Yes, I thought I would make a thread about this. What nonviolent, fully legal things can we do to Westborrow that will make them disappear? I don't think Ignoring them is going to work, they seem to be getting more news coverage these days, so what are we, the people of the United States of America (and also, the people beyond our borders) going to do?
Unite, say I.
These people make me sick to my stomach with how they can just get away with what they are doing. So, what are the ways we can combat it?
Personally, I think we might be able to do a "Walk for the Damned". You know, spread the word that on April 25th (or some day) everyone "takes up a cross to walk for the souls of the sinners at Westborrow". I bet we could get many a people to get in on it, even those who (like myself) are not catholic/baptist/generally don't beleive in crosses. I think we need to fight Holy Fire with Holy Fire, so to speak. They can't picket all of us, and we would be fully within our rights to do so, due to freedom of speach.
The requirements are simple: Grab a cross of some sort, rosary, actual cross, whatever the heck pleases you, and walk a block/mile/foot/whatever, so as to sacrifice for their sins. Now, I'm not familiar with Baptists, but they beleive in Jesus as the Messiah, yes?
What does Dakka think? Any other ideas, or should we spread the word? But we need to take these people down.
The difference is that it can be taken as religious discrimination and create more attention for them. A protest against them would see them in the spotlight for a week or two, and they would perhaps sue a few people. I think it was mentioned before that they have a couple of lawyers in the ranks, no doubt they would be waiting for some fuel to spread their message further and faster.
I agree though these people are appalling to the point of near comedic relief.
The news shows them because by doing so they get the response that they're after.
+1, co sign, etc.
Yes, ignoring them is the best option. Unless they get violent.
also Agree with the ignoring them vote. they protested outside my daughters high school
a couple of years ago. the school let everyone go home 2 hrs before the permited time
frame was to start. no one around to hear the hate.
i also like the picket of bikers between them and funerals. when they start getting loud,
the bikers just rev their hogs louder.
n0t_u wrote:The difference is that it can be taken as religious discrimination and create more attention for them. A protest against them would see them in the spotlight for a week or two, and they would perhaps sue a few people. I think it was mentioned before that they have a couple of lawyers in the ranks, no doubt they would be waiting for some fuel to spread their message further and faster.
I agree though these people are appalling to the point of near comedic relief.
Could it really be taken as religious discrimination if it is the (near) same religion doing it?
Understand that they're trying to cause you to hate them, and trying to get someone to lash out violently at them so they can sue them by citing their protected right of freedom of speech. This may not be the case with every member of the Westborough Baptist Church, but most of the people running the show are actually accredited lawyers.
The best thing to do is realize this, and ignore them.
Chrysaor686 wrote:Understand that they're trying to cause you to hate them, and trying to get someone to lash out violently at them so they can sue them by citing their protected right of freedom of speech. This may not be the case with every member of the Westborough Baptist Church, but most of the people running the show are actually accredited lawyers.
The best thing to do is realize this, and ignore them.
I do realize this, but what is violent about a peaceful protest?
malfred wrote:He means that they want to piss you off so badly that you take a swing at them.
I know, but couldnt' we do the same to them? If these people care even a tiny amount about their religion, having a bunch of people walking around repenting for their sins is going to piss them off really, really badly.
But that, unfortunately, is exactly what they're waiting and hoping for. All it would do is fan the flame and make them more self righteous because they're being "oppressed".
I'm all for removing filth like that from the species, but at best all that can be done is to ignore them until they go away. The real way it could be solved would be to try to get some law made and passed to limit the distance a protest can be from a funeral. Not actually going against the free speech they hide behind. While they cannot be stopped really, their annoyance can be mitigated however slightly. The real problem is the gakstorm that would likely follow any attempt to do so.
malfred wrote:He means that they want to piss you off so badly that you take a swing at them.
I know, but couldnt' we do the same to them? If these people care even a tiny amount about their religion, having a bunch of people walking around repenting for their sins is going to piss them off really, really badly.
