This it the 'insanity' I am talking about!

[reddogs]

Rude, cruel, hate filled postings and absolutely un-Christian behaviour on the forums, where is it coming from and why is it happening, you dont see it at church or bible study, so why here.....Well its running rampant on the websites from all the "freedom" to insult and abuse that users feel and its insane behaviour that cannot be excused.. look at this article:


"Brooke Brodack remembers her first online "hater."
Nearly two years ago, the person posted rude comments about a video she had posted on YouTube, says Brodack, 21, of San Francisco, whose videos show her lip-syncing and creating characters. "It was shocking to me. Why would someone want to be so mean for no reason?"
Why, indeed? Nasty comments, sometimes even death threats, have become ubiquitous on virtually any website that seeks to engage readers in discussion."

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/internetlife/2007-07-30-cruel-web_N.htm?csp=34


We can changed it here, we dont have to give in to hate and anger, lets turn it around while we have a chance in our reworking our forum and prove we can all study and discuss Gods truth without rancor or personal attacks. What does everyone think?

 

[Telaquapacky]

Red,
What I have noticed is that people on the internet treat one another as inanimate objects. They hate anyone who thinks differently from themselves.

Among my close friends I hang out with there are many who have political or religious beliefs very incompatible to mine. Am I a weirdo (well, we all know the answer to that!) or what? If it's a problem, we just don't talk about it. Every time someone here really flames me, I can't escape the feeling that if we knew one another personally, went to church together, we would be hiking and camping and eating and playing music and even studying the Bible together, happy as two peas in a pod. I always try to relate to other people here as if they secretly, were my best friend, and I did not know their true identity. I sadly admit that it has taken me some time to learn this.

But, and I'm going to harp on this subject until everyone is tired of hearing it- because I think this is a big reason for the problem:

People come here expecting to change other people.

That's an unrealistic expectation. If we come here just to discuss our ideas freely and lovingly accept others even if they will never change or agree with us, where's the reason for anger? It's gone!

 

[TrustAndObey]

The same emotion used in road rage is used online by a lot of people (seriously, I read a lengthy study on this). When you're driving it's easy to disassociate the person in front of you as a "thing" instead of a person.

Or you think of them AS THE CAR, instead of the person driving it.

How many times has someone stopped short or gone too slow through the green light (resulting in you getting the red light) and you say to yourself "idiot"?

What if you found out the person in front of you was someone you know and love?

 

[JonMiller]

I don't get stressed or upset people almost ever. I don't think I have ever been upset by driving, even when people almost hit me. One of the times I do is when people display poor sportsmanship.

I do get stressed at situations though (like the fact that the rental office is requiring mail instead of allowing fax is going to cost some money). Or the presentation I have next week.

JM

 

[TrustAndObey]

I've stressed a couple of times when driving, but I rode with my cousin once and oh my gosh....never again. SHE is the type of person that totally disassociates others and it was downright scary.

I told her to hang her license up and start taking the bus.

She looked at me like "why?"

 

[honorthesabbath]

You know--there a lot of innocent ppl in prison today because someone falsley accused them of a crime.

But thanks be to the Innocense Projects around this country these ppl are being exonerated and set free. But many times after spending decades behind bars.

I am always filled with joy when I hear about one of these cases. But my mind then always wonders about the false accuser. Why do they always walk away unscathed, as if what they did to ruin that other persons life means nothing. According to scripture, when someone is found to be bearing false witness, then the false accuser gets the same penalty that the accused would have recieved.

Now I'm sure you are asking what this has to do with this thread. Let me tell you.

There are may in here that have the 'gift' to incite. They seem to stay just below the radar as to go undetected. Just like the bully in the classroom who pulls on the little girls pigtails in front of him. She screams in response and all the attention is one her--not on the action that CAUSED that response.

Maybe we should be looking at the bullies.

 

[TrustAndObey]

I went to a high school filled with bullies.

I learned self-defense, how to become a comedian, and how to talk my way out of anything.

But do you know what really worked the best? Not reacting. Walking away.

Bullies go after people that respond.

It aggravates the heck out of them when you don't.

 

[TrustAndObey]

Try it.

Seriously.

 

[NightEternal]

There are may in here that have the 'gift' to incite. They seem to stay just below the radar as to go undetected. Just like the bully in the classroom who pulls on the little girls pigtails in front of him. She screams in response and all the attention is one her--not on the action that CAUSED that response.

Maybe we should be looking at the bullies.

I will not retaliate....I will not retaliate....I will not retaliate....

(*Takes deep breath and walks away*)

 

[honorthesabbath]

Try it.

Seriously.

I tried--and SERIOUSLY--it doesn't work--at least not in here--they follow you around like hound dogs.

 

[TrustAndObey]

Try it again.

You are reacting.

Let's focus on something else for a little while and see if it doesn't just die down a little.

