In response to the 'State of discourse' thread that was posted yesterday: Can't we all just get along?

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4243106/posts ^

[Jim Robinson]

I've been asked to chime in, so I'm chiming. But you're not gonna like it. The state of discourse on FR is totally up to you. You know the guidelines and rules. I don't need to repeat them again and again and again. We are mostly adults here and mostly Christian conservatives. We all know how to behave in a mixed public setting. We don't need and don't want to be supervised.

Before you post that next profane post or personal attack just ask yourself, what would Jesus do.

Can't we all just get along?

Thank you all very much and God bless you.

[odawg]

“He discerned that was their need at that moment.”

Yes, they needed to be told they were snakes in the grass, whited sepulchres full of dead men’s bones, fools, etc. And they thanked him and felt oh so blessed.

[9YearLurker]

Thanks, Albion.

God bless you, Jim. Your wisdom is why I’ve been here for decades.

[Political Junkie Too]

Reposting my post from the other thread here.

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I've pushed the abuse button a few times, but only on posts that used extremely offensive profanity or were over-the-top personal attacks on another poster that were not germane to the topic being discussed. In rare cases, I've pushed it when people who lost an argument descended into nasty ad hominem tirades against the other person.

From the Free Republic Home Page:

Please enjoy our forum, but also please remember to use common courtesy when posting and refrain from posting personal attacks, profanity, vulgarity, threats, racial or religious bigotry, or any other materials offensive or otherwise inappropriate for a conservative family audience...

Free Republic is a site dedicated to the concerns of traditional grassroots conservative activists. We're here to discuss and advance our conservative causes in a more or less liberal-free environment. We're not here to debate liberals. We do not want our pages filled with their arrogant, obnoxious, repugnant bile. Liberals, usurpers, and other assorted malcontents are considered unwelcome trolls on FR and their accounts and or posts will be summarily dismissed at the convenience of the site administrators.

Free Republic does not advocate or condone racism, violence, rebellion, secession, or an overthrow of the government. Free Republic advocates a return to constitutionally limited government, reserving all government powers not expressly delegated by the constitution to the United States to the States respectively, or the people, emphasizing sovereign state governments, local government, self-government and self-rule, while restricting government powers to only those enumerated in the constitution...

This is why I personally try to find a constitutional aspect to whatever issue or thread that I choose to participate in.

I try to write in the third person indefinite style and avoid direct personal statements (like how Congress has rules that debate must be directed at the Chair and not other members).

I try to state my case concisely (but completely) so that others have the opportunity to understand my complete thought process before engaging me. I find that short, terse fragments of thoughts only leads the reader to fill in blanks that were not intended but that provoke unwanted responses.

I believe that once I speak on a matter and complete a dialogue with another reader to make my thinking clear, I am done with the matter. The reader is free to decide who made the better point; hounding the other person into submission to my opinion is pointless.

And I avoid the ad hominem at all costs. Name-calling, taunts, profane accusations, and closing posts with insinuations or putting words in the other person's mouth goes against everything that a reasoned debate should be about.

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-PJ

[oldtech]

Help each of us to remember that, for there may be those times when we forget unintentionally.

[Sidebar Moderator]

Brief and to the point point. Thanks, Boss.

[Red Badger]

I just ignore posts that call me names or use profanity.........

[Robert DeLong]

‘When you be like Jesus, you get crucified.’ We may be discomforted somewhat with a reply, but I hardly think it measures up to being crucified for real.

Words have meanings. Those meaning may even be hurtful, but they are only words. As adults, we should all be somewhat immune to words being hurled against us in anger or even frustration.

Even I may get upset, but then I think about it for a minute, laugh & move on.

I may even fashion a reply that is full of expletives, but before I post I delete it, because I have decided to obey the no cursing rule set forth. It makes me proud to do so, and is a release that makes me realize that my statements & anger were useless anyway. 🙂👍

Be forewarned though, I may call anyone a useful idiot, if I deem their response exposes them as being just that. 🤣

Thanks again Jim for providing us with a place to learn, grow & share with likeminded folks, for the most part. 🙂👍

[Beowulf9]

You’re absolutely right.

Good to hear from you, Jim and I hope you are doing well.

Thank you for Free Republic :)

[Robert DeLong]

‘When you be like Jesus, you get crucified.’

I disagree, and I'm pretty sure Jesus himself would disagree.

We may be discomforted somewhat with a reply, but I hardly think it measures up to being crucified for real.

Words have meanings. Those meaning may even be hurtful, but they are only words. As adults, we should all be somewhat immune to words being hurled against us in anger or even frustration.

Even I may get upset, but then I think about it for a minute, laugh & move on.

I may even fashion a reply that is full of expletives, but before I post I delete it, because I have decided to obey the no cursing rule set forth. It makes me proud to do so, and is a release that makes me realize that my statements & anger were useless anyway. 🙂👍

Be forewarned though, I may call anyone a useful idiot, if I deem their response exposes them as being just that. 🤣

Thanks again Jim for providing us with a place to learn, grow & share with likeminded folks, for the most part. 🙂👍

[SaveFerris]

Concise. Accurate.

[SaveFerris]

I just follow Red Badger around and threaten to report Nully to the mods.

(ducking and running)

I also like to phone Nully late at night and ask him if his refrigerator is running.

[af_vet_1981]

well written; nicely done:

Ephesians 4:

25. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27. Neither give place to the devil.
28. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

[Bigg Red]

Thank you, Jim. And God bless you, sir.

[Gene Eric]

thanks

[Allegra]

I’ve seen some of my best friends who have been here 20, 25 years being accused of being paid Russian trolls. Guess I’m going to have to have another look at their check stubs.

You rock out loud, Jim. 😃

It does get a little old being called things like “Putin stooge,” “Putinista,” “Bolshevik,” Muscovite,” etc. when those posters would be hard-pressed to find a single post where I’ve expressed any support for Putin or Russia. I frequently express my opposition to having our tax dollars going unaudited to a known money-laundering operation and that seems to infuriate a small handful of people here.

To be honest, I don’t consider that little knot of angry people to be true FReepers so I’ll admit that I pretty much mock them and don’t take them very seriously. 😏

[Bigg Red]

Thank you for the ping, GF.

[Texan5]

So happy to see you posting-hope that means you are doing well and the prayers of many of us are answered. As an unrepentant rebel who told truth in the harshest language from an early age, I got into debating in HS and college to temper my tongue-because if you didn’t stay with the rules, you could be kicked off the team. I’m still mindful of those rules and attempt to stay civil even when I disagree-I don’t always succeed,but I try. Like so many other people, I am just an imperfect follower of Christ...

When the same male freepers show up on threads concerning women (mostly liberal women) and politics/business advocating taking away our voting rights, our ability to be in congress, law enforcement officers or military members, etc, I do get indignant on behalf of we conservative women who deserve equal rights. We are not liberal dummies and we are working very hard for very little $$$ in FJB’s economy-and we are trying to get more voters for DJT just like the guys are. Thank you for not being one of those kind of guys, Jim, and keeping up this great site.

[Thank You Rush]

Much needed...Thanks - I agree with Jim that we are SUPPOSEDLY adults and shouldn’t need monitoring but it seems as tho’ some do....

[Texan5]

May I steal that-it is just so perfect...

[metmom]

Preach it!