A call for civility on Free Republic

Vanity | 08/31/04 | ChicagoHebrew

[ChicagoHebrew]

I enjoy this forum, but lately I've noticed a troubling tendency for posters here to descend into horrible and immature name-calling. Such name-calling, and extremism without reason does nothing but harm our cause. It turns off casual lurkers and readers of this forum. It provides fodder for this forum to be demonized and non-respected elsewhere. Below I provide a few examples. I call on Freepers to stop using such terms voluntarily. If that doesn't work, I call on the moderators to warn, if not censor, posters who use such terms. I realize that Democratic Underground uses even more ridiculous terms sometimes. However, your opponents' choice to frolack in waste does not provide an excuse to do likewise. Rather, it provides an opportunity to rise above, and show one's intellectual and moral superiority. Without more, I present a few examples of the type of garbage I'm talking about. I call on fellow posters to add their own.

1) "Hitlery" -- I dislike Hillary Clinton's politics, and what I know of her personality. However, nothing she has said or done (including her love-fest with Suha Arafat) justifies comparing her to one of the worst monsters in all history. Doing so not only demeans the Holocaust, and all the war dead of WWII, it makes a mockery of this forum to allow it to be posted.

2) "Demorat" -- This is just stupid. Calling your opponent a rodent does nothing to promote conservatism or libertarianism. It does everything to make posters and this forum look like intellectual infants, prone to tantrums and incapable of rational debate. We disagree with Democrats. We should not dehumanize them, or think them so below us that we need not engage them in debate and triumph.

3) "McInsane" & etc. -- John McCain is a conservative, loyal Republican. Indeed, in some areas -- such as controlling spending -- he's far more conservative then Bush. However, he is also a mavarick who doesn't tow the party line -- and, in my opinion, sometimes perhaps puts his principles below his desire to win applauds from the media. That being said, his ACU rating is strong, and he has put legitimate personal disagreements with Bush behind him to support what's best for his party -- and, more importantly -- his country. Feel free to critique McCain. Feel free to disagree with him when he criticizes fellow Republicans or takes an odd liberal stand. However, do not resort to petty name-calling -- especially not name calling that implies he lacks mental faculties, and/or is evil. It's just not right.

So I have written. I hope that a silent majority of Freepers agree with me here.

[Las Vegas Dave]

Her unroyal lowness,
her hideous heinous--
Bwtich Shrillery Antoinette de Fosterizer de Sade!

[BigDoom]

Your absolutly right but I don't think that you will the ractions your looking for. But maybe that's the difference betwen a former "conservative" forum and a widely known "neo-conservative" forum. We all should stand above these so called "Democrats". I'm a free man in a free country, I'm conservative to the bone, but this doesn't change anything about my old principals: think on your own and keep a certain level of conversation. And yes to some others, you can hit me now. Doesn't matter to me.BD

[BigSkyFreeper]

I haven't felt this good since the sweeping victories in 2002. LOL

[Quix]

Rolls of laughter!

THX.

[Quix]

Impressive listing.

Hadn't seen some of the media ones.

Thanks for the sources.

[TexConfederate1861]

I disagree. I am unreconstructed, NOT politically correct. and PROUD of it. and "Hitlery" and "demorat" are perfect terms.

[Quix]

EXACTLY.

VERY WELL SAID.

THX.

[nopardons]

This is a CONSERVATIVE forum and not a "neo-con" one.Since you've been here less time than the poster of this inane vanity thread,perhaps you'd like to explain just WHY FR's historical vocabulary should be jettisoned,due to the dear sensibilities of a bunch of newbies.:-)

[nopardons]

Yeah..........ain't life grand? :-)

[Quix]

CHEERS! CHEERS! CHEERS!

VERY TRUE AND VERY WELL SAID.

THX.

[Quix]

I haven't decided whether the Mainland Chinese, the Taiwanese or the Koreans prepare it better.

Have you?

[Quix]

THANKS for the link to your site and for the patriotic duty of collecting such info.

Of course, we all know that us outspoken types will be amongst the first the globalist SHRILLERY GESTAPO will call on.

But I'd a LOT rather go out in flames with plenty of evidence for my values and efforts in behalf of them.

Besides--he that loses his life for Christ sake, shall save it.

[Quix]

I love the old:

THERE'S NOTHING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BUT A YELLOW STRIPE AND DEAD ARMADILLOS.

[Quix]

WELL SAID,

imho.

[Quix]

I think

BOXERFACE,

BABBS STRIVING-IN-THE-SAND,

BELLADONNA ABBBZUGGY

. . . are a bit more apt.

[Quix]

Trying to civil, but NOT restrained.
Heck, I LOVE to laugh and some of
the funniest and wittiest stuff is
penned right here from our people.



MUCH AGREE.

[7.62 x 51mm]

1. Hitlery Rotten Klintoon?

2. demokkkRATS?

3. Johnnnie "No Brain" McCain?

Okay.

[hershey]

It takes too long to type democrat. RAT seems to fill the Bill nicely. Little inside joke there.

[Quix]

Welllllllllllllllllllllll!

THAT

would be quite SERIES INDEED!

We might have to shower just to get our perspective back.

But preferably not with the moose. Wet moose hair is so unesthetic as to be uncivil.

LOL.

[BigSkyFreeper]

It sure is!