Freedom of Speech

[Just Dave]

I love all the posts I read on this site. The information, tips, tricks, advice, wealth of knowledge, and camaraderie are awesome! All the political views and opinions voiced here are right on with the way most of us think. A virtual "home away from home" where people like us can go and associate with our own kind in an atmosphere of comfort and acceptance.
Therein lies one tiny problem. We are preaching to the choir. Sure this is a great rally point for support and reassurance, but the uninformed, fence sitters and staunch opponents don't come here and read our posts. They don't want to hear what we have to say. Granted, we would welcome them and their opinions which they have a right to voice, and we could show them where their views of us are not accurate. Maybe we could even win-over a precious few. How many more might we reach if we went to their sites and with dignity, truth and a level headed peaceful attitude, show them our ways. Show them that proud patriotic Americans with a desire and means to defend ourselves and our country are not the enemy. I'm sure some of them may not let our posts be seen but would it hurt to try?
One of our rights is that of freedom of speech. Even if someone has something to say that I don't like or agree with, I will defend their right to say it. Only by defending the rights of all, whether we like them or not, can we be truly free. The rights of one being denied jeopardizes all rights for everyone. How many of their sites practice this ideology? How many of us would be willing to give it a try and find out?
I may be seen as uneducated or naive, but this is my honest and humble opinion / train of thought.
I welcome all comments, criticisms, suggestions etc.

 

[Nightmare45]

I agree, I will not change the minds of anyone and they will not change mine, how about just don't care.

 

[R O Bill]

Changing someone else's mind is a very dificult task !! My goal in discussing gun matters with those who oppose guns, is to educate them. Perhaps by enlightening them we can, at least, provide them with a fresh perspective.

 

[localgirl]

You know, my mind HAS been changed by frequenting this site.

Initially, it helped me clarify my political ideas, and encouraged me to adopt a more conservative viewpoint.

However, after reading post after post, day after day, full of ridiculous emotional nonsense about the liberal conspiracy, the doom of our nation, the absolute worthlessness of anyone who doesn't believe EXACTLY what you believe...well, I'm beginning to turn left again.

Witnessing the childish, illogical, hateful vitriol spewed here everyday has finally made me give up.

 

[Rhino]

....Therein lies one tiny problem. We are preaching to the choir. Sure this is a great rally point for support and reassurance, but the uninformed, fence sitters and staunch opponents don't come here and read our posts....

Yes they do. I've run several forums and I own one myself. This forum isn't set up to display who's online but I guarantee the number of visitors way outnumbers the number of members at almost any time during the day or night. As for how much attention each thread is getting, read the number of views for each thread compared to the number of posts. Don't confuse the number of posts on this site with the amount of attention that they're getting. You'd be very surprised if you could see how many people actually view these threads as opposed to how many post in them. Granted, it would be nice to have a larger audience, but don't assume the one we have is all that limited now. Take it from a forum owner who's been able to see how many people view from the sidelines. Your audience is a whole lot bigger than you think.

 

[fstroupe]

You know, my mind HAS been changed by frequenting this site.

Initially, it helped me clarify my political ideas, and encouraged me to adopt a more conservative viewpoint.

However, after reading post after post, day after day, full of ridiculous emotional nonsense about the liberal conspiracy, the doom of our nation, the absolute worthlessness of anyone who doesn't believe EXACTLY what you believe...well, I'm beginning to turn left again.

Witnessing the childish, illogical, hateful vitriol spewed here everyday has finally made me give up.

If you think that it's bad here, go to pretty much any liberal forum, regardless of the type.

 

[SR40c]

You know, my mind HAS been changed by frequenting this site.

Initially, it helped me clarify my political ideas, and encouraged me to adopt a more conservative viewpoint.

However, after reading post after post, day after day, full of ridiculous emotional nonsense about the liberal conspiracy, the doom of our nation, the absolute worthlessness of anyone who doesn't believe EXACTLY what you believe...well, I'm beginning to turn left again.

Witnessing the childish, illogical, hateful vitriol spewed here everyday has finally made me give up.

So let me get this straight... You don't think there is a socialist progressive liberal agenda intent on taking this country down to what amounts to a European crap hole across the pond?

I for one do not care what other people think as long as they aren't expecting me to pay for their ineptness and or laziness. As long as they aren't trying to strip me of my constitutional rights. As long as they aren't trying to blame me for something that happened over 150 years ago and expecting me to pay for that too.

By all means, go back to the left, sounds like you "might" fit right in. If it's so bad in this forum, by all means, don't let the proverbial door hit you in the symbol of the democrat.

I try not to lash out like that, but that post has about as much denial of the facts as it can get.

 

[dcselby1]

I often pass on information gleaned here (and elsewhere). Not so much as to try and "change people's minds," but just to make them think. And, it HAS worked.

 

[localgirl]

So let me get this straight... You don't think there is a socialist progressive liberal agenda intent on taking this country down to what amounts to a European crap hole across the pond?

I for one do not care what other people think as long as they aren't expecting me to pay for their ineptness and or laziness. As long as they aren't trying to strip me of my constitutional rights. As long as they aren't trying to blame me for something that happened over 150 years ago and expecting me to pay for that too.

