I’m very surprised to find out he’s gone, so I read the thread.
First, let me say I’ve posted beck and forth with him MANY times. He is a long time FReeper, and always seemed totally straight up to me.
As far as having that kind of stuff on a computer, I agree with him that doesn’t prove anything. Divorce, bitter feelings, random emails, there are a hundred ways that stuff could be on a person’s machine and them not even know about it.
Some topics are way more emotional than others.
Where I fall out of agreement with him is when he tries to argue a difference between just having the material and actually doing it. I just don’t see the difference, because it’s been proven time and time again that people who acquire or collect that trash ALWAYS go on to worse and worse offenses.
He should, however, be able to argue that without anyone jumping to the conclusion that he himself is a perv.
Personally, I’ve been pretty sad lately about all the name-calling, rancor, just utter childishness. It seems to be on the increase, but who knows, maybe it will ALWAYS seem that way.
Sad to see him go. He has always struck me as a true conservative.
A conservative who stepped in a snake pit, I guess!
FR needs a time-out room of sorts.
I agree with your assessment. I think he just failed to make that point crystal clear in his initial statement and again in his rebuttal of the charges made against him. The whole set up reminds me of men accused of rape only to find out later that they are totally innocent, only the damage to the guy cannot be undone. It also kinda reminds me of the Salem witch trials too, come to think of it. Sad. Discourse, debate, and civil disagreement is gone. Emotions are the masters of the day.
FR needs a time-out room for the idiots who go off half cocked, wailing and gnashing their teeth over a post that they were unable or unwilling to comprehend.
As is, knee-jerk stupidity gets rewarded, and careful consideration of subtle distinctions gets banned.