[woofie]

are you calling me old?

[altura]

Another "oldie" agrees with you.

However, you may have noticed that not 6 posts went by without someone feeling compelled to start the recent argument all over again.

I don't think it's hopeless, but right now, I'm inclined to stick to a few friendly threads.

This, too, will probably pass.

I know this is a free forum, but we could have used a benevolent dictator in the past few weeks.

But then, I guess it wouldn't be FREE republic.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.

I think the Terri threads, the border threads, and the WOT threads have combined to stoke the fire of dissension.

These topics, along with the life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness threads have sort of cross pollinated to form a perfect storm of passion.

I also think the statist enemy became aware of how dangerous FR is during the run up to the election and began to attempt to destroy it from within.

Storms abate and false Freepers fall away when exposed to sunlight. My impression is that JimRob and the Mods are hip to that. I hope they are hip to that.

Michael Frazier

[sharktrager]

One of my favorite arguments was one last year where a FReeper from the class of 2001 disagreed with a newer poster and told me that his opinion was, in fact, more valid simply because he had been here longer.

So I just pointed out my sign-up date, called him a Noob, told him he was wrong and that by his own logic he had to admit as much.

At least it ended the flame war.

In honesty, I think the disruptors have succeeded very well in spreading dissent and distrust, and many a potential new FReeper has been scared or run off by those who assume their "seniority" makes their opinion the only valid one.

[Raycpa]

I too have seen many groups leave in mass. There are two observations I would like to make. The first catergory of folks that leave in mass seem to be those who believe they are leading some sort of FR movement to the promised land. They have a vision for FR and believe they are leading us all. They form alliances with others, create massive ping lists, tune their arguments and hit threads with a common theme. They begin to believe they are changing minds when in fact they are polarizing posistions. When reality hits that they are not leading FR, any more than a cat hurder can lead cats, they create a big disappointment for themselves. This disappointment leads to disillusionment and to departure.

The second category is those who have a short term agenda which is often financed by outside interests. Yes, folks some people get paid to post. When the contract or time runs out they leave. Others that don't get paid have mostly single issues they are concerned with and when that issue is done they leave. Yes, they may participate in other discussions but they mainly have one reason for being.

[Dog Gone]

I wish I could think of something outrageous to say so that the moderators would cut me some slack as an old-timer. ;-)

I do hate seeing folks who have been assets to this forum for many years leaving. I hope they are simply fed up with the tone here in recent weeks and will return once FR becomes what it once was.

I'm not happy with it and it must change. I've not cancelled my monthly donation and I will do what I can to help restore civility. We all have different levels of patience and tolerance and very few of us have it in unlimited amounts.

I hope we can all work together to lower the temperature so that this forum is one that attracts people, not one which people feel compelled to abandon.

[Interesting Times]

Well said. Your post also appears to have opened a conversation that needed to take place.

The issues we discuss here are often intensely emotional.

A little courtesy and self-control can go a long way...

[rdb3]

Sometimes these differences can cause us to reevaluate our alliances. But that would be a mistake. The left is counting on us tearing ourselves apart from within for that is the very philosophy upon which their strategy is based…foment division and hatred then attack at the breach. It has worked well for them in the past and they count on it working again for them now and in the future.

If those of us on the Right would simply keep this in mind, maybe it wouldn't work anymore.

[Aloysius88]

Late to the party as usual, I would just like to say I'm staying and I'm sorry some of those who have been here a while are leaving. I think that discourse has become coarser and I think it falls on all of us to police this site as we would any other playground and to apply correction to other people's children when needed and with love and high regard for the truth which we all seek and serve.

[swordfish71]

Agree, to a point.

Please keep in mind is that one can be a long-time Conservative (in my case over 40 years) and be new to FR.

Many of "newbies" are new to FR because of work and family responsibilities. I had little time to come to FR because I was usually at sea most of the time (Navy) When on shore duty, my hours we long and I tired to spend as much time with my family as possible.

Just a thought....

[Dead Corpse]

Well, yeah. ;-) I ain't goin' nowhere. At least, not until Jim gets tired of seeing me here.

[506trooper]

BTTT

[SamAdams76]

Well said. And speaking of one who has undoubtably benefited from a "few mulligans" over the years, I am grateful for the policy of extra slack being made for old-timers and that I have been allowed to hang around here all these years, through good and bad times. I can understand mods having a short fuse with "newbies" because so many sign up here just to be disruptive and we need to weed those out pretty quickly so that this forum doesn't turn into a sewer.

But once one has survived the first few months and has demonstrated a solid track record of posting responsibly (within guidelines), I think that individual has earned the right to be here, even though his/her posts might be offensive to many. Obviously if there is a fragrant violation of the rules (threats, profanity, the repetitive posting of prohibited material etc.), then that person should be shown the door. But by and large, our long-time "curmudeons" have become a part of our community and belong here. Even if they don't march in lockstep with the conservative agenda.

A good example is the poster "Willie Green." I can't think of another individual on this forum with which I disagree more often. But no matter how many times I disagree with him, he is unfailingly polite and civil in our disagreements. Sometimes he even makes me think a little about my own political views on things. If he was to disappear from this forum, I am honest in saying that I would miss him. He is a real asset to this forum.

There are many others here that I love to argue with and sometimes I post articles intentionally that I know will "rile them up" a little!

I think most of us on this forum have the ability to accept other points of view but there are certain issues that tend to divide us and cause huge rifts between us. The Terri Schiavo case was definitely one of them. So was the Elian Gonzalez case. And also the 2000 election when Pat Buchanan supporters were pitted against George W. Bush supporters. There were some real flame wars back then and a lot of people got banned or suspended.

Each of these times, there were always those who said "Well this is the end of Free Republic" and we saw our fair share of farewell opuses. But I suspect that most of those snuck back in under other screen names!

Free Republic will survive the Terri Schiavo debate, I am sure of that.

[mercy]

No way. Send me a bill for $10 a year. I'll pay it for the entertainment value. This place has reached about the same level of inherent value as DU.

[Leatherneck_MT]

Agreed

[Quick1]

Welcome to FR.

;)

[griffin]

"How could I have been so thoughtless in my moment of indulgence?"

Jeepers wally....if we can wrangle a little bit....then were is the fun in that!? Kinda like hockey without the brawls or Nascar without the crashes! Better watch out or you'll civilize the site out of existence!

[ex-snook]

As a member of the class of '98, I've seen a few take-over attempts. Their MO has been to purge others who disagree with them. Looks like when they can't do that, the latest rage is to mount a kamikaze attack.

[Katya]

Well said Bob....I think the biggest problem with newbies is their cyberskin is very thin. Those of us who've been on the net 15 yrs plus understand language in black and white is unforgiving. We also know people on anonymous message boards may develop abrasive alter personas.

FreeRepublic has been my life line to others who hold similar philosophies. I live in a blue county in a blue state, the ability to freely speak one's mind is something I treasure here in my FreeRepublic neighborhood.

[Focault's Pendulum]

In a way us curmudgeons can help provide a sense of continuity and historical perspective to events that newcomers cannot.

Awww Crap!!!! I've become a curmodgeon.

I like it!