Posted on 09/29/2007 11:22:01 PM PDT by Jack Black
After 9 years, 9,217 postings and 158 original threads I have decided to leave Free Republic.
I haven't arrived at this decision lightly, FR has been a huge part of my life for a decade.
I've learned a tremendous amount from interacting with people here. A lot of my beliefs have been challenged, and I've had to rethink things I on many occassions. There are not too many places where you can learn from sincere people in an atmosphere of open discussion.
My reasons for leaving are twofold.
First, and most importantly, I think I'm graduating. I've probably gotten whatever I am going to get, in the way of education and, hopefully educating others, out of this place. But, after a while, it seems that a lot of the old discussions come around again.
Every day is precious, and in some fundamental way we are what we do. Being a total newshound, and knowing everything about the latest ins-and-out of the issues is gratifying. But, at this point in my life, I think I just need to let go of some level of obsession with it, and do other things.
And, in the second place, I feel that we've used whatever opportunity we had to influence things and our country is just not destined to go in the direction I would like.
The original charter for Free Republic talked about "restoring the Republic" (if I'm not mistaken) and the current one speaks of moving conservatism forward. Sadly, I don't see these things happening, and I don't see internet discussion as being a key, for me at least, to helping them happen.
At some point the 'education and discussion' phase of any political program needs to give way to the activism part. I have deep respect for the activists who have done so many great events, particularly the Gathering of Eagles. I have had the privilige of participating in a few FR organized outings and they are the highlight of my time here.
At this point I think I need to seek more harmony with the world around me, and that has to include coming to terms with the fact that I live in a very socialist state, run by many corrupt individuals. For me, given where I am in my life and the burdens I carry, it just isn't working to care about these things quite as much as I do.
Looking back, I would rate our greatest accomlishment as a group the impeachment of Bill Clinton. Perhaps it is the spector of his wife becoming President that has soured me on the future of our country, and on internet activism as a way to influence it.
Our greatest failure has been the inability of the Republican majority, which many of us worked for decades to achieve, to even attempt to implement any of our key issues. This is both sad, and pathetic. I cannot accept it, but in the end I have no choice.
I fear that if I stay engaged I will become cynical an bitter. These are not traits that I consider admirable, and taking a harsh and honest look at myself I think I'm already slipping down that path.
In large part leaving here is an attempt to re-orient myself around things I can control, around areas I can be successful in, and around things that will make me happy.
I've made a few on-line acquaintances who I hope to keep in touch with, hopefully you feel the same, and I'll be sending you Freep Mail with my contacts, if you don't have them already. I'd love to hear from you at any time.
I've been co-owner of the Civil War II ping list. This has been a great list where we have discussed the most disturbing trends, events that have caused some authors or posters to think our country may suffer again as we did in the 19th Century when visions of the future diverged so completely. I don't know what the future holds but it is my most sincere wish that as a nation we find some way out, some way to come together. Sadly, I'm sceptical about our ability to find that way. The list will now be maintained and run by Archy and Travis. Once could not ask for better owners than that.
I'd like to thank Jim and the staff for everything they have provided to me and thousands of others. I think they have done a lot for the country with this forum. My last act here will be to send Jim a few more checks. I'm probably way behind on what I owe, and will try to make good on my debts to the forum. I urge any of you who are not contributing enough to try to do a little better.
This is a very special place, and I will take solace every day knowing that it is here, filled with good people putting up the good fight. You will all be with me in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you will think kindly of me.
Thank to everyone for making FR what it is. May each of you follow your dreams and find success in your lives.
Goodbye.
-J.B.
Just take a break, and then come back! You don’t need to leave. Honest!
Best regards,
I.T.
You aristocrats never get it. And this peasant envies you!
You think anybody reads all that?
Well, I’m new here (6 months or so) and I don’t know if I read any of your posts.
I understand what you’re saying only because I found the internet/message boards about 5 years ago - a tv show message board really. I was the typical newbie, completely clueless of the internet/computers/anonymity and all that entails, etc. I never had an interest in learning the whole internet/message board thing and still don’t most of the time. I’m sorta here and there in spurts because the nastiness and bitterness I read in posts turns me off. Sometimes, I think some people spend most of their time on message boards and it’s their life and other times I learn so much.
I like this place because I have learned so much, read articles I would have never known existed, etc. Most of my experience with the internet/message boards has been one of being in the minority, the conservative in a liberal internet world, so I like it here because I’m not the lone conservative.
The one thing I have found is message boards, maybe due to they whole anonimity (sp) thing, is they’re brutal half the time. The worst part is, I wonder if I come off nasty to posters when I don’t mean to.
I agree with you in that I worry so much about this country and the direction we seem to be dead set on following despite what history has taught us. The one thing that always gives me comfort is the that no matter what happens, God will be with us, and the fact that the core of this country will never surrender. One of the most important lessons I learned here, or at least learned about here, is that there are millions of Americans who will die fighting.
As for activism, and actively partaking, my motto is my home/family first. That’s where I can make the most difference. Next, is what we’re experiencing here in my town (That’s A Family video, outsiders like Garden State Equality, Women’s Media, etc., trying to force us to accept what we won’t accept without a fight). We’re not THERE yet but we are fighting for our kids even with the looming lawsuits that are trying to shut us up. We may lose a few battles but we will win in the end.