They'd look at such a conflict as an opportunity, not a setback.
The point is to ignore them completely (protesting them is still feeding into their nonsense). I seriously doubt that any member of the WBC whole-heartedly believes anything they say, and the fact that people react to it so readily is probably extremely entertaining to them.
There are definitely better ways you can use your right to assemble peacefully. Don't waste your time with them at all, or you'll only serve to keep their true intentions alive.
Like others have said, I think the best response is to get laws in place that prevent them from getting too close to any funerals, and otherwise ignore them. We're a big, tough society, we can handle a few fringe nutters with really hateful ideas.
They're basically a cult built on an unsustainable level of hostility towards everything that isn't them, so sooner or later the whole thing'll collapse. Hopefully sooner.
Slarg232 wrote:Laws don't work, no one really pays attention to most of ttehm anywya. Hell, you can't even get the cops up here to look at fething bloody antlers in your front yard. or the traffic cones set up around your driveway. or even the god damn broken fence with a direct trail leading STRAIGHT TO THE fething CULPRITS HOUSE.
Petty burglary really isn't the same thing as the media circus that is the Westboro Baptists.
Slarg232 wrote:Laws don't work, no one really pays attention to most of ttehm anywya. Hell, you can't even get the cops up here to look at fething bloody antlers in your front yard. or the traffic cones set up around your driveway. or even the god damn broken fence with a direct trail leading STRAIGHT TO THE fething CULPRITS HOUSE.
Petty burglary really isn't the same thing as the media circus that is the Westboro Baptists.
But if the damn small things don't matter, does anything?
Slarg232 wrote:But if the damn small things don't matter, does anything?
Philosophically or practically?
I'm not too sure about the former, but I do know that with the latter... well where there's media coverage there'll be police enforcing the law, so for the purposes of stopping Westboro at funerals, it's very likely that any drafted law will be enforced.
However, seeing as they exist primarily for litigation, I would have a go at suing them back and drag a whole bunch of expensive and tedious suits through the courts to drain their resources.
You could always shoot them at range with an unregisterd hunting rifle. Pick a good vantage point then let one of the older ones have it threw the neck, not to kill, just to maim. While they are panicing you pack up your stuff and quietly leave the place grinning like a cat that has a cream flovoured a$$ You don't need to kill them, you just need to make them ...aware of their mortaly...off course, this is just a hyperthetical situation
FOR THE RECORD: ADVOCATING OR SUPPORTING VIOLENCE AGAINST ANY REAL PERSON IS FORBIDDEN ON DAKKA.
Slarg232 wrote:Yes, I thought I would make a thread about this. What nonviolent, fully legal things can we do to Westborrow that will make them disappear? I don't think Ignoring them is going to work, they seem to be getting more news coverage these days, so what are we, the people of the United States of America (and also, the people beyond our borders) going to do?
Unite, say I.
These people make me sick to my stomach with how they can just get away with what they are doing. So, what are the ways we can combat it?
Personally, I think we might be able to do a "Walk for the Damned". You know, spread the word that on April 25th (or some day) everyone "takes up a cross to walk for the souls of the sinners at Westborrow". I bet we could get many a people to get in on it, even those who (like myself) are not catholic/baptist/generally don't beleive in crosses. I think we need to fight Holy Fire with Holy Fire, so to speak. They can't picket all of us, and we would be fully within our rights to do so, due to freedom of speach.
The requirements are simple: Grab a cross of some sort, rosary, actual cross, whatever the heck pleases you, and walk a block/mile/foot/whatever, so as to sacrifice for their sins. Now, I'm not familiar with Baptists, but they beleive in Jesus as the Messiah, yes?
What does Dakka think? Any other ideas, or should we spread the word? But we need to take these people down.
They need a gay pride parade circling wherever this supposed church is.
One workable solution is to create laws that forbid protests within a certain radius of a funeral. Four states have already passed such laws.
This can be problematical with regards to funeral procession routes, and protests unrelated to or not proven to be related to funerals.
