I know it has nothing to do with politics or the discussion at hand, but threads always do better with pretty girl pics added.
At least, that has been my experience...I mean, have you ever seen the Ann Coulter threads?
Posted on 04/01/2005 6:32:12 PM PST by Mr Rogers
Well folks, this is it. I've been called a baby-murderer because I've posted that Laser Guided Bombs work better when dropped from above 15,000 feet. I've been accused of not caring about 'grunts' for advocating air power, in spite of having a daughter & son-in-law in the Marines and a son in Iraq with the Army. I've been accused (and this HURT!) of being an Army officer because I've advocated increasing the size of the Army.
I've been accused of being a clintoon-pansy because I don't like how Rumsfeld works acquisition and disagree with him on the size of the military. I've been accused of being a Bush-bot for supporting Bush on the economy, and a DU troll for disagreeing with Bush on immigration. And this McClintock supporter took a lot of grief ( and gave a bit back) during the CA Gov race.
I've read a lot of strange posts on Free Republic - anyone remember the various appearances of Ash, or the Ash-alerts? I've seen attacks so filled with emotion and so devoid of reason that I thought my daughter's Mother-in-Law was posting her emails to me (good thing Yahoo has spam reporting!)
So this is it - I'm staying.
Sorry.
Why?
1) When someone spews vitriol, they discredit themselves, not me. Most folks understand that someone screaming obscenities isn't engaging in rational thought.
2) Open forums are hard to keep clean. Someone can sign up and post...and they may be an idiot or a disruptor. And most of them post a while, get banned, return under a new name, get banned again - or just drop off after 6 months when no one seems to care about their stupidity.
3) This is my first choice for news. I'd have gone nuts during the 2000 post election without Free Republic. I can see news from all over the world, and chose which ones I read. I can also read other folks views on the news. Truth is, some folks are very stupid - and someone insists on helping them post. Others are very intelligent & obviously have a special background providing rare insight. It is up to me to distinguish between the two.
4) The moderators try. Sometimes folks need to blow off some steam. Sometimes they go over the line. But FR has been more successful than most at allowing passion that pushes the line and sometimes crosses it - but doesn't always cross the line. You want to see unrestrained stupidity, try Democratic Underground.
5) It isn't my life. It IS my homepage, but it isn't my life. If I get too pissed, it is time for a run, time for my family, time for a cold one - just not time to quit.
Sorry to know some good people are leaving. Wish they would wait a month or two and then return. But if not, that is their choice. Staying is mine.
See y'all sometime on a thread about the military, elections, culture - who knows. But don't even THINK about scaring me off. Did I mention I donate monthly to Free Republic? Figure the entertainment alone is worth it...add in news, and I'm getting good value for my dollar. Better than the value I'm getting from my taxes...
Dont worry things get super heated around here. I have noticed the same thing too around here lately.
There are even some fifth column types that are particularly successful.
From one class of 98 dude to another, this site has seen worse.
OORAH..HOOAH...AND Thumbs Up dude
Mr. "Wahoo" Waturi
You seem like an OK kind of guy. I feel the the same way.
I've been attacked now and then myself, but this is nothing like the rougher parts of the internet.
But I do wonder about all these bye-bye posts on April 1. Maybe I'm naturally suspicious, but why today?
I feel like not quitting too.
Muttly like people who don't run.
You nice.
Have some Kibble.
More people need to get a grip on this, welcome un-back
Now that was low. Who would do such a thing?!
I've been here longer than the recent quitters.
Stamping your feet and decrying the 'end of the world' seems fairly childish to me. I've seen worse.
FR will go on. I'll either be here, or not.
Don't expect that it makes a whip of difference, either way.
Glad to see you're still in the Neighborhood.
I don't have too many burn marks from the flame wars. I was pretty much astounded at some of the things some of these folks said. A few times I could not refrain from speaking on the matters at hand, and that was pure hell.
Geez, folks, seriously though, don't leave. We still have lots of good stuff to offer, and I'm not exactly a long-term member on here.
(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,
LoL....
Ah, the voice of sanity! Especially the part about it being your homepage and not your life. (No offense, JR!)
With three little ones under seven, I deal with enough whining and tantrums. No need to see grownups do it online.
Good non-opus. I give it a 9. :)
(FReeper since 5/2/01)
One question.
Who is McClintock?
We Class of '98 folks need to stick together! ;-)
I know it has nothing to do with politics or the discussion at hand, but threads always do better with pretty girl pics added.
At least, that has been my experience...I mean, have you ever seen the Ann Coulter threads?
Stay out of my cave!!
Gee, Im not here for a few hours and this whole place is going nuts.....who all quit today?
:-)
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