I don’t buy the premise that FReepers are all that nasty. Instead, I would point to the first question we should ask in politics: who benefits?
I would argue that the nastiness that we’re seeing has to do with a whole lot of money being out there this election cycle and there not being a lot of effective places to put it. Look at this from the perspective of the donor class. They spend millions of dollars on TV ads and it gets them nothing. TIVO, streaming video and the internet are killing the ability to use TV commercials to get a message out. Phone calls? Caller ID has pretty much killed those. Radio? Streaming audio and podcasts.
So where does the donor class spend it’s money? Social media and websites. But alas, FR doesn’t take ads so we end up with a bunch of nasty paid seminar posters. The boss and the mods are slowly screening the worst but it takes time.
So who benefits? Look no further than the donor class if you want to see why the uptick in nastiness.
Freepers have always been nasty
Well, I've been here since 1998, and I'd say it gets this way every election cycle. You should have seen it when Romney was running.
Supporting your candidate is great
Tearing down another candidate to advance your candidate isn’t great.
Attacking other posters because they don’t support your candidate is what liberals do and should be avoided at all costs.
Nothing I've seen here lately even comes close to those good times...
Take a deep breath and relax...
Extremely well-written post.
It’s always bothered me that the candidates as well as their various and sundry supporters always supply the Democrat opposition with nearly all the ammunition they will need AND use in the general election contest. Reagan understood this. It’s a shame so many have forgotten.
The nastiness began with trumpsters. All of a sudden Conservatives who were against him, questioned his history were villified.
Cruz who spent decades fighting lefties suddenly became un-popular.
Suddenly Christianity became acceptable to mock because trump spokesperson mocks it.
I’ve seen leftists worship obama and now trumpsters worship trump
It's providing an opportunity for the people you probably shouldn't trust with your back to out themselves.
One would think this site has become the new Democratic Underground for the folks on the right side of the political aisle........Personally, I think it has.
If it was the religion forum doing this there likely would be a censoring of such in the name of need for unity against Islam and liberals, but conservatives can have differing convictions behind their shared conservatives positions, as well as differing positions under the classification of conservative. Yet seeking reasonableness, objectivity and civility should not be the casualty it often is, and sometimes a sharp rebuke is warranted.
“...When did Freepers turn so nasty?...”
Well, we have the data — it’s just a matter of investing the time to collate it. I suspect you will find the nastiness corresponds to Trumps candidacy gaining steam. Now whether you find it’s more trump supporters or supporters of other candidates, I’m thinking the timing will align with trump and tend to show it is his candidacy that was the trigger.
I could be wrong... I truly hope I’m wrong because he’s on track to be the next president and I would hate to see him trigger that nastiness on a national scale. But that’s how it seemed to me. Probably safe to presume that opinions will vary...
Thank you for your eloquent post. I am in complete agreement. Here is the type of question I’ve been asking folks who ‘damn’ anyone and everyone who says anything kind about the politicians they don’t want to be president.
“Rush has been very clear that he has NOT endorsed any of the Republican candidates. He has pointed out good and bad things about each. I can only conclude that any positive comment made by anyone about Rubio is, in your view, an automatic endorsement of him for the nomination. e.g “Rubio is kind to children†= G-F is backing Rubio for president, etc.”
Optimist, this is excellent, reasonable, a reminder that demeaning others is dark and ugly. I agree with everything but one detail about “all of us...” I’m non-affiliated regarding conservative/liberal. And try to be tolerant and keep my angry thoughts off the Board. Thank you.