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WBC sinks to new low

Ignoring them will only work if we can convince the media, of all kinds, to ignore them, and for long enough for the WBC crew to get tired of the expense of going all around the country to spew their hateful message. Sadly, I don't see all elements of the media doing that.
 
Arisia said:
Ignoring them will only work if we can convince the media, of all kinds, to ignore them, and for long enough for the WBC crew to get tired of the expense of going all around the country to spew their hateful message. Sadly, I don't see all elements of the media doing that.
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And now there's an article in The Crapital Capital:

Linky.
 
Kestrel said:
Having to ignore idiots is the price we pay for free speech.
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That's a great pithy crystallization of the truth.

They can't bother us if we don't let them get under our skin.

They are very careful about following the letter of the law, which means the only thing we can do is to ignore them. Laugh if you want, but don't go out of your way to call attention to them.
 
Arisia said:
Ignoring them will only work if we can convince the media, of all kinds, to ignore them, and for long enough for the WBC crew to get tired of the expense of going all around the country to spew their hateful message. Sadly, I don't see all elements of the media doing that.
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Well, what can you do. Someone will always respond to trolls, but we don't have to add to it. The rest of us can still ignore it. Just pay attention to something else, anything else that interests you, and soon they will be out of your mind. And if anyone else mentions them to you, just point out that attention is what they want, and we don't have to pay them any attention: Voila, problem solved!
 
Puppycow said:
They can't bother us if we don't let them get under our skin.
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Order today to receive other gems of half-assed wisdom like "Bullies always run away if you stand up to them" and "Wasps won't sting you if you hold still."

Way I see it: these people want to be assaulted. There are other people who want to assault them. I say we give them a nice area to meet, give the police the afternoon off, and whatever happens, happens.
 
Sabrina said:
Didn't think it was possible? You're wrong.

Westboro Baptist will picket Ft. George G. Meade Middle School on April 14th, 2011.

A MIDDLE SCHOOL. Words cannot express how disgusted this makes me. Apparently Phelps and his brood got tired of being ridiculed and ignored, so they've decided to attack innocent children.

I'd like to call on all the skeptics in Maryland to head to the middle school (it's off post, which is why Phelps can get at it; he can't go on school grounds, naturally, but he can get to the school pretty easily) on the 14th and give Phelps the same treatment he got at DragonCon and other times. Turn his tactics against him with the silly signs.

I'm also curious if the Patriot Guard Riders might be interested in showing up; does anyone know if they have a local chapter near Ft. Meade? I can't help but imagine that seeing a bunch of motorcycles with flags waving will lift the spirits of the kids there and show them that most people in the US support their parents for the job they do.

I can't get off of work that day, unfortunately, or I'd be there myself. I hope that by letting you all know about this that it goes as viral as possible and we get tons of people to show up and counter Phelps' sick, twisted message with one of support for these kids' parents. Help me out, please?
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All I can is is: :rolleyes:

At this point, they have used up any interest people may have taken in their crazy antics. At this point, it's just becoming boring now.

I am not all that far from MD, as I am in York PA at the moment. I may go for the lulz. :D
 
Sledge said:
Order today to receive other gems of half-assed wisdom like "Bullies always run away if you stand up to them" and "Wasps won't sting you if you hold still."
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Fail. The WBC people just carry signs. They won't lay a finger on you. If they do, prosecute them, but they haven't and I don't expect they will.

Way I see it: these people want to be assaulted. There are other people who want to assault them. I say we give them a nice area to meet, give the police the afternoon off, and whatever happens, happens.
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Why do you hate the First Amendment?
 
Nihilianth said:
I was wondering something: Why do they not incur the costs of cities having to provide extra security for these douchebags?
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Why should they? Other than permit fees (where applicable), one has the right to demonstrate. The municipality is charged with keeping the peace.
 
Puppycow said:
Fail. The WBC people just carry signs. They won't lay a finger on you. If they do, prosecute them, but they haven't and I don't expect they will.
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... what? Are you ill? Where did I say "The WBC are running around beating people"? Are you confusing me with someone else?
Why do you hate the First Amendment?
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Don't know what that is, so I'll assume I'd hate it because it's fat.
 
Here's an interesting fact:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church#Funding
WBC's travel expenses alone exceed $200,000 annually.[152] According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Westboro is funded entirely by its congregation.[153] The church also makes money through lawsuits and legal fees.[153][154] For example, they sued the city of Topeka several times in the 1990s.[153] WBC received $16,500, and is pursuing another $100,000, in legal fees for a case won in court.[154] WBC is a government recognized religious institution, and is therefore tax exempt.[155]
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This is why ignoring them every time, would be a win.

They are paying real money to travel to Maryland for this protest, and they are counting on getting some kind of attention, and hopefully something that they can sue somebody over. If they are ignored, they can't sue anybody, and it's just wasted money for them and a win for the rest of us.
 
Sledge said:
... what? Are you ill? Where did I say "The WBC are running around beating people"? Are you confusing me with someone else?
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You compared my statement with statements about wasps and bullies. Were you not suggesting that the statements are analogous? If not, why did you bring up statements which you admit are not comparable with my statement?

Don't know what that is, so I'll assume I'd hate it because it's fat.
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My bad. I assumed you were an American. The First Amendment is the part of the United States constitution which guarantees freedom of speech.
 
Puppycow said:
You compared my statement with statements about wasps and bullies. Were you not suggesting that the statements are analogous?
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No.
If not, why did you bring up statements which you admit are not comparable with my statement?
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I was comparing it with other, equally silly, common statements.
My bad. I assumed you were an American.
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Well if we're going to insult each other...
The First Amendment is the part of the United States constitution which guarantees freedom of speech.
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Fine. Then I hate it because it's stupid, or perhaps more accurately because people are using it stupidly. Freedom of speech is a right to excercised with care and restraint. It's not a defense for shouting "fire!" in a crowded theatre, nor do I see why it should be a defense for a protest with no purpose other than pissing people off.
 
Hopefully, they were ignored and wasted their money going there to troll for lawsuits.
 
Anti-gay church outnumbered in Meade High protest

Hundreds show up to call for tolerance, schools divert buses to hide demonstration from students
(...)
The counter protestors, including a number of men dressed as Jesus, carried signs relaying the Christian icon's message of love and waving American flags.

The crowd cheered as members of the Freedom Riders motorcycle club passed the dueling protests at the intersection of Disney and Annapolis roads, revving their engines to drown out the shouts from church.
(...)
Members from several different Annapolis churches staged a "flash mob" piece of performance art, dressing in matching white T-shirts adorned with scripture. They sang and prayed for the members of the Kansas church.
(...)
The intended target of the Westboro protestors was the students who would be arriving to Meade between 6:45 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. However, county school officials rerouted buses to avoid the protest. The buses entered the school from Clark and Rochenbach roads. Students who normally walk to school were offered a bus, schools spokesman Bob Mosier said.
(...)
Ultimately, church members said they weren't concerned by the decisions to reroute the buses or the overwhelming number of counter protesters.

"You see, our images are all over the Internet. You think these kids don't know what we've got to tell them?" Phelps-Roper said.
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http://www.hometownannapolis.com/ne...church-outnumbered-in-Meade-High-protest.html
 
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