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Poohbah's Opus
Vanity of vanities, all is vanity, sayeth Qohotoleth... | 01 April 2005 | Poohbah

Posted on 04/01/2005 4:26:00 PM PST by Poohbah

First, this is NOT an April Fool's joke.

I am leaving Free Republic.

Over the past two years, civility and thoughtful discourse has vanished from this site, replaced with demands for ideological conformity that are straight out of Stalinist Russia or China's Great Cultural Revolution, and unrelenting uncivility if said conformance is not forthcoming. This trend began with the California recall election, where certain posters were allowed to flame the living beejezus out of those who didn't wholeheartedly support Tom McClintock, or thought that he wasn't running a campaign capable of winning. It extended into the Keyes campaign last year, where any critique of Keyes' campaign strategy was shrilly flamed, despite the obviously flawed execution of his campaign.

(Aside: one person who flamed me during the Keyes mess later said that he hadn't intended to start a fight with his remarks that accused me of homosexuality, pedophilia, and other evils; I was instantly reminded of the time I had to bail one of my Marines out of the local lockup. "Honest, Sarge," this Marine told me, "I didn't mean to start a fight when I called that Army Ranger a faggot." My response was not [and still isn't] suitable for public consumption.)

Since then, the Terri Schiavo case has pushed FR over the edge. We had posts calling for people to ensure that "accidents" to befall Schiavo and Judge Greer. We had posts praying that Iran would soon develop nuclear weapons, so that they could destroy the United States. And until the FBI started making arrests, those posts were allowed to stay up, completely abnegating Free Republic's standards.

We had people on both sides of the issue point out that the Schindlers were associating with some people of extremely low character, and that our uncritical embrace of these parties would not rebound to our favor. Rather reasonable attitudes to take, actually; but the loudest of the loud were in no mood to think.

My personal favorite was the following exchange:


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To: Old Professer
Is being a christian identity sympathizer, a white supremicist, a neo-nazi, a racist or an anti-semite illegal activities in themselves?

The issue is not legality, but public opinion. Which will not be helped in this case if the pro-Terry side becomes associated in the media with Christian Identity, white supremicists, neo-nazis, racists and/or anti-semites.

212 posted on 03/17/2005 11:05:13 AM PST by malakhi
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To: malakhi
There is absolutely nothing wrong with Terri's fight being associated with Christianity. That is unless someone is a radical leftist.
229 posted on 03/17/2005 12:02:29 PM PST by Diva Betsy Ross
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Diva Betsy Ross made a valiant attempt to...ahem...whitewash Christian Identity, but it didn't work.

To top things off, we had people embracing as some sort of conservative icon, to the extent of posting a fundraising link.

I always thought that conservatism valued thinking over feeling, careful contemplation of facts over wild-eyed repetition of every damn rumor to come down the pipe, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. For a while, Free Republic met those criteria in spades.

Those days are long gone, and I have serious doubt as to whether or not they're coming back.

I know that many of the usual suspects will cheer this on, as their longtime nemesis is leaving them the field.

Be careful what you wish for; you are in the process of getting it. You may succeed in driving the folks who disagree with you from the site; but you will end up being just another collection of shrill voices in Bedlam. When everything is an over-the-top scream, no one will be heard.

Farewell.


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To: Poohbah
Pooh, before I read any of the responses I'll say I'm gonna miss you, and I hope you reconsider.

What helps me to rationalize is the firm belief that being a free and open forum, we are fully infiltrated. Remember me? I'm the jerk that transcribed countless quotes fromm The Devil's Advocate as an active lesson to demonstrate the destruction from within.

In my opinion, at least half, maybe more, of the shrill voices, ranting and pulling their hair, acting so negatively un-Christian, are friggin' no good demoncraps, laughin' their azzez off at the division they are able to cause via our own stereotypes. In their faux-righteousness the call on the faithful for indigent wrath. Many of the faithful are good sheep, yet sheep, nevertheless, and the follow the dubious call. Maybe I should re-run my TDA effort.

Hey Marine, buck it up and don't leave a fellow alone on the line. Semper Fi

1,601 posted on 04/02/2005 8:07:07 AM PST by 68 grunt (3/1 India, 3rd, 68-69, 0311)
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To: ElkGroveDan

You are one of the plants. Intolerantly encouraging division at every opportunity.


1,602 posted on 04/02/2005 8:09:51 AM PST by 68 grunt (3/1 India, 3rd, 68-69, 0311)
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To: Poohbah
It's a shame that we don't all agree with you all the time.

Will you accept our apologies?

We'll be more sensitive to your need to be right.
1,603 posted on 04/02/2005 8:12:36 AM PST by AlGone2001 (You will never know that Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you've got-Mother Theresa)
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To: RedBloodedAmerican

"(some compared her to the Messiah crucified)"

That's what non-religious hubby has been saying.


1,604 posted on 04/02/2005 8:19:12 AM PST by jocon307 (We can try to understand the New York Times effect on man)
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To: 68 grunt

I can't wait for your OPUS. If need be, we could take up a collection for a farewell bucket of whatever it is that RINO's eat.


1,605 posted on 04/02/2005 8:21:21 AM PST by ElkGroveDan
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To: thoughtomator
re: "The Dreaded Eschoir"

Thanks for the reminder!

1,606 posted on 04/02/2005 8:21:51 AM PST by tarheelswamprat (This tagline space for rent - cheap!)
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To: thoughtomator
Ahem. Will you accept any responsiblity for your share of it?

