Excerpted and enhanced, for emphasis. ;)
Honestly, one of the most flabbergasting aspects of all this (to me) is just how many recently opused/suicided FReepers -- a significant number of whom (as they took great pains to remind one, at every conceivable turn) "have been here since 1999/1999/1776/The Early Bronze Age/[Insert Huffy Chronological Benchmark Here]" -- feel/felt no discernible compunction whatsoever, re: sassing, insulting and/or flagrantly disregarding the owner of this web site; energetically trolling with all the low, mean persistence of the most stereotypical DU or Kos troll.
Reading back through this elephantine thread, it is immediately and irrefutably clear that -- in virtually every instance -- the recipients of ZOTtings have behaved no less abominably than the visiting houseguest who brusquely commandeers the contents of your liquor cabinet; vomits noisily into the aquarium; and (when rightfully instructed by their host to cease such loutish behavior) spits curses at the wife and children. That several of the uglier of these even went so far, on another thread, as to ostentatiously declare themselves "Christians for Giuliani" virtually redefines the ages-old concept of naked, preening chutzpah.
The comparison of this (or, indeed, any) website to a host's own home is, I believe, entirely to the point, here. Jim's feeling -- paraphrasing, from his accumulated postings over the past several days; correct me please, Jim, if I (unintentionally) miscolor your sentiments in the retelling -- is that, over recent months, specific house guests have become increasingly unruly, to the extent that they've not only been sneering openly at the stated house rules (i.e., "Free Republic is a conservative site"; "Free Republic is a pro-life site"; etc.), but actively and aggressively making things unpleasant for the greater, more polite majority of attendees.
No one poster -- no, nor any group of posters, so far as that goes -- is so important, invaluable or irreplaceable to this forum as to somehow gainsay their repeated (and increasingly mean-spirited) flaunting of said rules; and the bizarre, inflated sense of... entitlement on the parts of those who've found themselves righteously "called" on such oafishness -- the red-faced and indignant whinneys of (essentially) "well, yeah, but surely that rule was never meant to apply to ME, for God's sake!" -- is, by definition, anything but a conservative one.
The host has (re-)(re-)(RE-)stated his long-standing house rules, clearly and emphatically. He does not wish his home (i.e., this site of his own creation) to be cluttered, for instance, with unwelcome pro-abortion sentiments; endorsements of pro-abortion politicians; or "practical" apologia on behalf of same. He does not want his front lawn littered with defenses of homosexuality (or of any politicians defending same), no matter how enthisiastically lobbed. And -- quite justifiably enough, certainly -- he isn't signing for delivery of any packages of RINO Chow whatsoever, no matter how enthusiastically endorsed by whichever poster, of whatever age or pedigree.
None of this is even remotely in any way "new," or "sudden," or "unexpected," or what-have-you; and all this feigned, whey-faced miming of shock and dramatic clutching at pearls is, quite frankly, as pathetic as it is patently absurd.
We're all guests in someone else's house, people.
Kindly grow the hell up.
Your eloquent words sum up my thoughts much better than I could say it.
Well, well said.
I like it. Say it again on all the Rudy and illegal immigration threads please.
Kindly grow the hell up.
Can't be said more directly than that.
Indeed.
To wit, an archaeological dig's produced this FR classic from 5 years ago:
With all due respect, If I invite someone to my home, I usually respect that they may differ in opinion. I leave it at that, not cheer if hubby kicks them out, not insult them or make statements to push the issue, that may make them more vocal. Some may deserve to be banned but I don’t think many did. Hopefully, some were suspended and will return. Both sides need to be more respectful. IMO
Good analogy, and what would make it worse, is if this person had been your friend for years, comes into your house with a smile and then proceeds to trash you, not only in front of your wife and kids but the entire world. Not very nice and unconcionable. I have little respect for people like that.
Don’t get me wrong, there were several Jim went after with deliberate intent but I look at it as the “battered wife syndrome”. How many times do you take it before you say you’ve had enough and fight back. Overall, it’s been painful to watch but for the best in the long run. I have yet to see one person zotted that I would have missed (except Fierce Allegience and I probably don’t have the whole story there).
You must be a writer or sumthin. That stuff was real purty and so well said, er I mean, ritten. And I liked it so much I think I’ll frame it.
Grand Post.....