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I admit I call folks OBL'ers when they just jump in threads and start attacking posters, and posting to like minded posters without discussing the issue at hand with facts and an honest intellectual discussion of the topic.

It seems certain folks post to get a rise out of other posters which self perpetuates.

If you care about honesty, you don't accuse another of being in favor of open borders if it's not true........especially if you know it.

But it sounds like you blame others for your own wrongdoing. You're obviously a product of the never-accept-responsibility-for-your-own-problems culture.

My kids tried that when they were little. I just never let them get away with it.

axes...

I have been watching this entire thread with great interest. There is no doubt that many of those you consider OBLers (Although if you go back to the original threads you'd find most of us are not) jump on these threads and "attack." And you are absolutely right that "certain folks post to get a rise out of other posters which self perpetuates." In fact, that would include you...and me...and about, what are we up to now, 50,000 other Freepers.

But here's the thing. There is a VERY simple way to avoid this dynamic. Your "team" needs to think before bringing this issue up on every single thread. One can usually bet on a "This is all well and good but nothing will matter until the border is fixed" post on threads about anything and everything. Positive news, negative news. The NYT is a traitor news, Star Jones was dumped by Barbara Walters news. A fatal accident in California or a freakish hurricane in Montana news. A moose bit my sister and my beeber is stuned news. It doesn't matter. Those for whom the borders are the primary issue seek to hijack nearly every thread.

Now, for a while most people tolerated it and often even agreed. Then most people, even those sympathetic to your cause began to resent it. Then came the great abuse button punching of 2006. Many of us, while concerned about border security, still resent it. The urge to yell...yes, yes we get it already so shut up we're talking about something else right now, has become completely and utterly irresistible. "Please, save it for the immigration threads," you were implored.

When that didn't work, the "OBLers" as you call them, started coming after you. We are looking for perspective and balance. We want to be able to say "Good job" over here and "We want this done better" over there without it dissolving into some kind of masochistic chickenlittlehood.

The great irony of all of this is two fold. First, you alienated supporters of your own cause and weakened your own case. Second, you are being warned. There is great potential here to hurt your cause further if reasonable care and transparent accountability is not demanded. Granted sometimes the warning has been sounded with disingenuous glee. But you can not allow that to back you so far into a corner you hurt the greater cause.

All I can say is this. This debate has NEVER been about goals. It has been about process and how we need to accomplish those goals. Screaming at each other over this will not only set border control back, it will cede control to those with even less concern about it. And frankly, of all the potential outcomes here, that is the worst one.

Thanks for sticking with me through this little rant. I wish you the very best. Good luck.