Why are some of the Ron Paul supporters on this site so virulent?

[Liberté]

This probably could have gone into the Individual Politics section (since this is hardly the only site it occurs on), but as it involves forum posters, I'll leave it here.

I'm not trying to make a personal attack, but my recent thread here was completely derailed by wormguy, trying to cajole me into supporting Ron Paul and not Gary Johnson. I'd already said that I'd vote for Paul if he got the nomination. I don't expect Paul or Johnson to get it, but I'm fond of quixotic quests, and Johnson is a little less angry, a little more forward-looking, and a whole Hell of a lot more rational than Paul. Maybe I have some residual Baby Boomer in me, but I like that in a candidate.

That's not enough for some of Ron Paul's supporters. No, I must be whipped into submission; if resistance isn't futile, then it's certainly pointless to resist the constant moaning and droning of some of his supporters. And, for the record, it hasn't just been wormguy who has bothered me about it since I've come, but he's definitely been the most vocal about it.

I just want to plant the seeds of my way of thinking in peace. I figure that, if I can get somebody to agree with me on one issue, and see the commonalities between our ways of thinking, he might be more inclined to broaden his view to include what I consider to be one of the few ways left to us out of our current crisis. I have to confess I share with the Paulites a certain Wagnerian fatalism, but I prefer to be Lohengrin to Siegfried. If I am pushy, it's simply because I think I may have caught onto something I and my fellow conversant have common ground on.

Not so some of those others. Ron Paul is right, and you will know it; if you don't know it, you are expelled from the non-existent party. Now, indeed, if I'm confronted this way I can be snide. I can be rude. I can be downright contemptibly mean. But I am trying my hardest not to be snide, rude, and contemptibly mean first.

[Ban my account ffs!]

Because antibiotics are useless against them.  All we can do is remedy the symptoms.

[angus]

Why are some of the Ron Paul supporters on this site so virulent?

I don't know about the other Ron Paul supporters, but I often eat German cucumbers. 

[Liberté]

And again. Why yes, I am unemployed. And, yes, I am looking for a job. No, I have nothing better to do than post in a vain attempt to nudge things along in a way more favorable to me. And neither does wormguy except to be an insufferable prick.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

What's with the recent influx, anyway? This site used to be relatively liberal and now it's infested with Paultards.

[Ban my account ffs!]

Why are some of the Ron Paul supporters on this site so virulent?

I don't know about the other Ron Paul supporters, but I often eat German cucumbers. 

Is that what they're calling them nowadays? 

[Lambsbread]

Being a Paul supporter (or "Paultard" as some of the lefties like to say) I understand what you're saying. I'm not one to rip on people for who they support (though I will make it clear that I may not like that person and that I prefer Dr. Paul.) But yeah it is kind of annoying when people go on the "This is why you shouldn't like this candidate..." rants.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

What's with the recent influx, anyway? This site used to be relatively liberal and now it's infested with Paultards.

That's what happens when primary season begins. Paulites come out of the woodwork to cheerlead their candidate. The only primary Paul can win is the Internet primary.

[Meeker]

I don't think your problem is with Ron Paul supporters. Your problem is that wormyguy is a dick.

[courts]

What's with the recent influx, anyway? This site used to be relatively liberal and now it's infested with Paultards.

Yeah, things are so much more interesting when everyone agrees with you.

[Eraserhead]

I'm actually friends with a Paultard IRL (and I'm sure he would accept that title as a a badge of honor). He's actually a pretty nice guy for the most. He certainly means well, I think.

[King]

On the forum, they see themselves as an oppressed minority around here.  As sheltered kids from the suburbs, they're used to their opinion being accepted as fact and unchallenged with every other outcome being tyranny.  The reality is if they really were oppressed, they would be banned in two seconds.  Even in their internet existent, they are still so sheltered from bias fascist hellholes like Democratic Underground and Free Republic, which do ban all non-conformists, that they don't realize the Atlas is a place of blissful free speech political discourse.

In real life, I've met some nice Paultards, too.

[specific_name]

It's a personality cult, that's why there are terms like Paulite and Paultard. There are no Romenytards, because the man simply does not have a personality cult. It's like people who follow Oprah, Rush Limbaugh or Pat Robertson; or some cultural pundit. Personality cults are about way more than politics, there's a pseudo-religious fervor. Just look at youtube and you'll see what people have to say about Ron Paul. It's kind of astonishing, the powerful yearning for a honest leader, that these young white males all over the internet have. I'm not trying to make a joke at their expense or anything. I used to be into the disaster porn that is internet conspiracy theories and all that, because it's fun. Like horror movies with real life actors. It's at least compelling, if vague and unconvincing at the same time.

Anyway, forgive my disjunct sentence structure. I've been up for a long time, can't sleep. Probably dyslectic. That never helped anyone. I've spent too much time as an anthropologist in my own culture, especially on the internet. Growing up reading forums from every political subculture imaginable. I would expound on what I think about the cultural meaning of Ron Paul a bit more, but this thread probably isn't the place where we could actually talk about it. 

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Lack of sex.

[Lief 🗽]

Being a Paultard is less a political position and more a mental condition.

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

The Internet is full of libertarians. Ron Paul is a libertarian.

[Jackson]

If Ron Paul is a Libertarian, I'm a Classical Liberal.

[Liberté]

The Internet is full of libertarians. Ron Paul is a libertarian.

Even if you assume that all of Paul's policy positions are consistent with a well-thought-out libertarianism (I do not), that would mean he is only 'libertarian' in a narrow sense. There are ineffables which are as important in the political sphere are concrete policy making. Paul does not strike me as being intellectually libertarian or metaphysically libertarian.

[angus]

Lack of sex.

Okay, but we still need some way to distinguish ourselves form the Kucinich people. 

[Mechaman]

Lack of sex.

Okay, but we still need some way to distinguish ourselves form the Kucinich people. 

Besides a lack of Kashi Granola Oats and Fair Trade Ethiopian coffee in the morning?

[Lambsbread]

Lack of sex.

Okay, but we still need some way to distinguish ourselves form the Kucinich people. 

Besides a lack of Kashi Granola Oats and Fair Trade Ethiopian coffee in the morning?

But Fair Trade coffee is really good...

[Mechaman]

Lack of sex.

Okay, but we still need some way to distinguish ourselves form the Kucinich people.  

Besides a lack of Kashi Granola Oats and Fair Trade Ethiopian coffee in the morning?

But Fair Trade coffee is really good...

Goddamn it you ruined the stereotype (rage face).

[King]

Kucinich fanboys get plenty of sex.  There are tons of pinko vags (pun intended to the max) out there.  The acting out comes from the fact that their partners are all so damn ugly.

[Napoleon]

Kucinich fanboys get plenty of sex.  There are tons of pinko vags (pun intended to the max) out there.  The acting out comes from the fact that their partners are all so damn ugly.

Not every post has to be a failed attempt at humor. We aren't writing for Family Guy.

[King]

Kucinich fanboys get plenty of sex.  There are tons of pinko vags (pun intended to the max) out there.  The acting out comes from the fact that their partners are all so damn ugly.

Not every post has to be a failed attempt at humor. We aren't writing for Family Guy.

My post was far more serious than the few posts above mine.