This allows the Westboro scum to exercise their First Amendment right while protecting against the worst of their activities.
I would look on the bright side here, the Westboro lot are a tolerance test on the whole of US society, and your nation has visibly come out winners on this. We hear of no attempts to kill the Phelp's or firebomb their 'church'. They are allowed to protest virulent crap without being attacked and the countermeasures like the Freedom riders work well.
Phelps has inadvertently done more to raise the issues of societal tolerance than just about any other protest group by being a walking object lesson in bigotry and a negative rallying symbol for many otherwise opposed groups.
Shoot a few "doctored" emails to extremist groups like Al Qaeda, showing how much they HATE Islam and think they are all heathens. Then one more "doctored" photo of them making fun of Muhammad
Then we wait. Those Westboro nuts wont see it coming
Why is it that when lunatics like Jared Lee Loughner go on the rampage, it is against innocent people. Why can't one of these nuts develop a (fairly rational) total hatred of these gak eaters and wipe them off the planet with a generous use of firepower?
MeanGreenStompa wrote:Why is it that when lunatics like Jared Lee Loughner go on the rampage, it is against innocent people. Why can't one of these nuts develop a (fairly rational) total hatred of these gak eaters and wipe them off the planet with a generous use of firepower?
I am surprised that it hasn't happened already, to be honest, give the level of ire that the Westboro lot seem to generate. Maybe I am not giving our American cousins enough credit for their restraint!
The members of WBC definitely top my "People I'd like to see fed into a wood chipper" list,no bones about it.
However,what should be done about them is an interesting question.
Many have advocated ignoring them,but...can they honestly be "ignored"?
I see attempting to ignore WBC as akin to attempting to "ignore" ones aunt or uncle who shows up every Christmas and gets drunk then begins screaming about how much they hate the family before passing out in the gravy bowl...or attempting to ignore some crazy guy who's standing outside of McDonald's smearing feces on the windows while yelling about the impending takeover of the Illuminati....clearly one doesn't "Ignore" these types of things.
So,what should be done?...I think restrictions imposed on where they are allowed to hold their little "love ins" is a good start...insure they are kept at a FAR distance from those they seem intent on sharing their message with.
Other than that...Bikers..lots of bikers..with baseball bats..just to insure WBC stays inside their "playpen".
Monster Rain wrote:I just recognize them as real life trolls and ignore them accordingly. Their entire purpose is to piss people off; don't give them the satisfaction.
You are a better man than I am then Monster.
Every time I see a news segment where they arrive at a Soldier's funeral carrying "God Hates You" signs, my "Murder urge" goes right to 11.
Monster Rain wrote:I just recognize them as real life trolls and ignore them accordingly. Their entire purpose is to piss people off; don't give them the satisfaction.
You are a better man than I am then Monster.
Every time I see a news segment where they arrive at a Soldier's funeral carrying "God Hates You" signs, my "Murder urge" goes right to 11.
Meh. Maybe it's the fact that I actually believe in God. These people have something pretty ugly headed their way when they shuffle off their mortal coil.
Romans 12:19 wrote:Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
Monster Rain wrote:I just recognize them as real life trolls and ignore them accordingly. Their entire purpose is to piss people off; don't give them the satisfaction.
You are a better man than I am then Monster.
Every time I see a news segment where they arrive at a Soldier's funeral carrying "God Hates You" signs, my "Murder urge" goes right to 11.
Meh. Maybe it's the fact that I actually believe in God. These people have something pretty ugly headed their way when they shuffle off their mortal coil.
Slarg232 wrote:
The requirements are simple: Grab a cross of some sort, rosary, actual cross, whatever the heck pleases you, and walk a block/mile/foot/whatever, so as to sacrifice for their sins. Now, I'm not familiar with Baptists, but they beleive in Jesus as the Messiah, yes?
Wait. . . . I don't think I understand how that would "do anything" about them??
