# Fred Phelps falls off the edge of the world... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 21, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154 "2005-06-21T03:02:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Mapache](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@Mapache](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mapache)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154/81 "2005-07-12T01:04:47Z")
Bumping this thread because today was supposed to be the first ¨Love Crusade¨at a military funeral: ¨ Thank God for IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) - Killing Americans in Strange Lands - WBC to picket Dover Air Force Base - 8 a.m. Monday July 11 - in religious protest & warning: “God is not mocked!” It is dishonorable - not honorable - when God kills a soldier via IED - like the IED militant fags used to bomb Westboro Baptist Church, in collusion with the governments and populations of the U.S.A. ¨ Quoted from you-know-where. Tomorrow they´re planning another. Does anyone know if these (Insert your own adjectives. Be descriptive) ¨people¨ actually showed up, and if so if any of them survived? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154/82 "2005-07-12T01:29:43Z")
I dunno about Dover AFB, but I do know Phelps and company showed up at a serviceman’s funeral in Massachusetts not too long ago and got shunted aside by police and pretty much ignored. He sure didn’t get the sort of media glow he wants to bask in. Nor did he get assaulted so he could play the martyr. As far as I recall he slunk away without picketing a second serviceman’s funeral he’d planned to demonstrate at. I could be wrong on the details, though, since this is strictly from memory. I’m sure other Bay State Dopers will correct me if so. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154/83 "2005-07-12T02:41:33Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > I dunno about Dover AFB, but I do know Phelps and company showed up at a serviceman’s funeral in Massachusetts not too long ago and got shunted aside by police and pretty much ignored. He sure didn’t get the sort of media glow he wants to bask in. Nor did he get assaulted so he could play the martyr. As far as I recall he slunk away without picketing a second serviceman’s funeral he’d planned to demonstrate at. > > I could be wrong on the details, though, since this is strictly from memory. I’m sure other Bay State Dopers will correct me if so. I don’t know about the details, but I do remember catching this on the local evening news. It was nothing too major, just one or two camera shots of the pickets along with a quick statement from one of Phred’s daughters–I think it was either Marge or Shirley. What struck me about it was just how . . . normal . . . she looked and sounded. Her content about the dead serviceman in hell was crazy, but she spoke it in a normal voice while holding a sign about how great 9/11 was. No frothing at the mouth, no wild eyes. I wish my college professors could have had that poise. I’ve been following the site for years, and the sheer lunacy of their vitriol has always just weirded me out. But nothing on that site weirded me out half as much as watching this woman on TV calmly espouse her screwball views in a polite tone of voice while I thought “I could be grocery shopping right beside her and not sense anything dangerous or even off-putting.” So many of them are lawyers and MBA’s. Fred himself used to be a civil rights lawyer. I just find myself thinking “How could people this smart go so far wrong?” Even allowing for the fact that book smarts and life smarts are two different things, surely more than a handful of children should have been able to break away from this monster. I know why, of course: Given the terrible level of beatings, verbal abuse, enforced solitude, and God knows what else, it’s like training the elephant by tying it to the stake. The children and grandchildren of Fred Phelps are walking talking studies in learned helplessness. But it’s still incredible to see it right in front of you on the TV. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154/84 "2005-07-12T03:38:45Z")
It was fascinating to watch and listen to them on Howard Stern. They didn’t sound reasonable, they didn’t sound sane. But they sure sounded normal. I figure Howard does a public service when he has them on. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154/85 "2005-07-12T13:47:09Z")
My understanding is that all the kids were forced to go into law, as Phred considers litigation the second best strategy after picketing. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154/86 "2005-07-12T14:44:44Z")
Two things will be interested when he finally dies. 1- How will gays and others react to his funeral? (Will they do the easy obvious of picketing it with “Fred in Hell” signs or turn the other cheek?) 2- What will happen to the WBC? Are any members of his family strong enough to hold them together and carry on the mission? Do any have any desire to? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154/87 "2005-07-12T14:51:37Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > I do know Phelps and company showed up at a serviceman’s funeral in Massachusetts not too long ago and got shunted aside by police and pretty much ignored. That’s pretty much it. There was enough advance notice that the anger stage was over before they got here. [As good a link as any](http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-funeral28jun28,1,4816654.story?coll=la-headlines-nation): > [@](#): > > When word got out that demonstrators from Kansas planned to disrupt Piper’s funeral Monday, residents vowed not to let them interfere with the tribute to their hometown hero. > … > “I was worried that it would fester anger,” said Louise Moore, 39, fighting back tears and waving a small American flag. “Instead it got everyone together.” > … > On the corner of a narrow street lined with Colonial-era buildings, the Kansas contingent tried shouting its anti-homosexual message at mourners who overflowed from the church. But every time demonstrators spoke out, the 14-man Boston Police Department bagpipe band broke into thunderous sound. > … > The Kansas group, which had been issued a two-hour protest permit, was escorted out of town by police minutes before the horse-drawn caisson carrying Piper’s flag-draped coffin arrived at the church. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154/88 "2005-07-12T14:53:54Z")
