You need a thick skin to post on just about any net forum, especially a political/religious forum. Anonymity gives people a bravado that causes them to say things they would not say in a face to face meeting. My rule for posting is, if you would not say it to the person’s face, don’t say it on a forum either. We will all be accountable someday for everything we think, say or do, including posts on net forums. I would say just try to roll with the punches.
Welcome to primary season! :-]
You said — “That being said, I recently commented on an article regarding Steve Stockman running against John Cornyn. Knowing a lot about Texas politics I said Stockman was not a viable candidate. OMG! You would have thought I said I pissed on Reagan’s grave. I was called a troll, a Cornyn plant, a GOP-e (if my friends had heard that they would be laughing their asses off.) With all the name-calling I had to look to see if I was on FR or DU. Conservatives pride themselves on the quality of their debate versus liberal knee-jerk name-calling. I guess some here on FR can’t raise themselves above that level.”
WELL ... all I can say is that it’s TYPICAL for a certain number of posters on Free Republic. I’ve seen it many times here. You’ll get to know their names and find out that they don’t have much else to say.
How about we find someone other than Cornyn and Stockman? Why is Stockman a bad choice? I don’t know that he is a bad choice. Cornyn has been is the Senate for 12 years. It’s time for him to go elsewhere before he he becomes more corrupt than 12 years in the Senate will get you. TERM LIMITS are key you idiots!
I don’t know whether Steve Stockman is a good candidate or not. I do know that he, along with others, is challenging sitting Senator Cornyn in the primary coming up in March.
On Republican congressional primary races where a RINO (or near-RINO) is being challenged in a “red” state/district where there will be a runoff if nobody gets 50% in the primary, I try to encourage folks (and candidates) to focus on attacking the RINO. Do positive messaging to point out why one challenger is better or best, but don’t attack other challengers since EACH challenger can serve to take votes away from the RINO in the primary and help keep him below 50%.
Let’s keep our eyes on the prize—a truly conservative Republican majority caucus in the Senate and in the House with truly conservative leaders. The 2014 election cycle offers ample opportunity to advance toward and/or achieve this goal. Let’s not form circular firing squads with conservatives firing at one another.
"...ut oh..sumbody burnt a bearing"
That's because we are. Now sit down and shut yer pie hole.
Seriously, welcome to FR and I suggest you get your flame suit on. If you think you take flack as a newbie here, you've not seen some of these youngin's (GOP-E's and Neocon's) on here come after us old timers.
FR can be a raucous place. Best to have thick skin, ignore the jerks and move on.
FR like any other chat board on the internet has its own share of (shall we say) a**holes. You can find a few of them complaining about the Personal Blogs section of FR calling others "blog pimps" for example.
I’ve been here a pretty long time, and a couple of months ago I was attacked by a ‘N@@b’. I think that’s the only time I ever said see how long I’ve been here and STFU.
You are correct in your assessment. I see it all the time.
I don’t know enough about the newcomer to the Texas primary to make a judgement yet. But I like reading all sides. I don’t want us to make a mistake like we did in Missouri, Nevada, etc....HOWEVER, I have the UTMOST trust in the people of Texas. Looking forward to 2014. I want to win!
There are newbies who sign up and start attacking, using nasty language, respected Freepers. These newbies are not going to last long if they keep it up.
It has been my experience that setting the example is the only chance we have of keeping FR a good discussion forum. Unfortunately, not everyone feels the same. Not everyone is 'mature'. Not everyone is even any good at rational and logical debate or spelling or grammar.
Best defenses:
Thick Skin.
Use your skills to outwit them.
Don't descend to their level, you can't win there.
Suck it up, take your licks and be welcomed to the family in due time.
Irony isn’t lost on you, is it?
Huh?
I sometimes feel I have to FLAME a post,
does that make Me Bad?
I do it gently,,,
Not everyone can make a logical argument. In the physical world, those people tend to shut up when they are challenged to support their argument. However, in the Internet world, they revert to 3rd grade.
I suggest you learn when to make you final concise statement and let it rest, comfortable with not getting the last word.
I’m still working on that myself.
Well I suspect you’ll stir up quite a discussion and make friends or enemies along the way.
I don’t know what potential Stockman has but I do know a little of his past.
He has been in and out of TX politics since 1990 mostly on the local level except for
one run statewide at Railroad Commissioner. He failed to get the nomination.
He has been elected twice. His biggest win was in 1994 when he knocked Jack Brooks
out of the 9th CD. He lost the following attempt at being reelected. His 2nd election
was in 2012 when he won the current seat he holds.
There are 79 days until the Primary election on Mar 4, 2014. Stockman according to
the FEC filings has some $30,000 cash on had and debts of over $200,000. Thus he is
facing a cash shortfall and time constaint to make a statewide run.
We’ll know more of his abilities within 60 days as polls, etc begin to show if he can attract
support. All in all it it will make for an interesting few months in Texas politics.
On one hand, I completely agree with you. On another, one has to understand that this is a general public board and they pretty much let anybody post.
I remember not long ago I said something sarcastic about dogs. Now, I own a dog, but you’d of thought I personally went out and killed Lassie! Very, very mean comments, and I’m regular poster! It was eye-opening to say the least.