The Free Talk Live BBS
Free Talk Live => General => Topic started by: Jetfire on May 12, 2009, 03:11:05 AM
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ok so I'm amazed... I went to my first libertarian meeting comprised of 38 ppl at round table. I learned about the group through meetup.com.
These people kept talking about government conspiracies like chemtrails, new world order, and 9/11. They were spawning these ideas to make a newsletter to give to random ppl at malls and such.
They sounded like a bunch of wack jobs no matter who you would talk to. I mean even if they had decent arguements to make the american masses would just right them off as nut jobs.
I could understand having some minor things to ease them in and reel their curiosity in but thats just too much.
I think something like how the fed works and inflation and hidden taxes would make more sense to spread if it even would make a difference.
These people are talking about holding up signs for certain protests and such but to me it just doesnt seem like it would be effective in the least.
I made a few forum posts and when i made it to the meeting practically led the discussions halfway through but it was ridiculous imo.
I know I'm not the most persuasive person in the world or the most intelligent but they were talking about needing someone like me to help man the group. (Nice boost of ego but made me feel hopeless for them.)
I thought libertarians would be compromised of mostly intellectuals with common sense.
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I feel your pain. My wife was at the teaparty in Phoenix and sadly there were a group of people in Ron Paul shirts marching around and shouting slogans through a bullhorn. It sees they went out of their way to shout speakers down and label people as "Neocons", which may be true but it didn't win any hearts or minds. Then they started yelling that 9/11 was an inside job. Again, we may not have the whole truth about 9/11, but they were just coming off as a bunch of kooks. My wife, who has been trying to nudge her family members in the direction of Ron Paul felt really embarrassed.
One person near my wife turned to them and said, "I support Ron Paul, but you're giving him a bad name!" What a shame...
Don't give up though. Try to point people towards respectable intellectual powerhouses like the Mises Institute and just do your best to disassociate yourself from those who are obnoxious without giving up on things like the Campaign for Liberty, FFF, etc.
I've all but given up on the LP. I've also given up any hope that the GOP will ever come around, but working through them is more likely to educate many times more people than a third party at this point.
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I mean even if they had decent arguements to make the american masses would just right them off as nut jobs.
Same problem with British libertarians as well as that they seem to only want to sit around & debate & debate & intellectually masturbate.
No libertarian is going to be leading any charge for liberty
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As much as the conspiracy people are a thorn in my side, i can understand why they go that route. Sometimes, the crushing weight of all the tyranny around is leaves up pretty damn hopeless. I don't know about you guys, but there are plenty of times i just sit back and think.. we are neck deep in a stinking pile of shit and i have no idea how to stop these forces around me. The odds are just overwhelming, and it defeats a mans spirit. You could put hundreds of hours of dedicated work in to your cause, and gain nothing more than the respect of a few people.
The conspiracy must be some sort of escape, or a desperation thing. (or peoples minds getting carried away) Which is why i can understand their grasp for truth.
Of course, if i had to think of one thing i agreed with Ian on most.. it would be that we need to avoid the defeatist mentality in spite of all the BS around us. I try my best to do so, but its really difficult.
In regards to the intellectuals not being at LP meetings, i think its a vicious cycle of conspiracy theorists attracting their own, and repelling the real people.
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I agree that the conspiracy folks are a pox on the liberty movement. And, I've been to countless LP meetings that were nothing more than debating societies.
I'm not sure what can be done, other than the FSP.
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I mean even if they had decent arguements to make the american masses would just right them off as nut jobs.
Same problem with British libertarians as well as that they seem to only want to sit around & debate & debate & intellectually masturbate.
Not just intellectually, either!
No libertarian is going to be leading any charge for liberty
I did get some people interested in going down to London to protest those bank bailouts your supported (Since the last time I caught the train to London it cost £57, there was no way I was going unless I knew others would be there), but by the time a few people were on board, it was too close to the date. My bad, probably, I left it too late to organise.
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"Libertarian" is a relative term (i.e. Obama is more libertarian than Stalin, Bob Barr is more libertarian than Obama, etc).
It's a wide-tent movement intended to push in the general libertarian direction, one step at a time.
Some participants will want to push farther than others, but we're comrades for now.
Politeness to well-intentioned people is an important virtue.
A journey of 10,000 miles begins with the first step.
Don't let "perfect" be the enemy of "good".
Rome wasn't built in a day.
