# Fred Phelps' Crowd Learns the Golden Rule **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 25, 2008, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-crowd-learns-the-golden-rule/474415 "2008-11-25T12:48:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-crowd-learns-the-golden-rule/474415/21 "2008-11-25T20:19:24Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I will take it, then, that throwing bottles at people would be fine so long as you miss. Free speech for people with bad aim, IOW. > You might want to read the article in question a little more closely.So it does not seem to have been as spur-of-the-moment as you seem to allege. > > As it turns out, you are incorrect.[Cite.](http://www.ocregister.com/articles/prop-vassos-leaders-2229235-gay-marriage) First, I apologize. I was wrong. It was not spur of the moment. This does change my opinion a bit. Second, there is still a difference between minors (kids) and adults. This addresses your desire to prosecute. No one was hurt. Let it drop or let the school handle it. Third, the incidents of sending the white powder is stupid and juvenile. It should be pursued by the law. It is still not quite the same as what we were talking about however. Let’s say the Prop 8 opponents were protesting and harassing the kids leaving a Mormon school. That would be the equivalent. If those students threw things at the Prop 8 protesters but did not hit them I would again say the kids should not be arrested and the Prop 8 protesters were in the wrong. Fourth, you never did address the false opening statement of “Sorry to interrupt the love fest” when only myself and Hypno-Toad seem to really be supporting the kids and most posters are on your side but without the opening insulting tone. You should think about retracting it. Jim ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-crowd-learns-the-golden-rule/474415/22 "2008-11-25T20:20:52Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Sorry to interrupt the love fest, but this is unacceptable, and the students who did it deserve to be prosecuted. > > Violent protest is always wrong. It isn’t wrong just when I disagree with the protesters, but always. So the American Revolution was wrong? Violent protest isn’t good, no, but it’s sometimes necessary to right a greater wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-crowd-learns-the-golden-rule/474415/23 "2008-11-25T21:10:27Z")
For a half-dozen homophobic attention trolls? Please. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-crowd-learns-the-golden-rule/474415/24 "2008-11-26T17:34:03Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > For a half-dozen homophobic attention trolls? Please. I didn’t say it was right in this situation - though I do think the Phelps clan would go away if someone finally stood up to them and knocked them around. I just disagreed with your statement that violent protest is always wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-crowd-learns-the-golden-rule/474415/25 "2008-11-26T19:50:46Z")
> [@](#): > > I didn’t say it was right in this situation - though I do think the Phelps clan would go away if someone finally stood up to them and knocked them around. I just disagreed with your statement that violent protest is always wrong. Some people have speculated that the Phelpses don’t really care all that much about gays. What they’re actually seeking is public outrage and being assaulted. Some counter-protesters have attacked the Phelps demonstrators. And the Phelps clan (which pointedly contains more lawyers than clergymen) has always filed civil suits. Their whole protest may just be something they’re doing for the money. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-crowd-learns-the-golden-rule/474415.md?page=1)