I was never chained to my computer, hell, I don’t know diddly about the computer compared to most people. The greatest advice I ever received when I first found the TV message board was a poster telling me “the easiest thing to do is shut off the computer, walk away for a few minutes or a few hours or a few days or weeks or months.” I didn’t follow that advice for the first year but learned just how easy it is and how smart it is.
Another thought, the s-p’s have been around forever, just different names. They’re getting more mainstream now but it’s also waking up those who usually keep silent. Again, I’m new here so it’s still refreshing to me for the most part.
You paint it black, Jack! Black is black, I want my baby back!
You should also look at threads tagged with CWII keyword. This will take you to many threads on topics of keen interest to Jack Black.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=cwii
JB, we’ll miss you. Hope this becomes just a sabbatical, and not sayonara for good.
Excellent post.
Sorry, but any opus deserves derision. Consider yourself chastised.
I skim posts most of time and read entire threads some of the time. The former more than the latter but I read your post. ITA with your post. Granted, the anti-catholic statement was what hooked me - I guess I can sniff them out, lol. I was feeling this, the catholic bashing/anti-catholicism/misinformation, the other night and way too many nights to mention recently. I thought FR was different because I hadn’t seen the amount of catholic bashing threads/posts in the months I’ve been reading and posting here as I did the last couple weeks. It was eye opening for sure.
On the bright side, my 4 children, especially the two teens, see this. And despite or in spite of the world around them and the perversions considered normal, TV/music/movies, etc., it has made them stronger, made their faith stronger, and they are learning! High school students deal with a whole lot (media, peer pressure, schools revising history, etc.) but they’re far from stupid. They’re not THAT easily influenced. Libs/social-progressives, etc. have been around forever and they may have more media attention and support but they’re still not winning. That’s why they want to teach this stuff to younger kids because they KNOW they can’t reach high school kids, even most middle school kids don’t fall for this stuff. Now they have to focus on 3rd and younger grades. This to me is a sure sign they’re losing.
Yep, they’re using the judicial system (our twp/distict is most likely going to be sued by Garden State Equality BECAUSE they couldn’t win any other way). More parents, people, are going to have to get *active* and I think it will happen locally. I see the apathy all around but we will win.
Maybe it will take a collapse but I hope it doesn’t.
No, not action or behavior, but you apparently felt compelled to comment on someone who said he was leaving and saying why he was doing so. That’s your personal feelings, values, attitude... however you want to classify it. It certainly isn’t political discourse. His reasons for leaving were more political than your reason for objecting to the post.
I don’t read every post on FR, and if I was two lines into this one and it upset me, I’d just close it and go on to the next. Posting doesn’t cost anything and reading is optional. Over a hundred people commented, so I guess it mattered to someone.
But hey, you asked why people do it and I answered. If you don’t like the answer, write your own or don’t ask the question.
I don’t think I’m being disingenuous, and I’m sorry if I caused you to think I was. I was simply saying that your motivation to respond was not so different as his motivation to make the initial post.
BUMP
Thanks for your heartfelt sharing.
Perfectly understandable feelings.
I could easily share many of them.
Thankfully, this is still a meaningful and mostly constructive community, to me. I intend to stay as long as God & JimRob afford that opportunity.
Prayers for your growth and peace.
If you want my contact info, would be happy to share it. God’s best to you, in any case.
Blessings to you and yours in God’s provision, guidance, safety, intimacy, joy, . . .
Qx
Free Republic is one of a number of sites that does just that, only for conservative causes.
Yes, it is discouraging to be a minority within the popular culture, but FR still serves its purpose for people first seeking validation of their newfound conservative leanings.
Take a sabbatical.
Find another hobby.
Reconnect with other friends or relatives.
Set a personal improvement goal in some other area of your life.
And then come back refreshed.
God Bless, and
Cheers!
(Snip)we have a lot more posters these days who cannot:
......2) post a reply without adding some sort of insult
Excellent example, right there in your very post!
Or maybe you don't see that you just did what you accused others of doing on this one either.
I'm not going to explain my comment a third time. The fact that you don't understand my point (or this one, for that matter) is not my fault and not necessarily a reflection of how faulty MY logic is.
I don't plan on writing an opus, but I certainly understand why some would want to do so after ten years. You don't. That's fine. That doesn't make me wrong.
I was very moved by your opus; thanks for taking the trouble to write it. I wish you the best of luck in your life and pursuits.
Do what you gotta do my man.
Please do note that you've fared pretty well among several of those of us who, left to our own devices, might well have wound up far more bitter and cynical than we are. We are indeed comrades here, most of us at least, and do in fact function pretty well as a support group for each other.
I'm among the many here who hope you'll return after a short or lengthy battery recharge, and hope you'll still consider your pals here as a useful resource as to in what respects the things we observe have improved, as well as how they've sunken deeper into decay.
Take care, my FRiend; Travis and I will continue keeping the CWII list going so long as there remains to be a need for it, and you're both still on it and remain one of its keeper/maintainers so far as I'm concerned.
Accordingly: CWII list ping!
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