At one point I even signed up for a Retreat membership! Bill had alerted me to a particularly virulent thread about something I had written that was available only to members. I signed up under a new name (can't even remember what it was, now). Jess, understandably, immediately spotted that this new member was from Minnesota, of course suspected (she was the people on the pavement!) and sent a politely worded welcoming message asking what brought me there. Unlike Ennis, I immediately told her who I was. I really wasn't into sneaking around or anything, I just wanted to access that stuff. But apparently, according to Bill, she then deleted the thread about me so I never did get to see it. I think I maybe posted there once or twice -- Bill kept encouraging me to jump right into the political arguments, because I think he likes the challenge of a debate, too. Say what you will about Brokeplex; he's not interested in enveloping himself in some kind of conservative-only cocoon.
For the record, there was indeed a discussion of an article you had written for, if I remember correctly, Salon.com. Personally, I didn't really have much of an opinion about it one way or the other. Bill thought that since Retreat members were discussing your article, that you should be able to read the comments. I was one who agreed with that. There were others who thought differently. An argument broke out, and Jess decided to delete the thread once everyone had their say.
But I had no interest in stirring up trouble there, or even getting in any big arguments. The Retreat members had very clearly indicated that they were not interested in posting here, in an environment where their views are an anathema to many other people, and where they were almost always in the minority. I am sorry about their decision, but I can understand it. So why should I invade their turf? Besides, the other site was run by a popular, charismatic, interesting and often charming leader to whom people felt a lot of affection and loyalty, and I can understand why they flocked to her.
I cannot speak for the other members at the Retreat, but I will tell you why I followed the other conservatives over there. First, I felt that Jess was handled unfairly over here. I disagreed with the decisions of the moderators and site owner over her exile. Second, there are opinions and conversations that we have over at the Retreat that I know would not be tolerated over here.
I do have to hand it to Milo, though. Milo, you're one of the few if not the only BetterMost conservative who has hung in here. I believe it's partly because you also genuinely relish the challenge of presenting contradictory ideas, and I fully understand that impulse.
True. I stay here because I think its important to offer a different POV.