[patmcguire]

I always thought of them more as attention whores than a real hate group.

Why do they only show up whenever there's already massive media attention? Sure, they hate gays, but what does that have to do with any of their protests? Either they keep happening to genuinely believe that the latest tragedy is what's most offensive to God or they just love being in the spotlight and poking people in the eye and use religion as a pretext.

It'd be better if instead of vilifying and hacking them, once again giving them play in the media, everyone would just ignore them.

[genwin]

> Why do they only show up whenever there's already massive media attention? Sure, they hate gays, but what does that have to do with any of their protests?

The usual: money. They make $$$$ from suing people who illegally block their protests. They probably don't hate gays at all. More likely it's a family business.

[anchorsteam]

I recently watched a video made back in January of Shirley Phelps talking with an openly gay DJ during one of their protests. It's surreal at first. Then preconceptions melt as it becomes obvious that the two actually have been buddies for quite a while. WBC is a professional trolling organization hell bent on keeping awareness of Scripture on the front page. They're like "Dick Masterson" except they want you to buy a bible.

[duaneb]

Well, Fred Phelps is a violent psychopath. It would not surprise me at all if the suing was just to support their hate.

[matazj]

There was someone who was with the WBC on Reddit doing an IAMA earlier. According to him, this is just a myth. These people really do believe it what they are preaching. They don't even earn that much from suing people.

[charliesome]

They are a family of lawyers...

[duaneb]

> It'd be better if instead of vilifying and hacking them, once again giving them play in the media, everyone would just ignore them.

I think the people at the funerals would disagree. This is far too personal for them to be considered media whores.