Posted on 12/14/2013 10:33:19 AM PST by The Bat Ladys Husband
First of all, let me say that I have been a lurker on FR since 2000. My wife (The Bat Lady) has been registered and a poster since the same time. I generally use FR as a news source and in years past as an info source for FR organized protests/demonstrations. I don’t generally comment on articles because I mostly agree and don’t need to preach to the choir. However one article fired me up and I finally register in August 2013.
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.
Sticks and Stones! But more disturbing to me is the rise what I like to call the FR-e. Those are the posters that think that because they have been on FR for a long time that they are some kind of royalty and that newcomer’ comments and insights have no validity if they do not parrot their particular perception. I was called a noob “prattling"
(prat·tle talk idly or childishly: to talk in a silly, idle, or childish way silly, idle, or childish talk)
Just because someone has recently discovered FR or recently joined after lurking they prattle? Oops, my bad, I guess they don’t prattle if they agree with the pompous long-term freeper. Maybe we could cut back on the fundraisers if we encouraged new members rather than drive them off or turned them off with vitriolic discourse and vicious name-calling
(vit·ri·ol·ic adjective - filled with the intention or desire to do evil.)
If you haven’t looked at the Home page (click Free republic at the top left of the browse page) I invite you to look again: Jim Robinson states: “Believing that the best defense is a strong offense, we (myself and those whom I'm trying to attract to FR) support...”
Jim is trying to attract people to FR. How does denigrating a new reader attract them to FR? Being a victim of a verbal knock-out game by a supercilious FR-e certainly does not encourage a "newbie" to participate or even hang around
(su·per·cil·i·ous adjective 1. behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others.)
Certainly all long time members don’t fit this category but those who do know who you are (or maybe you don’t) and so do we.
Agreed. As throughout the internet, there’s a contingent in FR that vents a lot of venom and hatred (personal problems guised behind political rants). These are those who forget what we and America stand for: ardent vigilance but respect for the dignity of the individual; a free society but also a well-mannered society. This is what our founders lived and died for.
Damn noobs
From a quick glance, I agree. Stockman sounds like a great conservative but not a viable candidate. One does not make the other and vice versa.
Not that the situation can’t change, but as of right now Stockman’s got alot of work to do.
Isn't it great to see the rise in monthly donors?
IB4TZ.
No fun until you try posting during election cycles — against candidate A or B or C or D.
The ‘incoming’ can be massive and you need a thick skin and asbestos underware.
==
But, that is part of the ‘culture of the Internet.’ You either accept it and continue or not.
I lurked since 1773, but only registered in 1998.
Slacker! ;-)
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!
Okay, thanks. I am not trying to pump up my “seniority” in here, the year go by fast, sometimes it is hard to remember.
That is exactly what I am saying, but an fr-e thinks the validity is dependent.
What a treat, thanks! And I’m only 48...
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