Ribon Fox wrote:You could always shoot them at range with an unregisterd hunting rifle. Pick a good vantage point then let one of the older ones have it threw the neck, not to kill, just to maim. While they are panicing you pack up your stuff and quietly leave the place grinning like a cat that has a cream flovoured a$$ You don't need to kill them, you just need to make them ...aware of their mortaly...off course, this is just a hyperthetical situation
FOR THE RECORD: ADVOCATING OR SUPPORTING VIOLENCE AGAINST ANY REAL PERSON IS FORBIDDEN ON DAKKA.
Wait a tick.....
People REGISTER their hunting rifles? Who the hell does that?
A shot through the neck, even with a .22, is a lethal shot. How would shooting them in the neck only maim and not kill? You want to maim and not kill you aim for a non-vital. Herp derp.
FOR THE RECORD: ADVOCATING OR SUPPORTING VIOLENCE AGAINST ANY REAL PERSON IS FORBIDDEN ON DAKKA.
Orlanth wrote:One workable solution is to create laws that forbid protests within a certain radius of a funeral. Four states have already passed such laws.
This can be problematical with regards to funeral procession routes, and protests unrelated to or not proven to be related to funerals.
This allows the Westboro scum to exercise their First Amendment right while protecting against the worst of their activities.
I would look on the bright side here, the Westboro lot are a tolerance test on the whole of US society, and your nation has visibly come out winners on this. We hear of no attempts to kill the Phelp's or firebomb their 'church'. They are allowed to protest virulent crap without being attacked and the countermeasures like the Freedom riders work well.
Phelps has inadvertently done more to raise the issues of societal tolerance than just about any other protest group by being a walking object lesson in bigotry and a negative rallying symbol for many otherwise opposed groups.
You know how they always attend Pride rallies with signs that say "God Hates Fags" and military funerals with "Thank God for dead soldiers" signs?
I wonder if they'd see the humour behind a bunch of people standing outside their church with signs that say "God Hates Westboro" every Sunday, or going to every funeral for a member of that church with signs that say "Thank God for dead Westboro members"
I bet you anything they would just absolutely rage, and throw a tantrum over how inconsiderate and disrespectful to their church that such behavior would be.
I'm certain they wouldn't even see the hyperbole there.
You know how they always attend Pride rallies with signs that say "God Hates Fags" and military funerals with "Thank God for dead soldiers" signs?
I wonder if they'd see the humour behind a bunch of people standing outside their church with signs that say "God Hates Westboro" every Sunday, or going to every funeral for a member of that church with signs that say "Thank God for dead Westboro members"
I bet you anything they would just absolutely rage, and throw a tantrum over how inconsiderate and disrespectful to their church that such behavior would be.
Bet you anything they wouldn't even see the hyperbole there.
DAMN that would be some good Trolling
I wonder if they would then attempt legal action to prevent people from doing such things?
You know how they always attend Pride rallies with signs that say "God Hates Fags" and military funerals with "Thank God for dead soldiers" signs?
I wonder if they'd see the humour behind a bunch of people standing outside their church with signs that say "God Hates Westboro" every Sunday, or going to every funeral for a member of that church with signs that say "Thank God for dead Westboro members"
I bet you anything they would just absolutely rage, and throw a tantrum over how inconsiderate and disrespectful to their church that such behavior would be.
I'm certain they wouldn't even see the hyperbole there.
DAMN that would be some good Trolling
I wonder if they would then attempt legal action to prevent people from doing such things?
Lawl.
If they did, I'd have to do my best to get them nominated for a Darwin Award.
My wife and 2 daughters went to protest the protesters. by the time my 'crew' arrived, they'd already
left. my wife said it was pretty moving seeing 40 bikers carrying the American lining both sides of the entrance.
by the time the linked story was posted, most of both sides had disburssed.
on a highly inappropriate note(that i totally support! ), a friend of my oldest daughter slashed their tires!
and as much as the side of me that loves to fight and raise hell would love to disagree with Monster Rain, he's 1,000,000%
dead on the money. they only way to take away Westboro's power, is turn off the TV. don't film or interview them.
but hey, the other half of me says it time for an old fashion a$$ beating a.s.a.p.!