Of course I will. Sometimes I'm fairly brutal in my responses, but I direct my ire at the poster and what they have said. I'd prefer to read reasonable discourse, but I go off when I read irrational blather. Hyperbole and dogma can only oppose reality through emotion. Emotion is a pisser! Don't you know HEP? Hierosolyma est perdita Emotion! Same crap which would have us lynch someone or otherwise supersede the law. Yes, I do speak with brutality.

1,607 posted on 04/02/2005 8:27:06 AM PST by 68 grunt (3/1 India, 3rd, 68-69, 0311)
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To: DameAutour
"Ahh but as I'm sure you see, the people who call Buchanan and his supporters Nazis are the very sort who are feeling the pinch themselves now. And round and round we goooo."

Yes, yes - what goes around comes around. Methinks there is more to this than an Opus.

1,608 posted on 04/02/2005 8:27:12 AM PST by ex-snook (Exporting jobs and the money to buy America is lose-lose..)
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To: Admin Moderator

please delete


1,609 posted on 04/02/2005 8:28:17 AM PST by paltz (no, really...I'm taking you seriously.)
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To: jocon307

non religious husband has more discernment than many self professing xtians on here. Please tell him I said so.


1,610 posted on 04/02/2005 8:29:16 AM PST by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: Poohbah; malakhi
To: Old Professer

Is being a christian identity sympathizer, a white supremicist, a neo-nazi, a racist or an anti-semite illegal activities in themselves?

The issue is not legality, but public opinion. Which will not be helped in this case if the pro-Terry side becomes associated in the media with Christian Identity, white supremicists, neo-nazis, racists and/or anti-semites.

212 posted on 03/17/2005 11:05:13 AM PST by malakhi [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 211 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

I wonder which of us he blames most?

1,611 posted on 04/02/2005 8:37:43 AM PST by Old Professer (As darkness is the absence of light, evil is the absence of good; innocence is blind.)
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To: Poohbah

I'm sorry to see you leave and share the same sentiments. I remember when I was a newby to the internet and chat rooms through AOL. There were some fine Christian chats room that soon became a favorite watering hole for Wiccans and atheists.

Alas, that was the death of the Christian chats. I fear that is what is happening here at FR. So many newbys of questionable philosophy undermining a private forum where the intellectual and conservative members of our society have been able to gather freely.

I'll be sorry to see you go because I think you and some others are only the crack in the wall. While I'd certainly like to be the one whose finger is in the dam, I don't have that much time. I most likely will follow. Such a shame, and somewhere in the background I hear the gleeful laughter of the DUers, mucnhing on the demise of their greatest enemy.

Farewell and let me know should you find another conservative paradise where once again we can agree to disagree, publish thoughtful and responsible posts, and respect one anothers viewpoint.


1,612 posted on 04/02/2005 8:37:53 AM PST by myrabach
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To: 68 grunt

I guess you missed the reference, but the opusing poster had just the day before told me to "go f*ck yourself". Pretty ironic that he should then turn around and whine and wail about a lack of civility driving him away.

I speak brutally too, many times, but I don't pollute the forum with worthless profanity.


1,613 posted on 04/02/2005 8:39:37 AM PST by thoughtomator (Fight terror - strangle a caribou!)
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To: paltz
please delete

No reason required, I guess. Your recommendation is reason enough.

1,614 posted on 04/02/2005 8:40:02 AM PST by Dog Gone
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Comment #1,615 Removed by Moderator

To: trickyricky

Michael Rivero?


1,616 posted on 04/02/2005 8:42:39 AM PST by thoughtomator (Fight terror - strangle a caribou!)
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To: hobson
Coop, if you haven't seen the "howling crowd of hysteria" either you haven't been paying attention or you've been too busy screaming to notice.

I'm not sure why I'm even wasting my time on your idiotic rant. I can show you "screaming," if you'd really like to see it.

And concerning the howling crowd of hysteria, your poster friend you're so enthusiastically (yet rather weakly) attempting to defend specifically applied that tag to my taking an opposite view of her and her uptight "we're right!" pals. Sorry if I'm not being a cooperative extremist nutjob for you and your oh-so-reasonable groupie pals.

1,617 posted on 04/02/2005 8:43:32 AM PST by Coop (In memory of a true hero - Pat Tillman)
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To: thoughtomator

No, guess again.


1,618 posted on 04/02/2005 8:43:36 AM PST by trickyricky
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To: Poohbah
I have known you for a long time. Quite honestly, this whole hissy fit of yours has been quite telling and at the same time very confusing.

Fact is Free Republic and the Republican Party are bigger than social conservatives, the evil "religious right", moderates, etc. Problem is, if you leave, it will make no difference. We have survived many an exodus. 2000 election, 9/11, Patriot Act, War On Terror.... You get the picture. As much as it grieves me to say this, farewell.

Fair winds and following seas.
1,619 posted on 04/02/2005 8:45:09 AM PST by wasp69 ("You're done, Rather! No more 'Divine Right of Kings'!" - Oliver "Buckhead" Cromwell (sorta)
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To: myrabach; Poohbah
Wow over 1600 replies.

This is the MOTHER OF ALL OPUSES!

did i spell that right?

Poohbah, Hope you enjoy your break and come back soon.

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

1,620 posted on 04/02/2005 8:45:58 AM PST by expatguy (http://laotze.blogspot.com/)
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