My suggestion: When Fred dies, gay clubs across the nation should all have major fund-raising parties. Donate the money to AIDS Outreach in the name of Fred Phelps. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154/89 "2005-07-12T14:54:45Z")
> [@](#): > > On the corner of a narrow street lined with Colonial-era buildings, the Kansas contingent tried shouting its anti-homosexual message at mourners who overflowed from the church. But every time demonstrators spoke out, the 14-man Boston Police Department bagpipe band broke into thunderous sound. Man, whoever thought of that was brilliant. I cannot think of a more perfect response. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154/90 "2005-07-12T19:08:58Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > Man, whoever thought of that was brilliant. I cannot think of a more perfect response. The [angel brigade](http://www.true-words.com/images/2002-03-08-inside-laramie.jpg) was pretty good, too. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154/91 "2005-07-12T19:42:23Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > My suggestion: When Fred dies, gay clubs across the nation should all have major fund-raising parties. Donate the money to AIDS Outreach in the name of Fred Phelps. Is there any law that would prevent people from doing that now, while he’s alive? ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154/92 "2005-07-13T00:44:59Z")
FP = [coprolite](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=coprolite). ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154/93 "2005-07-13T05:24:45Z")
> [@DeadlyAccurate](#): > > Is there any law that would prevent people from doing that now, while he’s alive? He’d probably sue. (Not that it would have merit, but it can still get expensive and irritating.) I can’t believe more members of his family haven’t been disbarred for all their nuisance suits. I’m also surprised that nobody in his family has had the living shit beaten out of them (other than by Fred), especially now that they’re adding military funerals to the repertoire. (Actually, Fred claims that gays have brutalized, terrorized, molested and attempted to rape members of his clan on unspecified dates, but strangely no police reports were ever filed.) ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154/94 "2005-07-13T07:31:43Z")
Link is busted, anyone want to give the gist? ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154/95 "2005-07-13T09:28:54Z")
> [@Hung Mung](#): > > Here’s a question…if people like this are so rabid and nasty, if they are so counterproductive to society that it makes me question the validity of the first amendment, then why shouldn’t I hire a hitman to shoot this guy from a rooftop? What’s keeping someone from doing that, or just doing it himself? Are the loonies in agreement with this putrid sack of necrotic donkey flesh? Back when I first encountered Fred Phelps and read that _Addicted to Hate_ book-in-a-court-document, I felt about the same way you did. Then, while searching for additional Phelps-related material, I found and read a story where that exact scenario happened (well, the person in the story was named something different, but it was quite clear to whom the story was referring – I think the name was Phil Freps or something like that) and it was wonderfully cathartic. I could probably dig up the link if anybody is interested. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154/96 "2005-07-13T09:38:07Z")
**World Eater** , the link just needed a colonectomy: [http://www.godhatesamerica.com/](http://www.godhatesamerica.com/) C&P that puppy, just in case. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154/97 "2005-07-14T21:34:27Z")
As far as fundraising goes, the Topeka Aids Project(TAP) has an annual gala . There’s dinner, entertainment, a silent auction, and so on. Two years ago they decided on another way to raise money. Phred and Co. always showed up beforehand and picketed outside the venue where the gala is held. So fliers were mailed out soliciting donations for every minute the picketers stood outside. Quite a number of people signed up, including myself. Then, for the first time ever, the Phelps didn’t picket the event! Letters were sent to donors such as myself offering to return money already given. I just told them to keep what I’d sent, and I’ll bet others did too. But the offer was classy. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154/98 "2005-07-14T21:48:04Z")
> [@](#): > > Face it, America! You have become a fag-filled nation of flag worshipers and necromancers. Hah! Joke’s on you! We’re actually a flag-filled nation of fag worshipers! I am a necromancer, though. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154/99 "2005-07-15T03:39:45Z")
I happen to know as a fact that attendance at necromancer meetings in the US is declining. This was the basis for the book “Necromancing Alone.” ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154/100 "2005-07-15T12:03:48Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > I happen to know as a fact that attendance at necromancer meetings in the US is declining. This was the basis for the book “Necromancing Alone.” The problem is, all the charm has gone out of these unnatural, blasphemous rituals. We need to put the _Romance_ back in Necromancy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-falls-off-the-edge-of-the-world/309154.md?page=6)