Wetstboro tries to protest Joplin Memorial...

[Celson]

...... I can't believe I have to further explain my point. Why can't you guys understand that 300 bikeys gang bashing one lone protestor is !@#$ed up?

I believe in fair fights. But this is far from fair. Maybe gang bashing is normal in the US, but in Australia that's considered very pussy and pathetic.

Is it !@#$ed up for the individual?  Sure, sucks to be him.  Does it suck when he aims to strike anger in other's solely to troll them, I'd say he got what he had coming for a long time, regardless of numbers.  These guys are like internet trolls, only in a physical manifestation.  People are free to speak their mind here in America, but they have to understand that while they are protected by law, that doesn't mean everyone else is going to be so law-abiding.  He just so happened to think that it would be smart to try and anger hundreds of America's most patriotic (aka bikers).  I do not sympathize for his stupidity, as common sense would dictate that if you're outnumbered by a crowd that is known to be dangerous when provoked under certain circumstances, you don't try and piss them off.  It won't end well for you.

Or would you prefer the story of when the WBC visited Brandon, Missippi, as that involved much less numbers for the doucheosaurus that ran his mouth at the gas station.  Then again, it could very well be 300 bikers, no one seemed to remember seeing a thing.

EDIT: Then again, I'm rather shocked to see that Australia's censorship of violence is apparently working.

I retracted my posts. You wonder why people never admit to defeat, cause they will continue to get drilled after the discussion is over. Ffs I don't care anymore.

[Jake]

Why exactly would you retract your previous posts? That's just rude.

[DarkTrinity]

...... I can't believe I have to further explain my point. Why can't you guys understand that 300 bikeys gang bashing one lone protestor is !@#$ed up?

I believe in fair fights. But this is far from fair. Maybe gang bashing is normal in the US, but in Australia that's considered very pussy and pathetic.

Is it !@#$ed up for the individual?  Sure, sucks to be him.  Does it suck when he aims to strike anger in other's solely to troll them, I'd say he got what he had coming for a long time, regardless of numbers.  These guys are like internet trolls, only in a physical manifestation.  People are free to speak their mind here in America, but they have to understand that while they are protected by law, that doesn't mean everyone else is going to be so law-abiding.  He just so happened to think that it would be smart to try and anger hundreds of America's most patriotic (aka bikers).  I do not sympathize for his stupidity, as common sense would dictate that if you're outnumbered by a crowd that is known to be dangerous when provoked under certain circumstances, you don't try and piss them off.  It won't end well for you.

Or would you prefer the story of when the WBC visited Brandon, Missippi, as that involved much less numbers for the doucheosaurus that ran his mouth at the gas station.  Then again, it could very well be 300 bikers, no one seemed to remember seeing a thing.

EDIT: Then again, I'm rather shocked to see that Australia's censorship of violence is apparently working.

I retracted my posts. You wonder why people never admit to defeat, cause they will continue to get drilled after the discussion is over. Ffs I don't care anymore.

If you can't handle the heat, don't go in the kitchen in the first place.

(I'm sure Scotty would say something along the lines of, you're not a woman so you shouldn't be there in the first place, or something)

If he weren't from the WBC, I would agree with you, it's not a fair fight. But seeing as he stuck his nose into where he had absolutely no business being, I think the bikers had every right to do what they did. (Maybe not legally, but in my mind they did) I can't believe they call themselves Christians.

[Lingus]

I agree with Celson's point actually. Sure, this group of people are horrible, and this guy was probably stupid for pissing off a large group of bikers, but the fact that people are saying they are heroes for ganging up on a single individual is just ridiculous. There are probably a lot better ways of going about giving this group what they have coming. Laughing at them and cheering when one of them gets beaten basically makes you a bad person no matter what way you look at it.

Keep in mind I completely agree that this group is a horrible group and they do horrible things, so please don't respond by telling me how horrible they are. I already know...

[Mystery]

I retracted my posts. You wonder why people never admit to defeat, cause they will continue to get drilled after the discussion is over. Ffs I don't care anymore.

Why exactly would you retract your previous posts? That's just rude.

If you can't handle the heat, don't go in the kitchen in the first place.

(I'm sure Scotty would say something along the lines of, you're not a woman so you shouldn't be there in the first place, or something)

The issue here is that instead of viewing it as a conversational debate of sorts to draw out information and opinions, it's being viewed as a 'game' where whoever 'wins' gets to belittle the other person's/people's (frequently) reasonable feelings on the matter. Whether people with differing views mean to or not, this is what can contribute to topics being locked, when it's usually simple to avoid this level of pointless animosity.

...... I can't believe I have to further explain my point. Why can't you guys understand that 300 bikeys gang bashing one lone protestor is !@#$ed up?

I believe in fair fights. But this is far from fair. Maybe gang bashing is normal in the US, but in Australia that's considered very pussy and pathetic.

If you'd like me to end my talking, I can do so at any moment; please let me know. I can see you are somewhat over this topic.

Now then, to make sure you did not have the wrong idea of what I was saying. I could care less about the number of people involved, and I'm curious as to why your focus is on that and making a fight 'fair'. For me, it's the intent behind the actions.

Yes, the WBC is exercising their right to free speech.

Should they use that and twist and mangle the fundamental contextual definition and subsequent connotation of it in law for their own monetary gain with the 'justice system', when they are clearly egging people on to snap so they can make a hefty profit and possibly ruin the sued group in the process?

When others meant no harm in the first place, but when they do it deliberately to emotionally agitate others over tragic events, and not remotely caring about the ramifications or respect/decency aspects of the situation?

No, I do not believe it should be used in that way, naming because it's being used to hurt others for their own personal gain. You could compare that to someone using explosives to crack open a safe. The intent is similar, and at the scale this has escalated to with them, I feel it's a fitting analogy.

