Negative reputation and personal insults

[rsc2a]

Wow...

My "reputation" so far is 6/-3. I don't have a single negative because of points I've made other than when I said people should be nice to one another. The negatives are because I dared to say that people shouldn't resort to personal attacks and should treat each other with dignity and respect.

Here is the commentary I've received with the negatives:

"You are a blooming idiot."
"Answer the freakin question" (when I refused to engage with people who were condescending)
"Condescending idiots get called stupid - get used to it."

---

What is most saddening to me about this (not necessarily the private comments but the ones in the public areas) is when I think about non-believers who read this site and think that such behavior is the mark of a Christian life. People really should ask themselves if name-calling, insults, and uncontrolled aggression are the marks of a true believer. It's almost as if the words of the Bible don't mean anything...

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

 

[Eliz553]

Is this your first time participating in an internet forum?

Did you ever see the old fff?

(BTW I agree that some stuff posted is quite the opposite of showing fruit of the Spirit, and I personally have a problem with some of it).

However-
This post is not going to be well-received.

This type of posting (on ANY internet board) is generally referred to as hand-slapping. The reaction by other posters is generally of the "who died and left you the boss" type.

Also, if you dish out, you are gonna get back.

Posting your negative rep comments is generally considered whining (with rare exception).

It sounds like you might be looking for a highly moderated board. (Those, however, have their own issues). This board is new, but it seems to me that the owner has stated that it will be minimally moderated. Maybe it isn't the place you are looking for.

 

[The Real Bob]

Is this your first time participating in an internet forum?

Did you ever see the old fff?

(BTW I agree that some stuff posted is quite the opposite of showing fruit of the Spirit, and I personally have a problem with some of it).

However-
This post is not going to be well-received.

This type of posting (on ANY internet board) is generally referred to as hand-slapping. The reaction by other posters is generally of the "who died and left you the boss" type.

Also, if you dish out, you are gonna get back.

Posting your negative rep comments is generally considered whining (with rare exception).

It sounds like you might be looking for a highly moderated board. (Those, however, have their own issues). This board is new, but it seems to me that the owner has stated that it will be minimally moderated. Maybe it isn't the place you are looking for.

Other than taking a forum too seriously......
What Eliz said.  8)

 

[rsc2a]

Is this your first time participating in an internet forum?

Did you ever see the old fff?

Nope.
Yup.

(BTW I agree that some stuff posted is quite the opposite of showing fruit of the Spirit, and I personally have a problem with some of it).

However-
This post is not going to be well-received.

This type of posting (on ANY internet board) is generally referred to as hand-slapping. The reaction by other posters is generally of the "who died and left you the boss" type.

And, that's one big part of the issue. We are called to speak the truth in love. We are also to be salt and light. Everyone (myself included) tends to initially bristle at correction, yet it is through the correction of the Holy Spirit (frequently using the Scripture as the impetus) that we conform to the image of Christ.

The second big part is how horribly we function as ministers of reconciliation and ambassadors of Christ when these are the types of examples non-believers see as "Christian" behavior. If we are known by our fruit, I don't want that fruit to be bitterness, insulting behavior and personal attacks. There was a study that showed people are most strongly going to remember the things they are most in disagreement on, and when non-believers would find our behavior extremely boorish, that is what they will generally take away from the "Christian" life.

Also, if you dish out, you are gonna get back.

I generally try to refrain from personal attacks. I don't know that I'm always successful, but I do attempt to apologize when others point it out. I'm not saying we can't disagree on issues and debate them with great energy, but there is a difference in attacking someone's ideas and attacking the person.

 

[rsc2a]

Posting your negative rep comments is generally considered whining (with rare exception).

Generally, but in this case, I think it's warranted...

For example, after posting the initial post, I have gotten two more negatives (in addition to some positives).

So I have five negative points and four are from one individual. (That tells me the system needs to be revised somehow.) How did this individual response now?

"quit whining moron. You think Catholics believe in sola gratia"
"You're retarded for thinking Catholics believe sola gratia."

How is this a Christ-like response? In fact, I personally could care less what someone says about me in private. It's the fact that people act that way in public forums, all in "the name of Christ". I want to see Christ proclaimed by everyone, and if Jesus will be made evident by our love for one another, I feel it is every Christian's duty to remind one another of these truths. We model Christ most effectively not by uniformity, but by unity in spite of our differences.

