# Phelps of Westboro Baptist dies. Would you join a protest at his funeral? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 6, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682 "2011-03-06T15:27:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682/1 "2011-03-06T15:27:28Z")
Westboro Baptist, of course, is the family/church infamous on the Dope and lately famous nationally for their demonstrations at funerals: demonstrations notorious for their sadism and the use of phrases such as “God Hates Fags.” I’m sure that most of y’all are familiar with it, but here’s a [trio](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church) of [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Phelps) [links](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Phelps-Roper) and [NPR article](http://www.npr.org/2011/03/02/134198937/a-peek-inside-the-westboro-baptist-church) that may be helpful. Now here’s the sitch: Imagine that either Fred Phelps (patriarch of the family, pastor of the church) or Shirley Phelps-Roper (his daughter and the church’s spokeswoman) were to die suddenly. You happen to be in Topeka on business when the funeral is being held, and thanks to whatever circumstances you care to contrive, you have the entire day of the funeral free. You learn that a fairly large group of people is planning a protest around the funeral, using tactics parallel to the WBC’s; that is, the protestors will come as close to the service as the law allows, holding placards saying things like “Phelps is in hell” and chanting “God hates bigots.” You are invited to participate. Would you? Why or why not? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682/2 "2011-03-06T15:32:35Z")
No. I don’t see what the point would be. He wouldn’t be able to hear you. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682/3 "2011-03-06T15:36:56Z")
He’ll see the protests from heaven. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682/4 "2011-03-06T15:42:13Z")
No. His awful behaviour would not make my behaviour (if I were to protest) any less reprehensible. ---
**Author:** ![Montgomery0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@Montgomery0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montgomery0)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682/5 "2011-03-06T15:42:34Z")
Nah, why bother? Much like internet trolls, the more attention you pay to these people the more “strength” they gain. The easiest way to get rid of these people once and for all would be for everyone to ignore them (funeral attendees, press, general public, etc.) But then again they might move on to some more obnoxious type of trolling. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682/6 "2011-03-06T15:45:17Z")
I suspect they would probably disintegrate and disband after Fred kicks off. From what I’ve read, they’re more hostages than comrades. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682/7 "2011-03-06T15:46:18Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > He’ll see the protests from heaven. Did you see SNL last night? Satan’s going to prank him. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682/8 "2011-03-06T16:17:01Z")
And sink to their level? Hell no. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682/9 "2011-03-06T16:17:54Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Did you see SNL last night? Satan’s going to prank him. No, but thanks to the internet, I was able to go and look at it just now. Hehe, cupcake shops… ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682/10 "2011-03-06T16:20:52Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I suspect they would probably disintegrate and disband after Fred kicks off. From what I’ve read, they’re more hostages than comrades. I’m actually hoping for a Jonestown ending. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682/11 "2011-03-06T16:28:23Z")
The Bastard is just an attention seeking whore. The last thing I would ever do is let him win by Trolling me from the grave, ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682/12 "2011-03-06T16:34:14Z")
If by “protest” you mean “drunken revel complete with a chorus of 'Ding Dong, the Bigot is Dead,” I just might. Otherwise, no. Just no. ---
**Author:** ![ShelliBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ShelliBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShelliBean)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682/13 "2011-03-06T16:38:56Z")
I think it’s more worthy of a Lisa Simpson/Paul Anka “Just Don’t Look” - but that goes for now, too, not just when they die. ---
**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:** [March 6, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682/14 "2011-03-06T16:40:48Z")
No, but I would be tempted to show up in a dress and claim that Fred and I had been secret lovers. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682/15 "2011-03-06T16:40:49Z")
I voted no, for reasons already given: (1) He’s a troll and shouldn’t be given any attention; (2) protesting at funerals is a scuzzy thing to do in general, and two wrongs don’t make a right; (3) why should I waste any of my time or attention on the dude? ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682/16 "2011-03-06T16:42:14Z")
No. I would not vindicate their reprehensible behavior by imitating it. But I would glance skyward, and ask God, “Took ya long enough, didn’t it?” ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682/17 "2011-03-06T17:50:25Z")
I can’t be bothered to pay attention to them when they’re alive, so I’m certainly not going to waste my time acknowledging their deaths. If everyone ignores then, they cease to exist. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682/18 "2011-03-06T17:55:28Z")
mrAru wants to get a picnic pavillion tent, and a small cooking tent, and paint a marqee First Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster Revival and have a spaghetti dinner for the counterprotesters. Don’t bother actually protesting, just have fun and a spaghetti dinner =) ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682/19 "2011-03-06T18:04:41Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > He’ll see the protests from heaven. Unless he changes his ways, a Heaven with Phelps is not where I’d want to be. I would not attend either or any, but I’d pray that he found the truth in time. ---
**Author:** ![conurepete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@conurepete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conurepete)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682/20 "2011-03-06T18:07:33Z")
I suspect it would be less angry, and evolve into a party. I like a good street fair. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phelps-of-westboro-baptist-dies-would-you-join-a-protest-at-his-funeral/573682.md?page=2)