Whatever happened to the WBC?

[gsdx]

Have they vanished from the planet? There hasn't been a thread about them and their shenanigans for many, many months. I can't remember the last thing they protested, but I recall that they didn't get anywhere near the spot. Haven't heard from them since.

 

[FuryOfFirestorm]

Good. I hope it stays that way.

 

[Ram]

That is not an issue for me. Even if they have been protesting and whatnot, I'm glad we are not reacting to their nonsense.

 

[MTLDude]

The less we talk about them, the less power they got! So let's collectively shut the fuck up about them!

 

[gsdx]

The less we talk about them, the less power they got! So let's collectively shut the fuck up about them!

It seems we already have. I was just curious if they were still in business.

 

[fetaby]

They're still in business. They're still attempting to protest various funerals, music concerts, pop culture conventions, etc...


The reason you haven't seen anything about them in months is two-fold. 1. They haven't done anything "major". 2. It's an election year. If the WBC started making headlines, then naturally our candidates would be asked their opinion/stance on them. Much easier all around if the politicians aren't forced to think on camera...

 

[rareboy]

I'd swear that one of them posts on our CE&P forum.

 

[G-Lexington]

They were supposed to picket the memorial for the shootings at the Aurora theater (apparently God told the shooter to go kill people at a Batman movie because he hates fags). They didn't show up. They just photoshopped themselves into photos from the memorial.

No, seriously.

Lex

 

[FuryOfFirestorm]

They were supposed to picket the memorial for the shootings at the Aurora theater (apparently God told the shooter to go kill people at a Batman movie because he hates fags). They didn't show up. They just photoshopped themselves into photos from the memorial.

No, seriously.

Lex

They pulled the same weak bullshit with Whitney Houston's funeral. They threatened to show up and make a scene, but they knew that security wasn't going to let them within 30 miles of the funeral, so they just posted photoshopped pics and claimed they were there. The photos were quickly debunked and the WBC walked away with their tail between their legs.

The only thing sadder than a troll is a lazy troll.

I suspect that it's not profitable for them to troll every event in person anymore, especially since people are onto their game. They used to show up, piss someone off, get assaulted, and then sue everyone in a 10 mile radius for big $$$. Now everyone either ignores them or does a non-violent counter protest - which means no profit for them. No use paying for a bus, gas, food, lodging and whatnot, just to show up and not have anyone to sue for a huge payday.

 

[G-Lexington]

It sort of suggests that their main goal isn't even to "spread their message" - it's to piss off the piss-offable. And if they have to resort to crappy photoshopped images to get people angry, it suggests they're limping along.

Lex

 

[ShihTzuTylenol]

on a lighter note---I ♥ the word shenanigans and all its Irish implications


ooooo the dryer buzzer just went off---I needa fold some clothes, so if you'll please excuse me for like ten minutes(American)....

 

[frankfrank]

^ Did you fall into the dryer? It's beey waaaaaaaaay over ten minutes!

 

[Anders123]

It sort of suggests that their main goal isn't even to "spread their message"

There has been a lot of speculation that they just do what they do to anger people into 'infringing upon their rights' so they can sue (as was mentioned above), however Nate Phelps did an AMA (ask me anything) on Reddit and confirmed that they truly believe their message.

Here's a link to some of the questions he answered: IAmAn Ex-Member of the Westboro Baptist Church

It's an interesting read; provides some insight into the dynamic of the family and the organisation.

 

[gsdx]

There has been a lot of speculation that they just do what they do to anger people into 'infringing upon their rights' so they can sue (as was mentioned above), however Nate Phelps did an AMA (ask me anything) on Reddit and confirmed that they truly believe their message.

Oh, I truly think they believe their message, but I also think that they rely upon the winnings of lawsuits to allow them to afford to travel around the country and the world to promote that message. That can't be cheap.

 

[FuryOfFirestorm]

Oh, I truly think they believe their message, but I also think that they rely upon the winnings of lawsuits to allow them to afford to travel around the country and the world to promote that message. That can't be cheap.

The only thing I don't get is this: According the WBC, everyone except them are going to Hell, and nothing can be done to change that. If that's the case, what's the point of going around and yelling about it, other than to be an asshole and rub it in?

At least when other religions go out and preach, they try to convert you in order to "save" you. With WBC, the point just seems to be trolling for attention and lawsuit money. Their "beliefs" just give them an excuse to be smug assholes and sue for huge settlements.

 

[LaughOutLoud]

They were going to come to Scotland at one point last year, but our government stepped in and banned them.



Pity too, because hundreds of gays and lesbians (and straight people too, come to think of it) had organised a huge flashmob, all singing "Born This Way" where they were going to be protesting.

 

[G-Lexington]

The only thing I don't get is this: According the WBC, everyone except them are going to Hell...

I don't recall where I heard this, but if memory serves, the WBC thinks they're going to hell, too. Which makes this make even less sense.

Lex

 

[Kulindahr]

There has been a lot of speculation that they just do what they do to anger people into 'infringing upon their rights' so they can sue (as was mentioned above), however Nate Phelps did an AMA (ask me anything) on Reddit and confirmed that they truly believe their message.

Here's a link to some of the questions he answered: IAmAn Ex-Member of the Westboro Baptist Church

It's an interesting read; provides some insight into the dynamic of the family and the organisation.

Superb -- thanks.

I don't recall where I heard this, but if memory serves, the WBC thinks they're going to hell, too. Which makes this make even less sense.

Lex

They currently seem to believe that they'll never die, but the rest of us will, leaving them to have the planet all to themselves -- though it's hard to tell sometimes. Shirley has apparently explained that the world will end 42 months after Obama's inauguration, though, which doesn't fit that.


I keep hoping to read that they went to protest somewhere and there was parking reserved for them, but when they stepped out of their van it was right into instant-set cement that the disturbance turned hard in just seconds, so they had to stand there stuck in concrete two blocks from the event.....

 

[G-Lexington]

They currently seem to believe that they'll never die, but the rest of us will, leaving them to have the planet all to themselves -- though it's hard to tell sometimes. Shirley has apparently explained that the world will end 42 months after Obama's inauguration, though, which doesn't fit that.

I thought it had to do with America being damned in toto. Apparently, every American is going to hell because we allow gays rights, and God is letting us know this bit of information by killing soldiers and people in movie theaters. And so the WBC is protesting not to save the skins of those in attendance, but technically their own.

But then again, it seems they change their minds an awful lot.

Lex

 

[Tadaa]

Megan Phelps-Roper still posts on twitter. Her last post was on the Aug 16. Maybe they were raptured...it being 2012 and all.