Peace out.
:?
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"Libertarian" is a relative term (i.e. Obama is more libertarian than Stalin, Bob Barr is more libertarian than Obama, etc).
It's a wide-tent movement intended to push in the general libertarian direction, one step at a time.
Some participants will want to push farther than others, but we're comrades for now.
Politeness to well-intentioned people is an important virtue.
A journey of 10,000 miles begins with the first step.
Don't let "perfect" be the enemy of "good".
Rome wasn't built in a day.
Peace out.
:?
Strange. The content of your post was nothing like anything NHArticleTen would say, but the format...? Suspiciously triangular post theire, man!
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I'm polite to them but there is no way they are gonna win people over with conspiracy theories. Kinda makes the word "libertarian" lose credibility in my opinion.
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There are Democrats who think racist language should be outlawed. Republicans who think you should get the death penalty for smoking pot. Both groups of people are in favor of creating a more authoritarian government than the one we have, legislating their wackiness. And Libertarians are the ones who get a bad rap because some of them simply believe wacky things? How much sense does that make?
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Well the masses watch t.v. Just how it is. Some people are just blind and have to be eased into certain topics.
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Well the masses watch t.v. Just how it is. Some people are just blind and have to be eased into certain topics.
More John Stossel needed!
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Libertarians suck. Anarcho-capitalists get things done :lol:
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I mean even if they had decent arguements to make the american masses would just right them off as nut jobs.
Same problem with British libertarians as well as that they seem to only want to sit around & debate & debate & intellectually masturbate.
Not just intellectually, either!
Next you'll be telling me you fantasize about me
those bank bailouts your supported
You must be thinking of my evil twin
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I mean even if they had decent arguements to make the american masses would just right them off as nut jobs.
Same problem with British libertarians as well as that they seem to only want to sit around & debate & debate & intellectually masturbate.
Not just intellectually, either!
Next you'll be telling me you fantasize about me
Not if I can help it!
those bank bailouts your supported
You must be thinking of my evil twin
Maybe so.
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I experienced the same type of thing in November of 2007 during a Ron Paul sign thingy. It was a little sad. But, I came from the conspiracy crowd myself. Now I won't have anything to do with them. Some of these nuts can be turned. Not all of them are a pox. Very irritating, but that there is fertile ground. Most see there is something seriously wrong but have not found the correct answer yet. Be the light in the dark room for them. Turn them to anarchy.
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The sad thing is I gave my number and email at the beginning of the meeting and now I'm getting contacted by the group organizer. I'm thinking maybe I can influence and give some direction to the group since I pretty much led the discussion half the time. I just don't really care to hear anymore conspiracy theories. Would be my first time trying to lead something though.
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I experienced the same type of thing in November of 2007 during a Ron Paul sign thingy. It was a little sad.
:lol:
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There are Democrats who think racist language should be outlawed. Republicans who think you should get the death penalty for smoking pot. Both groups of people are in favor of creating a more authoritarian government than the one we have, legislating their wackiness. And Libertarians are the ones who get a bad rap because some of them simply believe wacky things? How much sense does that make?
Amen. If someone is going to think libertarians are nuts, not promoting "conspiracy theories" is not going to deter them. Wouldn't it be nice if all libertarians would act the same and believe in all the right things. :roll:
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I'm thankful I haven't run into this problem (yet), but that's probably because I tend not to seek out libertarian gatherings, especially LP gatherings. I've mainly had contact with think tank libertarians, and they probably tend to be less conspiracy nuttish. Of course, it's mostly intellectual masturbation when talking to think tankers, but I'm cool with that. At this point in my life I'm not into rocking the boat too much.
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There are Democrats who think racist language should be outlawed. Republicans who think you should get the death penalty for smoking pot. Both groups of people are in favor of creating a more authoritarian government than the one we have, legislating their wackiness. And Libertarians are the ones who get a bad rap because some of them simply believe wacky things? How much sense does that make?
Amen. If someone is going to think libertarians are nuts, not promoting "conspiracy theories" is going to deter them. Wouldn't it be nice if all libertarians would act the same and believe in all the right things. :roll:
Never mind conspiracy theories people this side of the pond think your nuts for suggesting people should be able to own guns
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I think all political parties should be abolished.
Political parties just promote labeling and pigeon-holeing.
It detracts from the issues, politicians spend all their energy on party banner waving.