I quite agree. I have seen the pieces on SF.Indymedia.org that lifts entire FReeper posts to make the case that this is allegedly a "hate group." It pisses me off because you know, I know and most everyone else in this virtual community knows there are forms and style to online community making. Those making this out to be a "hate group" are as ignorant as someone arresting a kid for saying; "I'll kill you for breaking my tonka truck" to his brother alleging he was menacing.
Whether they are stupid or not in thusly labelling us, we should be very careful not to give them undue ammunition to shoot at us with.
I was a longtime 'citizen' of one now gone that could have very easily been labelled a "hate group" by someone taking verbiage out of context of the lively banter between people, many of whom who knew each other for years.
We have to be very very careful. And as a former Special Forces Trooper trained to win the hearts and minds of people in completely different cultures, this thread makes me wince as much as any example of well meaning act of cultural ignorance I have seen a rank and file Joe Snuffy Private do when they insulted a local in another country.
The core argument of the thread is fine. The way it expresses it just flat has the stench of roadkill.