 

[rsc2a]

Other than taking a forum too seriously......
What Eliz said.  8)

Why is this serious? Because, whether people recognize it or not, these forums are a tool for "evangelism" by the fact that they are "Christian" forums. Everyone is a preacher, and people (esp non-believers) are hearing a message when they read these posts. Are they hearing the message of Christ or His enemies?

I, for one, want people coming to a "Christian" forum to hear the message of Christ.

 

[Eliz553]

Everyone (myself included) tends to initially bristle at correction, yet it is through the correction of the Holy Spirit (frequently using the Scripture as the impetus) that we conform to the image of Christ.

Bottom line: The Holy Spirit - you "ain't".

I personally disagree with some things I see posted on here, also, but...
it seems to me that you are attempting to exert some control that is not yours to exert.

 

[Eliz553]

Why is this serious? Because, whether people recognize it or not, these forums are a tool for "evangelism" by the fact that they are "Christian" forums. Everyone is a preacher, and people (esp non-believers) are hearing a message when they read these posts. Are they hearing the message of Christ or His enemies?

I, for one, want people coming to a "Christian" forum to hear the message of Christ.

I disagree. "People" don't come to this forum to be proselytized.

They may come here for a variety of reasons.
a- Some to relate to people who are currently in, or who have come out of, a culture similar to their own
b- Some to deal with baggage from a culture they have, or are in the process of, leaving
c- Some to snark (snide remark) about culture they have left
d- Some to preach to b and c
e- Some to argue with any of the above
f- All of the above for a little light entertainment, a way to spend a little down time

It might have happened, but I am not aware of anyone coming to either this forum or the old fff to be proselytized.

And I would argue that this is not a "Christian" forum. Many of the posters may be professed Christians, but the forum is not.

 

[Izdaari]

Well, I agree with the OP. There is entirely too much of the kind of negative behavior here that he's talking about. And if we don't like it, we have every right (and perhaps duty, as Christians) to complain about it.

Just my opinion of course, but when I see posters issue a lot of personal insults, deserved or not, I take everything they say a lot less seriously, and if it continues and seems to be their normal pattern, even when they're otherwise rational and well-informed, I may want to put them on ignore. 

 

[The Real Bob]

Other than taking a forum too seriously......
What Eliz said.  8)

Why is this serious? Because, whether people recognize it or not, these forums are a tool for "evangelism" by the fact that they are "Christian" forums. Everyone is a preacher, and people (esp non-believers) are hearing a message when they read these posts. Are they hearing the message of Christ or His enemies?

I, for one, want people coming to a "Christian" forum to hear the message of Christ.

I rest my case.

 

[jimmudcatgrant]

Wow...

My "reputation" so far is 6/-3. I don't have a single negative because of points I've made other than when I said people should be nice to one another. The negatives are because I dared to say that people shouldn't resort to personal attacks and should treat each other with dignity and respect.

Here is the commentary I've received with the negatives:

"You are a blooming idiot."
"Answer the freakin question" (when I refused to engage with people who were condescending)
"Condescending idiots get called stupid - get used to it."

---

What is most saddening to me about this (not necessarily the private comments but the ones in the public areas) is when I think about non-believers who read this site and think that such behavior is the mark of a Christian life. People really should ask themselves if name-calling, insults, and uncontrolled aggression are the marks of a true believer. It's almost as if the words of the Bible don't mean anything...

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

 

[standingtall]

We are called to speak the truth in love.

Aye, there's the rub.  You are speaking what you perceive to be the "truth".  Problem is, a lot of folks don't agree with you.

 

[HeDied4U]

We are called to speak the truth in love.

Aye, there's the rub.  You are speaking what you perceive to be the "truth".  Problem is, a lot of folks don't agree with you.

I think it's okay to disagree with folks, but not to call them names and/or mock them when you do so. IMO, that just shows a lack of maturity and of the Holy Spirit. Now, having said that, I'll admit that I am I'm guilty of doing it, more so on the old FFF (especially when it came to DD or Glory Land) than here, but yes the temptation is always present to type out a snarky/snotty response while in the "heat of the discussion." Sometimes I erase and retype what I was going to say in a different way before hitting the post button, but sometimes I have to go back and edit a post after making it.

Anyway, just my $.02 cents worth on the subject.

 

[Castor Muscular]

We are called to speak the truth in love.

Aye, there's the rub.  You are speaking what you perceive to be the "truth".  Problem is, a lot of folks don't agree with you.

I think it's okay to disagree with folks, but not to call them names and/or mock them when you do so. IMO, that just shows a lack of maturity and of the Holy Spirit.

