# Would you picket Fred Phelps' funeral? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 18, 2014, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993 "2014-03-18T12:00:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993/21 "2014-03-18T14:29:36Z")
I’ve considered it in the past, especially since it’s only about a half hour drive for me. But probably not. There’s a part of me that thinks they should get a taste of their own medicine, a part of me that would prefer no public reaction or media attention for them because that’s just what they want, and then there’s the whole “don’t stoop to their level” thing. Just let it pass and get on with my life. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993/22 "2014-03-18T14:50:19Z")
What would be the point? Some kind of nanny nanny boo boo? ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993/23 "2014-03-18T15:12:39Z")
That would make me feel dirty, so no. But I do like what was said above about what happened with the Amish. It would be all kinds of awesome if the very people he demonized showed more compassion to him and his family than he could even fathom. So realistically, I still think ignoring the whole thing sends the best message. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993/24 "2014-03-18T15:19:06Z")
it would be something if he had got kicked out of WBC, with what i’ve read this is uncertain. then the WBC could picket his funeral. everyone would didn’t like him for his actions while in the WBC could picket his funeral. ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993/25 "2014-03-18T15:21:52Z")
Aside from the fact that I’m in the wrong country for it, I certainly wouldn’t attend. It is just the kind of publicity his kind are looking for, and to let the event go completely unremarked would be the best slap in the face there is. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993/26 "2014-03-18T15:29:30Z")
I think that Fred was an evil person who undoubtedly was tormented by inner demons that we will never be able to identify for certain. I don’t know what, if anything, lies in wait for us in the next stage of life. However, I do hope that in the next stage of life, Fred is able to find whatever peace eluded him in this stage of life. I have no intention of giving him a second thought once he is gone; further, I imagine the WBC will dissolve once he’s gone. MHO is that the congregation was built more on Fred’s cult of personality than a real political agenda. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993/27 "2014-03-18T15:38:43Z")
Choose your enemies carefully, because they will define you. If I picketed his funeral, he’d have succeeded in baiting me. ---
**Author:** ![Beelzebubba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Beelzebubba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beelzebubba)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993/28 "2014-03-18T16:20:35Z")
By NOT emulating his despicable behavior, I am proving my moral superiority! Besides, I wouldn’t waste my time on that waste of human flesh… ---
**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 18, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993/29 "2014-03-18T16:28:25Z")
Heck no, for the reasons already given: not worth my time, and DNFTT. I don’t really understand the urge to picket things, though apparently at least 8 (so far) Dopers do. Does that mean you guys understand what drives the WBC people at least a little better than I do? ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993/30 "2014-03-18T16:34:52Z")
I live within easy drive distance. Would not bother to take the time. They picket venues in the Kansas City area quite often and are, for the most part, ignored when they do. Like anyplace, after a while the resident shitheads get ignored. > [@HeyHomie](#): > > … I imagine the WBC will dissolve once he’s gone. Actually the whole family IS quite heavily involved. I have no doubt that they will continue. > [@](#): > > … > MHO is that the congregation was built more on Fred’s cult of personality than a real political agenda. The cult exists for two reasons. They aren’t the only demented assholes on the planet. There are others too who lack the balls to be public about it and they send money to the WBC. The family is filled with lawyers and they very diligently use the legal system to sue individuals, organizations, city governments etc whenever their rights are infringed. (they’ve made a lot of money on just agreeing to go away). Those two facets are still in place with or without Phred. They ain’t going nowhere. ---
**Author:** ![Calatin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Calatin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calatin)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993/31 "2014-03-18T16:47:33Z")
Nope. To quote a wise man (and girl), “To stop those monsters, one-two-three, Here’s a fresh new way that’s trouble-free, It’s got Paul Anka’s guarantee\* … Just don’t look! Just don’t look!” \*Guarantee void in Tennessee. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993/32 "2014-03-18T16:55:03Z")
No. I figure there are probably two kinds of people who would be at his funeral (legitimately there for the funeral itself, not picketers). One kind loves him, and I’m not going to try to hurt that kind. The other kind loves attention, and I’m not going to try to help that kind. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993/33 "2014-03-18T17:38:55Z")
Picketing a funeral is a despicable act. It was despicable when they did, it would despicable if I did it. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993/34 "2014-03-18T17:52:53Z")
For those people, ANY attention is good attention. I’d prefer a desolately empty cemetery, with only them and the occasional passing tumbleweed. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993/35 "2014-03-18T17:54:23Z")
No, some of the members are on record as saying that the hostility of non-believers is proof to them how righteous they are. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993/36 "2014-03-18T19:38:26Z")
Too much work, too little return. It might embolden what’s left of his church. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993/37 "2014-03-18T20:08:14Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > They aren’t the only demented assholes on the planet. There are others too who lack the balls to be public about it and they send money to the WBC. No there aren’t. Yes, there are rabid anti-gay assholes. Why do you think the WBC stopped picketing funerals of gays and started picketing funerals of soldiers? To isolate the cult from other right-wing extremists. The WBC consists of the Phelps family and a few other people who have married into it, and nobody else. The pickets and public demonstrations are specifically designed to isolate the kids born into the cult from the rest of the world, even other right-wing anti-gay churches. Nobody is sending Fred Phelps money. They are not part of the right-wing media megaplex. Fred Phelps is motivated simply by sadism, nothing more complex than that. And the main victims are his own family. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993/38 "2014-03-19T01:18:38Z")
There’s a saying about wrestling with a pig that seems apropos. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993/39 "2014-03-19T01:38:20Z")
I would not picket if they were a block away and I have the day off, for all the reasons enumerated above. Let them wither away into obscurity, please. I’m curious about the (so far) 12 people who’ve said they would, yet have not commented saying why they would. ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993/40 "2014-03-19T01:51:17Z")
I’d dearly love for the members of Westboro church to feel like total crap, and if picketing Fred’s funeral could do it – I’d be all for it. However, I don’t think any of the Westboro church members have the capacity to feel like crap. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-picket-fred-phelps-funeral/683993.md?page=3)