Lando 
Posted on 04/20/2005 9:22:15 AM PDT by GOPcapitalist
I'll keep this short and simple. After six years of membership on FR I've decided to resign from the forum today. I'll keep checking my freepmail for a few days and wind down my posts here, so if any of you wish to contact me please do so there and I will provide you with a means to do so. I hope to continue future posting activities elsewhere - perhaps a blog - but only time will tell.
It's truly been a blast and left me with many fond memories, but all good things had to come to an end. My favorites comprise a long list, the most noted being the exposition of Rathergate, leading freeps of Algore in the 2000 recounts, protesting Hildebeast's book tour, and giving her impeached husband a freeper's welcome to Texas on several of his visits. Thank you to all who made these events fun and entertaining. Unfortunately the past few months have made it clear to me that FR and I are drifting apart on key issues of conservatism. I'll spare the details, pausing only to state that it isn't just the usuals like illegal immigration, but also things like religion, the culture of political correctness, an overall decline in reasoned civil conversation that used to flourish here, and the purposes and uses of the site in general. More concerning, for the past few months I have been unable to even obtain rational discourse and commentary on many routine threads and issues without being personally maligned and attacked - many times out of the blue and on topics unrelated to the given thread - by a small, petty-minded, and vitriolic group of posters who conduct themselves in a manner unbefitting of what this forum used to be when I joined in 1999, and do so with apparent impunity.
I also find that I simply don't have the time to post as much as I once did, and regrettably so.
I'll leave it at that, as my fond memories outweigh the unpleasant ones. A time arises when parting courses on friendly terms is best before something less desirable arises. Therefore I have volunteered my resignation. To everyone who has made my FR experience enjoyable, I thank you and wish you only the best.
A true FReeper takes pride in those battlescars.
If the wimp wants to leave, let him go.
I also have just left my wife. She occasionally says thtings that I do not agree with.
I just resigned my golf membership, too, as the traps are not raked the way they used to be, which was much better.
Whew! I feel so much better having severed ties with these sources of irritation.
HEY GOPCAPITALIST - DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YA WHERE THE GOOD LORD SPLIT YA!
You know you'll be pulled back in after a break.
I would say the last couple of years. I know how GOP feels. I have mentioned a number of times to my wife how FR has changed and not for the better. I started lurking in 98 and became a member in 99, and I think the biggest changes have been the growth of a cult of personality around some people(my guy can do no wrong and must always be supported), the "my way or the highway" tone and the childish name calling of some of the newer members.
FR used to be a site where conservatives, libertarians and even the ocassional stray, introspective Liberal alike could discuss issues rationally and agree to disagree civily, sadly that is not always the case anymore. Without opening up nasty wounds I think that some of the discussions of the Schavio case were indicative of what I am talking about. Adolph Hitler was called a Nazi less times that some of us were during that time, and all because we did not stick exactly to the party line as espoused by some on here. And of course what makes that so interesting to anyone who knows history is that that is exactly what the Nazi's(and communist, marxists, facists etal) used to do to those who disagreed or today disagree with them.
Unlike GOP though I have faith that over time FR will return to it's roots. I have seen some positive signs and hope to continue to see more. As a news and opinion site even with its warts FR is still the best out there. I pray that the older timers do not jump ship and that we do not let it get highjacked by hotheads and demogues.
Good Luck, I hope you come back!
Yep. Thanks for all the fun! Freepmail me if you want my email etc.
Pretty SOON, there'll be so FEW of us, that we'll be decreed to be Schiavo'ed as useless posters who have no feeding frenzy value.
Since you've decided to go, how 'bout if you start another thread titled 'FR then vs. FR now, how far have we strayed'? Of COURSE, it might get zotted or have the VK's on yer butt, but if you're going anyway......
I agree, though I haven't left yet. I have curtailed my posting since early 2001 to almost nothing.
Reading the threads is not typically what I come here to do anymore. I rarely go past the article and 1-4 posts before I go back and select another one. It seems no one wants to discuss the article as much as they want to scream about it.
And...loving it.
Just a matter of time how long one lasts (if they don't post under an alias)
Who are you again?
Thank you! :)And yes. "You've got Freepmail!"
I will never, NEVER understand that mentality.
Couldn't be because of me I haven't insulted you LATELY. Of course if you missed it I'll throw in a couple of gratuitous slams so you can stick around.
A prominent Freeper (whom I will not name, but regular Freepers would recognize him instantly) gave his glorious opus a couple of weeks ago.
Someone responded to him, and he answered (unbeknownst to him but too late) under his new screenname.
I decided not to blow the whistle and call attention to it.
No telling how many have left, made a big show of it, and then immediately signed up under a new screen name.
LOL! It's definitely not you. :-)
Stay well and come back soon.
Lando
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