I agree, you big poopy-head. 

 

[HeDied4U]

We are called to speak the truth in love.

Aye, there's the rub.  You are speaking what you perceive to be the "truth".  Problem is, a lot of folks don't agree with you.

I think it's okay to disagree with folks, but not to call them names and/or mock them when you do so. IMO, that just shows a lack of maturity and of the Holy Spirit.

I agree, you big poopy-head.

Poopy head? POOPY HEAD?!?!? Did you just call me a poopy head?

I'll have you know sir that my head is not poopy. I used plenty of toilet paper so any chance of me being an actual poopy head are zero.

 

[The Real Bob]

We are called to speak the truth in love.

Aye, there's the rub.  You are speaking what you perceive to be the "truth".  Problem is, a lot of folks don't agree with you.

I think it's okay to disagree with folks, but not to call them names and/or mock them when you do so. IMO, that just shows a lack of maturity and of the Holy Spirit.

I agree, you big poopy-head.

Dang. You beat me too it, fish-breath.

 

[rsc2a]

Why is this serious? Because, whether people recognize it or not, these forums are a tool for "evangelism" by the fact that they are "Christian" forums. Everyone is a preacher, and people (esp non-believers) are hearing a message when they read these posts. Are they hearing the message of Christ or His enemies?

I, for one, want people coming to a "Christian" forum to hear the message of Christ.

I disagree. "People" don't come to this forum to be proselytized.

They may come here for a variety of reasons.
a- Some to relate to people who are currently in, or who have come out of, a culture similar to their own
b- Some to deal with baggage from a culture they have, or are in the process of, leaving
c- Some to snark (snide remark) about culture they have left
d- Some to preach to b and c
e- Some to argue with any of the above
f- All of the above for a little light entertainment, a way to spend a little down time

It might have happened, but I am not aware of anyone coming to either this forum or the old fff to be proselytized.

And I would argue that this is not a "Christian" forum. Many of the posters may be professed Christians, but the forum is not.

See...that's just it. I didn't first arrive here (or the old boards) because of any of the reasons you named. I was researching a particular topic and google happened to place that thread fairly high on the list.

---

I have a friend who walked away from the church for a variety of reasons. We've been talking about a lot of things, and we were sharing youtube clips with each other. I happened to show her a couple clips from one of my favorite preachers, and she said "this is very different from what I was used to hear or whatever" (her exact words). I told her that the kind of message she was listening to tends to make many in the church uncomfortable because he was preaching the gospel (as opposed to therapeutic moralistic deism that is so often preached) She replied that "It doesnt make me uncomfortable, it makes me think." (again...exact words).

Since she was interested (she started chasing down her own youtube clips of preachers I had named), I gave her the link for where said preacher's church is so she could download entire sermons. I talked to her a couple days later, and she had been listening to several of them and doing research: looking up terms she wasn't familiar with, trying to see the difference in the various flavors of Christianity, cross-checking what preacher had said vs what others said, etc...

I hate the idea that, during her checking things out (much like how I found the boards), that she'd run across a lot of the stuff I'm speaking against. Instead of finding believers proclaiming and living out lives reflective of the love, mercy, and grace of our Lord, she would see the Church doing the work of the enemy. The Church truly is the only army that shoots their own wounded, and not only do they shoot their own wounded, but they paint targets on their brothers and sisters so the enemy can get better aim.

 

[rsc2a]

We all fail in both regards, imo.

I'll definitely confess my guilt in this area. But I hope that I am, by God's grace, being conformed into the image of His Son. It is what I, however imperfectly, strive for.

 

[Aviator]

Wow...

My "reputation" so far is 6/-3. I don't have a single negative because of points I've made other than when I said people should be nice to one another. The negatives are because I dared to say that people shouldn't resort to personal attacks and should treat each other with dignity and respect.

Here is the commentary I've received with the negatives:

"You are a blooming idiot."
"Answer the freakin question" (when I refused to engage with people who were condescending)
"Condescending idiots get called stupid - get used to it."

---

What is most saddening to me about this (not necessarily the private comments but the ones in the public areas) is when I think about non-believers who read this site and think that such behavior is the mark of a Christian life. People really should ask themselves if name-calling, insults, and uncontrolled aggression are the marks of a true believer. It's almost as if the words of the Bible don't mean anything...

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

 

[rsc2a]

7 negatives so far because I said people should behave civilly towards one another...

Dear Jesus, save me from Your "followers".