is the thread.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1175028/posts

This forum has been a real turn-off lately because of the vulgarity and nastiness. People don't state their views and give examples. They just call others names.