My Freeper encounter.....

[Jamnt]

So I take my boys to a cub scout camp-out, not many people show. Five dads around the campfire and 4 of us start talking politics, one happens to be my stepdaughters former english teacher - he has a masters. You guessed it, big time freeper. One of the other dads a vocal democrat, the other a repug, so its two on two. (The smart one stayed silent, if that's really smart in this day and age). I should mention I'm in rural Ohio, bible belt, but abortion didn't enter the arguments.
The subject turns to Katrina, and this masters says something like "The government told them to get on the bus, they didn't, but now they want the governments help". It really was one of those surreal moments. Just how the fuck do you respond to such callousness? So I said something like "Just because someone had bad judgment or even was stupid about leaving, does that mean we shouldn't have compassion and try to help?" Yep....crickets....
The subject turns to the war and I say "There's some evidence coming out that indicates Bush and company knew before the war that there were no WMD's" The masters states something like "I can't stand democratic politicians who supported the war and voted for it, and now oppose it" Again, my mind swoons as to just which one of a thousand arguments I should use to combat this illogic. So I say "Well, I think theres a big difference between being misled and voting for the war and intentionally deceiving everyone so you can start a war, a really big difference" Again...crickets.... Did I mention this guy has a fucking Masters degree?

It went on like that for a while and I began to understand something about these arguments. I used to be, and sometimes still am, like the vocal liberal who sided with me..angry and ready to let everyone know it. But in trying to be tactful, I found myself using facts and evidence against emotional ideology. And it was working, if not for him, then for me. I felt better about how I was interacting with someone I, at some level, really feel is part of the problem. I guess the moral here is that you can even learn something from a Freeper...who knew?
:crazy: :crazy:

[tanyev]

1. Condi Rice even disagrees with him re: Katrina

When Mr. Olmert responded to her request to suspend airstrikes for 48 hours by saying that Israel had warned residents to evacuate, Ms. Rice shook her head, according to two American officials.

“Look, we’ve had this experience, with Katrina, and we thought we were doing it right,” she reportedly said. “But we learned that many people who want to leave can’t leave.”

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2447197

[Cha]

18. Wow, I can't believe rice

acknowledged that..cause they're so bullshit propoganda 24/7.

[poverlay]

2. Good job. I get into those situations a lot. Wish I could just slap them

a few times though. Guess that's the difference between them and us...

[Sherman A1]

4. Agreed

but you have to slap them with the facts in an unemotional method. It is really the only thing that has any prospect of working. We can change the minds of those who are willing to listen to logic and facts. The ones that refuse to do so, simply will not change no matter what we say or do, so they simply become entertaining to practice upon. As Sgt. Joe Friday always said "just the facts......"

[eleny]

3. Good for you!

It feels nice when you can keep control and then say just the right thing to bring sense and compassion to a discussion. You have a masters in communication!

[tinfoil tiaras]

5. i think this guy's Masters should be revoked...

like seriously. If he keeps on saying stupid shit like that....

Oh, BTW, welcome to DU! :hi:

[Blue Belle]

9. Bush has a masters degree too...

that doesn't prevent him from being stupid.

[tinfoil tiaras]

16. holy shit!

:o

[Blue Belle]

22. From HARVARD no less...

the best education Daddy... er... money can buy!

[cmd]

6. Sounds like you met my friend Scott

or someone just like him. Are you in Knox Co.? I'm always looking for DUers in the 18th. Gotta get Zack elected this year. And, welcome to DU.

[Jamnt]

14. I'm in Richland county....and thanks....

I don't post much but I've been coming to DU everyday for the past 8 or 9 months.

[slor]

7. "Just because someone had bad judgment ..."

I take issue with that. There were many that could not leave. And plenty that thought that the levees would hold, which they would have if the chimp had not shortchanged the work on them. You are right to encourage compassion, but do not lend credibility to the rw talking points by mentioning "bad judgment" on the part of the victims.

[Jamnt]

11. That statement was a response to the opinon of the person I was talking to

not a reflection on what I felt or thought. It was my attempt to unbias his opinion by using his opinion against him.

[TwentyFive]

8. Congratulations! You are a great example to the kids.

Kids have an awfully sharp memory when they see their parents interacting with other adults. Parents who say, "Do as I say, not as I do." end up with kids, who do as they saw done. Of course, no parent is perfect, but kids will look for the more positive examples.

[chemp]

10. A freeper with a Master in ENGLISH!!!!!

How is that possible?
They're all blithering idiots over there.
translated for the freeper:
there all blistering morans over thier.

[rock]

12. Your lips are moving, but I don't hear a thing

Of course, I suffer from cognitive dissonance.

[Guaranteed]

13. A good response would have been...

"How are you going to fit someone's house on a bus?"

[crim son]

15. I had a "discussion" with a local surgeon, over a glass of wine.

Needless to say, he was a repuke (like my father, also a doctor) and seemingly intelligent. Imagine my surprise when he started spouting as his defense of the Pretzel all the overused talking points that have been pretty much debunked even by some members of this Administration. I stayed calm and rebutted every point he attempted to make. His voice rose and rose and I kept apace! Eventually he stormed of in a huff. Friends of ours shook their heads sympathetically, saying it was impossible to persuade this man that the Pretzel is anything but God. Funny thing. About an hour later he was back. He said, "You defend yourself very well. I admit it; you made some pretty good points." I was amazed. No, I didn't convert him from being republican, but I think I did release him from the prison of supporting *. One uninformed repuke at a time, folks.

[Subdivisions]

17. Amen to that!

:D

[leftchick]

19. hey, bush has a master's degree as well

nuff said.

[jedr]

20. Can never understand when teachers support Bush;

Because public education and good pensions are two things that the repubs want to do away with. Does he want his fellow teachers teaching in a Church basement for 25K/yr with no benefits? I.m sure he wouldn't have worked for that, but that is the neocon dream. To paraphrase " A teacher voting Republican is like a chicken voting for Col. Sanders".

[maveric]

21. They got nuthin! I'm seem to win every argument I have with freeps.

All their talking points have been exhausted and proven to be bullshit. Many that I try to have a discussion with, wont even talk anymore.
They got NUTHIN!

[agincourt]

23. Many purchased degrees out there,

especially from high profile wealthy families. Education has been a business for many years and it's real easy to scam.