By all means, go back to the left, sounds like you "might" fit right in. If it's so bad in this forum, by all means, don't let the proverbial door hit you in the symbol of the democrat.

I try not to lash out like that, but that post has about as much denial of the facts as it can get.

No, what changed my mind were guys like you being all nasty instead of having a logical, rational conversation. So, once I was leaning pretty conservative, now I'm leaning more liberal, and if you want to know whose fault that is, just hang around the "Politics" section of this forum.

The funny thing is, all it would have taken to change my mind and have an ally is a little civility.

I guess the thing you have to ask yourself is, do you WANT half the country to be made up of left-leaning liberals, or do you WANT more people to think like you? Because if you want to gain friends, you need to use a carrot, not a stick. If you would prefer to galvanize the left wing, just keep doing what you're doing.

 

[SR40c]

Really? Wasn't being nasty, just being honest. If the truth is nasty, so be it. Still waiting for a rebuttal about your version of the facts.

The left are the ones who are close minded. They are the ones play the label game. Give it a rest.

 

[Rhino]

No, what changed my mind were guys like you being all nasty instead of having a logical, rational conversation. So, once I was leaning pretty conservative, now I'm leaning more liberal, and if you want to know whose fault that is, just hang around the "Politics" section of this forum.

The funny thing is, all it would have taken to change my mind and have an ally is a little civility.

I guess the thing you have to ask yourself is, do you WANT half the country to be made up of left-leaning liberals, or do you WANT more people to think like you? Because if you want to gain friends, you need to use a carrot, not a stick. If you would prefer to galvanize the left wing, just keep doing what you're doing.

I think it would be unfair to judge conservatism in general by what you observe here. I'm a longtime contributor to to internet conservative discussion and my own web site, though currently inactive, is a conservative discussion site. I can tell you that this site is not at all indicative of mainstream conservatism in America.

 

[localgirl]

Really? Wasn't being nasty, just being honest. If the truth is nasty, so be it. Still waiting for a rebuttal about your version of the facts.

The left are the ones who are close minded. They are the ones play the label game. Give it a rest.

There are no facts to rebut. You were expressing general statements that are largely opinion. And you're entitled to it. I'm not even saying I disagree with your ideas, I'm saying that if you want people to agree with you, you need to be a little more agreeable in your language, tone, and attitude.

 

[fstroupe]

I guess the thing you have to ask yourself is, do you WANT half the country to be made up of left-leaning liberals, or do you WANT more people to think like you? Because if you want to gain friends, you need to use a carrot, not a stick. If you would prefer to galvanize the left wing, just keep doing what you're doing.

Which is exactly why so few people are actually hardcore liberals. Spend a few hours with Chris Matthews, Keith Obermann, or Bill Maher if you want to know what nasty is. That is why liberal talk radio just can't make it...such nastiness just isn't entertaining.

Most of the nastiness I've found here is due to trolls. Most people can't handle the fringe stuff that you are seeing discussed. (i.e., liberal media, communist takeover of the US, details of Obama's birth certificate, etc) Believe it or not, read it or not, but don't make your assessment of what ideology you believe in based on that. That stuff really isn't intended for the average forum member. Feel free to read if you want to be informed, but be aware that most of us have spent hundreds of hours researching and being informed of stuff that you probably don't know about. I myself have spent over 30 years in politics and spent literally thousands of hours researching these topics.

 

[Rayb]

You know, my mind HAS been changed by frequenting this site.

Initially, it helped me clarify my political ideas, and encouraged me to adopt a more conservative viewpoint.

However, after reading post after post, day after day, full of ridiculous emotional nonsense about the liberal conspiracy, the doom of our nation, the absolute worthlessness of anyone who doesn't believe EXACTLY what you believe...well, I'm beginning to turn left again.

Witnessing the childish, illogical, hateful vitriol spewed here everyday has finally made me give up.

Every group, without fail, has a fringe element that goes too far and is completely intolerant, conservatives and no different in that respect. What you need to take in is the general mindset of the community and not focus on individual flaws. What reflects your views and core beliefs?

I found this forum fairly recently find many of the discussions give me food for thought, and while I don't agree with all I read, I use it all to help form my opinions or to further research an issue so I can decide for myself as well as share my opinion and invite opposing views.

I think as a whole you will find more acceptance and open minded people on the right and more much hate and intolerance on the left. Spend some time in forums on the other side of the spectrum and I think you will agree with that. At the end of the day no forum should be the what forms your thought process and defines who you are, they are just a place to share and discuss your views once you know who you are and what you believe.

 

[fuhr52]

Discussions on here are not going to change the mind of people on the far left or the far right. The only ones that might be swede will be the moderates. These people for the most part are sitting on the fence with their finger in the wind. They will be some what open minded. It takes courage to believe the truth, especially when the facts go against your ideology. leasantry:

 

[DavidH1]

The First Amendment gives us the freedom of speech, it also gives the freedom to keep quiet. More should exercise the latter.

 

[Ringo]

Ignorance is much more difficult to hide than it is to acquire knowledge. If vacillating back and forth in ones belief system depends on "attitude" instead of the facts/truth, that one vacillating is in desperate need of a mind of their own.

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