Fundies, Stupid emails, keeping our mouths shut

[Thtwudbeme]

and creepy little senators with no chins that support *:

There are threads right now on DU that tell stories of our day to day dealings with Republicans, or emails that we have opened ("Pray for the troops!") and there are some posters trying to explain that being polite, or not answering is the correct way to handle this shit that we are being constantly exposed to right now.

What the HELL is going on? ANSWER them! Hit "reply all," speak up and say "I don't happen to agree with that," write to old Joe and tell him why you think he is a spineless jackass----and write to your Senators and TELL them that we are not interested in living in the Christian Rights version of a theocracy.

Are we going to lose friends, and piss off family members? Well, yeah...but, is it emotionally better to just sit at the computer and seethe in anger?? Is it better to let these clowns think they have a right to free speech...and we don't?

I am sick and tired of the namby pamby "be nice" people.

This society has gone to hell in a handbasket, and being polite about it is not going to help one damned bit.

[WoodrowFan]

1. Push Back!

I agree, PUSH BACK! Snopes and such are your friends. Debunk the crap and send back the debunking!

[Thtwudbeme]

2. And hit "Reply ALL"

don't just reply to the sender, tell them ALL.

[WoodrowFan]

4. Yes indeed. (NT)

[DK666]

3. Reply....

Mabey we need to start a militant Democratic Movement ?

Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war....

[MARALE]

5. Yes!!

These emails work on many that are guillable and there are a lot that are. It has worked to turn many against the ACLU and democrats. I used to ignore them, but now I do answer back with facts. But, they just are sent out to others anyway. Why don't I see many anti-republican, anti-war, pro-liberal emails? We need a campain that will get these and start sending them out. We need to be proactive instead of putting out little fires. I wish I knew someone that has the time and is good at writing these. Does anyone else know of people that can do this? We need to get this going before the next election. I am very serious about this.

[bryant69]

6. This is garbled

Should you take the most aggresive tone possible with your friends and family when it comes to defending liberalism? Well that depends on what your goal is. If you are seeking that addreneline rush that comes with getting in someones face, than I'd agree, your best option is to get in peoples face and shut them down.

But if your goal is to persuade others, well, than you might need a more nuanced approach. For some people a straightforward attack might be the best approach, but for others calm argument, building on common ground, might be a more effective approach.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Thtwudbeme]

7. Oh crap

if people don't want political arguments, then they shouldn't make the stupid assed comments they do, or send those ridiculous goddamned emails.

I disagree with you completely; I didn't used to, however, the nice Lieberman-esque approach hasn't worked very well, now has it?

If a person is grown up enough to make comments, or send emails, then they should expect replies. Fuck em.

Stephanie

[bryant69]

8. If you are making political arguments that's one thing

If you are making simplistic attacks than that's another.

[Thtwudbeme]

9. I was speaking of political arguments

respond with facts

[bryant69]

10. OK.

Than you have to ask yourself, what is more important, to present the arguement in such a way as to convince the most number of people or to present the argument in such a way as it makes you feel good and rightious inside.

You could be arguing that the forthright agressive arguement is, in fact, the best, most effective, way to argue. But it sounds more to me like you are arguing that it shouldn't matter how you present your ideas so long as the ideas are correct.

[Sterling]

12. If you have been on DU for 1000 posts and don't know how to respond to

Freeper madness I don't know what to tell you.

[bryant69]

14. IT depends on where it comes from

I have some conservative friends (which presumably makes me a secret freeper), and they forward stuff to me on occasion--depending on how stupid it is I respond or don't respond. I also respond pretty regularly to conservative rhetoric (in a sense that's what my website is all about).

How do you respond to freeper rhetoric?

[Sterling]

11. And hit "reply all" that really upsets them.

Most freepers are too dumb to use the BCC line to send emails so write a great response and send it to all their friends. You will be surprised how quick you will stop getting spammed with that stuff.

[Sugarcoated]

13. I never keep my mouth shut

I'm a pain in the ass, but I firmly believe you have to speak up EVERY TIME and at EVERY opportunity.

[KharmaTrain]

15. Sorry I Don't Speak Dittoese...

Last night I jumped into a chatroom and some Moran came parading in asking people "Wasn't that a great Speech" and spewing how spineless Democrats are and the usual right wing crap.

A couple of us ignored him at first, but then he started going into spew about Democrats not working and being on welfare and he was tired of paying for our abortions, welfare and social security. He bragged he was 28 and a "true Christian and Patriot".

My friend, who is as mellow as they come, jumped first...asking him why he hadn't enlisted. Of course he gave the "I would if I could..." and "I served" bullshit. My friend asked when and where. G.I. Joe said he was in Gulf Oil War I...served in Kuwait. Then my friend asked when was that. The Moran said he was there in 1993. 93? Eh? The fun was just starting...

I got my chance on the economy. I asked Mr. Dittohead what he did for a living. He claimed to own his own business and hated seeing all his profits go to taxes that went for welfare queens....blah blah. I said, OK...as a businessman, when do you file corporate taxes. He said "April 15th like everyone else". <chuckle>.

Then said how pissed I am about having to pay so much of my income in taxes...and he bragged how he had to pay $5,000 in taxes last year. I feigned indignation (I pay a LOT more than that)...then I asked if he paid quarterly. He said "of course". I then asked if he made his last payment when he was supposed to. He said his "bookkeeper" does those things. I said, but you have to sign the check to the IRS...don't you remember when you did that. It wasn't that long ago. He finally said he did so on Dec. 15th. (Buzzer. The last quarterly payment is due Jan. 15th...thanks for playing).

We toyed with him for a while...he even admitted he knew the invasion (even he used that word) wasn't going good and had been botched...then we played with Mr. Patriot. We asked how he would react if the Chinese had invaded this country and forced their system and elections on us. Would he vote or be an insurgent. It's an argument we use all the time, and ties these monkeys up in knots.

There's a lot of us being very quiet right now. Or better, we're being overshouted by a minority that knows their "rise" is based on immoral and fraudulent claims and will implode in their own conflicts and pettiness. Our job for now is to give them rope.

[Stirk]

16. I couldn't agree more.

If a person is comfortable forwarding these empty-headed political messages out in mass e-mails, they should be able to take the response- and everyone else on the list should see it. How many other people on that list disagreed on some level, but were afraid to say it? Responding to everyone on the list lets others know that they aren't alone in their doubts. It's vitally important. Isolated people are powerless people.

I've had the opportunity to hit "reply all" on more than one occasion, and I've certainly pissed some people off. But I've had alot more quiet "thank you"s.

[JanMichael]

17. What's interesting is that when you've done it they clam up.

So at least you know they've read your reply and simply don't have the ammo/brass to click "Send All" again.

I could not agree more.

[gollygee]

18. Absolutely

That's what the right-wingers have been doing and it's certainly worked for them. Well behaved people don't change the world.

[Seemann For Congress]

19. It's easy

I used to get crap from my dad all the time. So I would refute the entire e-mail and hit "Reply All".

At the TOP of each e-mail I would state "every time I get sent a right-wing e-mail, I will be replying to all of you. I'm saving your e-mail address and will be adding your name to the list of people I reply each and every time. You basically have two choices - take me off your list, or get put on a left-wing e-mail list of my making."

I don't get the right-wing spam anymore, and I even got several letters from people encouraging me, claiming they too were tired of the spam.