I don't agree with you at all.
You're assuming that EVERYBODY who comes on the Free Republic threads is a "FReeper". Most of the time, those who come here only to call people names, and are rude and disgusting, are not regular members of FR at all.
Disruptors turn out to be people who only come on these threads to stir up trouble. They've always been here, it's just that the current climate in politics is pretty nasty - and the DU'ers and the MoveOn people come here on a regular basis just to vent their poison.
Before you start labeling FR as the culprit, you should investigate more. During the 2000 election, it was worse than this. There was this group who would come on FR - start a thread complaining about GW - a few friends would join in with the Bush-bashing .. and off we would go. Others who supported Bush would join the thread and go ballistic. Funny thing .. as soon as the FR group went ballistic .. certain posters on the thread didn't post anymore.
I watched this phenom for awhile, and then I began to see a pattern. It was a game. The game was - say something nasty about GW and watch all these FR people go whacky. That was the goal. They were just saying stuff to stir the pot. I began sending private msgs to several of the posters who were defending GW and telling them - don't bite! It's a game. They're just saying that stuff to get people riled up so they can sit back and watch the explosion. Don't give them the satisfaction of replying to their stupid statements. Little by little I began to see this type of action disappear. Now, it's back again.
Don't be dumb and fall for it.
I whole heartedly agree. I do notice though, that some genuine Freepers can be abrasive. Canadian Freepers are aware of this. This is the assumption that ALL Canadians are of the ilk, that is typical of much of Canada's ruling elite.
So far so good. Nothing like free speech. This is possibly the ONLY site of respectability where I can sound off. Sure I could go on a hate site- ain't gonna do that.
It is the master himself that sets a standard- the El Rushbo. Rush will get a mild flaming, he then utterly charms the flamer- ie: sort of that he might believe that person is really a reasonable human being deep down. If not, they are toast.
I try to educate some of the flamers, about our 37% popular vote Liberal government.
To be flamed, is the price I now am willing pay. P.S.(Laughs).