A Comment on the Atmosphere of FR

A concerned FReeper | December 30, 2004 | K1avg

[K1avg]

For the past several months, fate has conspired to keep me away from the computer. I haven't posted nearly as much on FR as I used to. With the holidays, though, I've had an opportunity to catch up a bit.

What I found on my return is a bit disconcerting. While there's always been an element here that refuses to reason and does little more than insult Democrats and RINOs, it seems that this mentality has taken over a large portion of our membership. I've encountered more shrill, radical nonsense in the past couple of days than I had in the months before my absence.

Certainly it's acceptable to gloat a bit after our enormous gains on November 2, but I do believe it's about time to get back to normal business.

Referring to Democrats as “Rats” or some variant thereof may be somewhat amusing, but seeing the reference in nearly every other post really gets annoying at times. Pet names for Democrats and RINOs may be funny the first time, but quickly get old. It's one thing to respect someone, and it's certainly acceptable to not do so for one reason or another, but it's never alright to be downright incivil.

Just the other day, I was in an argument here with some other members who were supporting Yanukovych over Yushchenko because Yush had pledged to remove Ukraine's 1600-some-odd-strong force from Iraq and was *gasp* more liberal than Yanukovych. Seriously, that's absurd. I'd be happy to debate with you here, but anyone can tell you Yushchenko as president will be much better for the Ukrainian people, our interests in Iraq be damned.

But I'm getting away from the subject at hand. These are just a few examples of the devolution of discourse here. While everyone is certainly allowed to have their own opinions, there is a certain level of civility that should be maintained, regardless of the context.

This is the sort of stuff you find at DU, not here. I recognize there's plenty of good, civil users here, and I'm thankful for that. To those guilty, though, it would be nice if you could tone it down a bit.

I love being here. Things like the Undead Thread, Daily Dose, and crushkerry's Lib Pundit tournament, along with the usual daily banter of normal news, makes FR like no other political site on the web. Let's keep it that way. Thanks for your time, and have a lovely day.

[Antoninus]

This is the sort of stuff you find at DU, not here. I recognize there's plenty of good, civil users here, and I'm thankful for that. To those guilty, though, it would be nice if you could tone it down a bit.

I guess you haven't been here long enough to realize that Free Republic, like any large group of normal people, will have folks you like, and folks you don't like. It's big enough to accomodate the contrarians, the snippy, the nasty, the humorous, the meek, the erudite, the logical, the illogical, the tactful, the tactless, the civil and the uncivil. There are modicum rules of conduct that one must abide by set by the site's owner.

Beyond that, it's generally not a great idea to tell people how you think they should be acting. On this site, it will have the exact opposite effect 9 times out of 10. If you can't deal with that, you might be better off on a website where you can swap recipes with folks with screen names like "AuntBetty" and "BlueBonnetSally."

[Calusa]

Forgot your sarcasm tag.

I tried but bein' kinda clueless I couldn't figure it out. It's really there,but it's kinda invisible. Sorry 'bout that. I guess I'll have to work a little harder to get my Pajamas.

[Hi Heels]

You don't like the kitties????....

[Lady Jag]

[Drumbo]

It doesn't matter how 'politely' you say it or what your point is, "our interests in Iraq be damned" is fightin' words!

[Bushforlife]

Gee, almost 250 posts making fun of you so far.

Please criticize us in some other way now. This is FUN!

[Christian4Bush]

It's just because we've all become a little bored post-election. We have control over the whole freaking country for at least the next four years!! There is far less to complain about than there was earlier this year. Now, we just get to sit back and laugh at the Democrats trying to figure out what in heck went wrong...

My new tagline might have the answer for that...

[stands2reason]

I've been here 3+ years and I'm still a newbie?

[Mad Mammoth]

DUmmies following their latest messiah.

One good image deserves another, from the Nov 1st edition of blogger
'JB Corrigan' at:

http://jbcorrigan.blogspot.com:

[Old Professer]

Comair just called; they think they've found your Mororcycle helmet in the lost-luggage section of their airport, said something about it being full of "mush?"

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Referring to Democrats as “Rats” or some variant thereof may be somewhat amusing,

That's been going on since before the 2000 election and it didn't start here.

[JoJo Gunn]

"It's one thing to fight the left, and hopefully accomplish something, it's another to simply throw insults at them, usually accomplishing nothing."

Not being a rocket scientist, I admit I could be dead wrong, but I don't think holding hands and singing Kumbaya will change the Regressives for the better.

Ignore their history at your peril.

[Calusa]

One good image deserves another, from the Nov 1st edition of blogger 'JB Corrigan' at: http://jbcorrigan.blogspot.com:

Just Damn!! That Al Gore pic needs to be holdin' a Rubber Chikken (or RAT)!!!

[stands2reason]

not for the ignorant fools who believe everything they see on CNN is completely (laugh-chuckle-snort) "objective".

Sorry, the DUmmies say CNN is in the pocket of Karl Rove.

[FaithFactor]

I am a "newbie" and enjoy FR quite alot. I am not up on the abreviations and want to know what "DU" stands for. Thanks.

[buccaneer81]

Democratic Underground. A forum straight from hell.

[NeoCaveman]

Ratty RINO Rat Rat!

[hershey]

Okay, no more RATs.

[FaithFactor]

Thanks!

[JoJo Gunn]

That we have, and the occasional lecture. Oh well, it takes all kinds.

Happy New Year!