I would also like to point out I do not inherently support them beating up the person and severely injuring them, which did not even occur. I do support their taking measures to prevent the situation, not the actual actions. I have no respect for the WBC and their insidious practices, but unless physical 'measures' were only take to a repelling, preventative degree to stop the protests, I don't see it as needed or justified.

TL;DR, my view on this matter is more or less the same as Lingus'.

[Scotty]

I have no room in my heart for people who practice such inflammatory extreme beliefs, only made worse due to the fact that they exploit illegal tendencies in others to benefit their wallets.  Be it that they encourage violence in order to bring down the judicial system on the assailants for profit, or gaining attention by the media for such beliefs that I don't even know if they believe in, more or less just accept as their means to make money.  I find that sort of behavior downright disgusting, and I'm shocked that Hell hasn't been brought to their doorstep already by a group or individual who is a bit more serious about expressing their hatred towards the group.  I don't often wish harm upon people, more or less that I just get a kick out of reading the obituaries from time to time (thanks to whomever I bummed that quote off of, I can't recall, I think it mighta been DT), but in this case, I am near willing to make an exception if I could work up the bravery to cast the first stone.  I guess I'll have to admit that this must make me a bad person, as I do applaud the efforts of the bikers for taking a physical stance against them.

Then again, these guys hold a more near and dear hatred with me than with most others for reasons I care not to explain.

[DarkTrinity]

Well clearly violence is the only thing the WBC respond to.
They won't leave if you ask them, they will more than likely ignore you. The police can't do anything about it. People silently protest back at them. People have filed lawsuits against them and lost. Nothing else has worked so far has it? I'm not one to resort to violence ever.... But I'm glad that the WBC was finally deterred, even if it wasn't a fair fight.
They don't care about us, or America, why should I give two shits about what happens to them? Yeah, it may be morally wrong, but so is protesting a dead persons funeral, someone who possibly died to protect their right to freedom of speech.

This is not me arguing everyone elses point of view. Just me simply stating my own.

[Scotty]

....Yeah, it may be morally wrong, but so is protesting a dead persons funeral with signs blaming America's tolerance of homosexuality, thanking God for their death, someone who possibly died to protect their right to freedom of speech....

Revised for clarity...  Not to make sense, just to add more clarity.

[Lingus]

I'm sorry, it just seems like the points you are bringing up is that this group is a horrible group... which I clearly pointed out that I absolutely agree with.

Here's a good point:

Be it that they encourage violence in order to bring down the judicial system on the assailants for profit

So by gang beating one of their members it is falling right into their plans. They are probably happy that this happened because it shows (at least to themselves) that what they are preaching is correct. It is never a good option to stoop to someone elses level. It might feel good, but you don't accomplish anything other than screwing things up.

Look at it this way. How do you deal with an internet troll? You ignore them right? What happens if you feed into their taunting? They get excited and troll more. This is the same situation. The more extreme the reaction they get out of the crowd, the more they are going to feed off of it. The more they know they can get a rise out of doing something, they are going to keep doing it even more. Even if it means getting gang beaten. You already know how freaking crazy they are. Would you put it past them to continuously do things that gets them all beaten up if it goes to prove their point?

Ignoring people and groups like this might not get them to stop, but neither will violence. That will only escalate the issue.

[Scotty]

I don't disagree with what you're saying, but the problem that exists is that it is impossible to ignore them.  Their practices are so outrageous, outlandish, extreme, and shunned by everyone except them, so much so that they are all over the news.  The media is eating everything they do up.  They've existed since 1955 and before technology facilitated easy delivery of news, they were unknown, up until maybe 5 years ago.  It's hard to ignore them when you're feelings towards them are nothing short of anger, and then every time you look at the news, every week they're doing something that's even more angering than the last.  They're playing on one of humanity's easiest emotions to incur, and until the day comes that they are no longer on the news, we'll always be exposed to those feelings towards them.

Then again...  If the day comes that we as humans are desensitized to their senseless attacks on good, hard working, and victimized men and women, it's almost as though they've won.  That shows that we've given up caring to hate what it is that they are preaching.  The day that CNN says "Nah, don't bother with it, there's a cat that got stuck in a tree and that's more news worthy," that is going to be the greatest and saddest day all wrapped up into one.

[Lingus]

Yea, I also agree with you too. It's a crappy situation, and I feel for the people that this group is harming. I can sit here and say it's wrong to beat people up no matter what, but I also understand why they did it. I'm just saying that I won't be cheering for someone who got beat up... it's a sad situation all around.

[Yankyal]

Sorry if this has been said already, but why is the media giving them so much attention? That's just what they wanted.

[sayers6]

Sorry if this has been said already, but why is the media giving them so much attention? That's just what they wanted.

Media wants viewers, viewers see the WBC being attacked by people (that's mostly what gets reported) they watch the news hoping there is actually a body count this time. (Okay, maybe its a little less than that, but W/e) i know people who were directly effected by the tornadoes down there, in fact I'm taking an 8 hour trip down there to help with things on Sunday. These people infuriate me. If I see one, i very well might punch them. I am a very weak person who would probably get the shit beaten out of, but that is how much I dislike them and what they do. they ignore 95% of the Bible and instead decide to use it to spread hate at others. I see why so many people hate us Christians. It's those motherfu*kers that everyone sees.

[DarkTrinity]

Sorry if this has been said already, but why is the media giving them so much attention? That's just what they wanted.

Because it's news. It's shocking. News groups want the big stories, they want the big shock factor, they want people to watch. And I bet you people will watch to see what the WBC does, because they're proven to be nut jobs. America is fascinated with the crazies.