A Comment on the Atmosphere of FR

A concerned FReeper | December 30, 2004 | K1avg

[K1avg]

For the past several months, fate has conspired to keep me away from the computer. I haven't posted nearly as much on FR as I used to. With the holidays, though, I've had an opportunity to catch up a bit.

What I found on my return is a bit disconcerting. While there's always been an element here that refuses to reason and does little more than insult Democrats and RINOs, it seems that this mentality has taken over a large portion of our membership. I've encountered more shrill, radical nonsense in the past couple of days than I had in the months before my absence.

Certainly it's acceptable to gloat a bit after our enormous gains on November 2, but I do believe it's about time to get back to normal business.

Referring to Democrats as “Rats” or some variant thereof may be somewhat amusing, but seeing the reference in nearly every other post really gets annoying at times. Pet names for Democrats and RINOs may be funny the first time, but quickly get old. It's one thing to respect someone, and it's certainly acceptable to not do so for one reason or another, but it's never alright to be downright incivil.

Just the other day, I was in an argument here with some other members who were supporting Yanukovych over Yushchenko because Yush had pledged to remove Ukraine's 1600-some-odd-strong force from Iraq and was *gasp* more liberal than Yanukovych. Seriously, that's absurd. I'd be happy to debate with you here, but anyone can tell you Yushchenko as president will be much better for the Ukrainian people, our interests in Iraq be damned.

But I'm getting away from the subject at hand. These are just a few examples of the devolution of discourse here. While everyone is certainly allowed to have their own opinions, there is a certain level of civility that should be maintained, regardless of the context.

This is the sort of stuff you find at DU, not here. I recognize there's plenty of good, civil users here, and I'm thankful for that. To those guilty, though, it would be nice if you could tone it down a bit.

I love being here. Things like the Undead Thread, Daily Dose, and crushkerry's Lib Pundit tournament, along with the usual daily banter of normal news, makes FR like no other political site on the web. Let's keep it that way. Thanks for your time, and have a lovely day.

[MeekOneGOP]

haha! Yeah!

CG added another one. Look at the one that begins with "Sand".

:^D

[K1avg]

Beautiful. Thanks.

[Syncro]

If only my Turbo-Walker wasn't on the fritz, I'd run you down and you would have tennis ball marks all over you!

BOTH of you, you young whippersnappers you...

[Syncro]

Look at the one to the left of that one...

[Lazamataz]

it would be nice if you could tone it down a bit.

I want to make bone-daggers out of your ribcage.

[Conspiracy Guy]

keyword

[MeekOneGOP]

:^)

[Conspiracy Guy]

Good one.

[MeekOneGOP]

:^)

[harrowup]

I want to make bone-daggers out of your ribcage.

Now, you're sounding like that sociopath, Ztwo, aka The Maggot Prince.

Happy New Year and on earth, peace.

[Lazamataz]

HUP! Happy New Year to u 2 mister! :o)

[Jon Alvarez]

good for you...I still think liberal traitors showing up in Dc on Jan 20th should be tarred and feathered.

[pke]

Did you mean pics like these? /flee

Yeah, that one really sucks!

[MaxMax]

Yeah, that one really sucks!

I know, I'm really ashamed of myself. Please forgive me.
heh.

[pke]

Happy New Year!

[Churchillspirit]

" Ash? "

Yes! Thank you.

[Churchillspirit]

Thank you.

[Churchillspirit]

"pcl????"

This one could also be a maverick, but thanks to some other posts I now recall that the name I was thinking of was 'Ash'.

Thanks.

[Churchillspirit]

Thanks, Fiddlstix.