OK, I see what you mean and I agree. Unfortunately, shows like the Daily Show and Letterman and the other mainstream outlets have turned both "comedy" and debate into personal insult fests. It is disturbing and I point this out to my own kids who, it turns out, have pretty good reputations because they don't behave this way. (usually!)
I am put off by this stuff on FR. I am really hesitant to hit the abuse button for this kind of thing but maybe I should reconsider. I would appreciate input from the powers that be.
Free Republic is very important to conservatives generally. We might even be the target of shut downs. We also need to balance this with freedom of expression and not succumb to PC-type speech police. That's a tough one.
I'm not quite sure how to handle this.
When I see a poster call another poster an a**h*le, I hit abuse. Jerk? ok. But obscene names? Not ok.