Whats funny is, when pastors sit down and talk to them in interviews, they honestly have no idea what they are talking about, and at the end usually shout "I HAVE TO BE RIGHT BECAUSE PASTOR SAID SO! SO YOU ARE WRONG!". I feel sorry for their children.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Actually, Michal Moore seems to have an idea here.
I love the one religious line that rebuts their arguments.
"Be a sinner and sin strongly, but more strongly have faith and rejoice in Christ." - Martin Luther
GG, your not catholic, so your a protestant, which means at some point you thought and followed the ideals Martin Luther, who preached against this kind of discrimination. (Except against the Jewish, but, as far as I know, he is a prophet, so they still believe in him, but in a different way. Again, could be wrong.)
That might work in an afterlife, but in this one, it just means a bloody fun mess and a lot of people cheered on the way to jail though. I still say take their kids away, not to be mean, but because maybe their kisds can be saved.
Happygrunt wrote:GG, your not catholic, so your a protestant,
(1)That shows a fair amount of ignorace regarding the Christian faith.
(Except against the Jewish, but, as far as I know, he is a prophet, so they still believe in him, but in a different way. Again, could be wrong.)
(2)I think you've got the wrong religion here. Islam veiws Jesus as a prophet (in a unique sense) but that's about it.
#1 I dont see why. From my understanding, only the Catholics still report to the Pope. So if you dont, your religion "reformed", which would make one a protestant?
#2 Alright, my mistake. I thought it was the other way around.
even though i know this alot of talk, and god knows i Fething loath their existence, we're starting to almost as bad as they are.
i draw the line at counter protesting (okay i did say i approved of a slashed tire), but to kill them would make them Martyrs and
god only knows what kind of platform the survivors would have after that. not to mention the world wide attention...
Happygrunt wrote:I love the one religious line that rebuts their arguments.
"Be a sinner and sin strongly, but more strongly have faith and rejoice in Christ." - Martin Luther
GG, your not catholic, so your a protestant, which means at some point you thought and followed the ideals Martin Luther, who preached against this kind of discrimination. (Except against the Jewish, but, as far as I know, he is a prophet, so they still believe in him, but in a different way. Again, could be wrong.)
If only logic worked on them...
And while I don't know the history of the Baptist church, there were TWO major reformists: Martin Luther (whose ideas created Lutheranism & many similar protestant church) and Calvin (whose ideas created many branches of faith, though none were named after him).
Happygrunt wrote:I love the one religious line that rebuts their arguments.
"Be a sinner and sin strongly, but more strongly have faith and rejoice in Christ." - Martin Luther
GG, your not catholic, so your a protestant, which means at some point you thought and followed the ideals Martin Luther, who preached against this kind of discrimination. (Except against the Jewish, but, as far as I know, he is a prophet, so they still believe in him, but in a different way. Again, could be wrong.)
If only logic worked on them...
And while I don't know the history of the Baptist church, there were TWO major reformists: Martin Luther (whose ideas created Lutheranism & many similar protestant church) and Calvin (whose ideas created many branches of faith, though none were named after him).
Still, a nice try.
From my school's education system, Calvin and Luther had a similar view to the church. Martin Luther is just more widely known.
Perfect solution: teleport a squad of Deathwing in during mass. Failing that, use one of those fancy predator drones. Because we dont have time for politics.
Happygrunt wrote:#1 I dont see why. From my understanding, only the Catholics still report to the Pope. So if you dont, your religion "reformed", which would make one a protestant?
I'm sorry, but the history of the Christian faith is much more complicate than "Everyone was catholic then they split", the Orthodox Faith being an almost entirely different entity.
Happygrunt wrote:
It is. And to my knowledge, full of inbreeding.
Just becuase they are dreadful people doesn't mean you can just make gak up about them.
WBC actually makes me hope that there is a hell.