For instance, let's remember what wonderful news you got this morning and send up some praises for that.

I typed the words "Praise God!" but I don't think I really have.

Dear Father,

Thank you so much for sparing a young life today and giving him a taste of freedom so he can rejoice, take lessons he's learned with him, and never forget the mercy You showed him this day.

Let him continue to see the value in giving up earthly things to make a commitment to You. Let him see that value every day, in all of Your many wonders.

Many times we don't see the plan when someone is persecuted, but with this person we do see that his life was heading toward a life of turmoil, and we thank You for stopping the hold drugs had on his life. We also thank You for allowing him to see the people around him were leading him in the wrong direction.

And Father, we ask that You continue the blessings in his life as he walks out the door to a new life.

All praise to You.

Amen.

 

[OntheDL]

Red,
What I have noticed is that people on the internet treat one another as inanimate objects. They hate anyone who thinks differently from themselves.

Among my close friends I hang out with there are many who have political or religious beliefs very incompatible to mine. Am I a weirdo (well, we all know the answer to that!) or what? If it's a problem, we just don't talk about it. Every time someone here really flames me, I can't escape the feeling that if we knew one another personally, went to church together, we would be hiking and camping and eating and playing music and even studying the Bible together, happy as two peas in a pod. I always try to relate to other people here as if they secretly, were my best friend, and I did not know their true identity. I sadly admit that it has taken me some time to learn this.

But, and I'm going to harp on this subject until everyone is tired of hearing it- because I think this is a big reason for the problem:

People come here expecting to change other people.

That's an unrealistic expectation. If we come here just to discuss our ideas freely and lovingly accept others even if they will never change or agree with us, where's the reason for anger? It's gone!

I don't claim authorship. But I have used it here and in a hobbist forum. It's called 'keyboard warriors'. I have met many in person. I almost always tell myself afterwards 'who would have thought?'.

 

[OntheDL]

Red,
What I have noticed is that people on the internet treat one another as inanimate objects. They hate anyone who thinks differently from themselves.

Among my close friends I hang out with there are many who have political or religious beliefs very incompatible to mine. Am I a weirdo (well, we all know the answer to that!) or what? If it's a problem, we just don't talk about it. Every time someone here really flames me, I can't escape the feeling that if we knew one another personally, went to church together, we would be hiking and camping and eating and playing music and even studying the Bible together, happy as two peas in a pod. I always try to relate to other people here as if they secretly, were my best friend, and I did not know their true identity. I sadly admit that it has taken me some time to learn this.

But, and I'm going to harp on this subject until everyone is tired of hearing it- because I think this is a big reason for the problem:

People come here expecting to change other people.

That's an unrealistic expectation. If we come here just to discuss our ideas freely and lovingly accept others even if they will never change or agree with us, where's the reason for anger? It's gone!

When we take it upon ourselves and not let the holy spirit do the work, that's when we get into trouble.

 

[reddogs]

When we take it upon ourselves and not let the holy spirit do the work, that's when we get into trouble.

OntheDL,

It has taken me many trials and much anguish to comprehend this truth as I saw my school mates falling away from the truth, friends giving up their beliefs, and family turning to New Age or other false religions, and not be able to do a thing. God has tried to teach this truth and I have struggled against it, but I am beginning to understand that nothing can change a individuals heart and mind except the Holy Spirit. We are only instruments in Gods hands and can only present ourselves in faith to do what He asks of us....

 

[IntoTheCrimsonSky]

We can changed it here, we dont have to give in to hate and anger, lets turn it around while we have a chance in our reworking our forum and prove we can all study and discuss Gods truth without rancor or personal attacks. What does everyone think?

I completely agree, Red. The more we focus and spend time speaking of Godly things, the less space we leave open for Satan to influence things..and the less we will find the need to argue with eachother.

I'm really saddened by what's going on here. From what a friend told me, some of it is happening in the offline area of chruch too. Sigh. To be honest, if it doesn't stop I'm out of the SDA forum untill some peace is found. There's more love going on in the other areas of CF right now.

God has tried to teach this truth and I have struggled against it, but I am beginning to understand that nothing can change a individuals heart and mind except the Holy Spirit. We are only instruments in Gods hands and can only present ourselves in faith to do what He asks of us....

Very very true. It can get very frustrating when we see something so clearly, it seems so right to us..and we do not understand why others don't see it too. That's when things can either turn for the better or worse. Unfortunatly, a lot of people let it turn to frustration and misunderstanding.

Blessings and love,
Sarah

 

[annie1speed]

Night,

!!!

I am proud of you.

Annie

 

[Telaquapacky]

OntheDL,

It has taken me many trials and much anguish to comprehend this truth as I saw my school mates falling away from the truth, friends giving up their beliefs, and family turning to New Age or other false religions, and not be able to do a thing. God has tried to teach this truth and I have struggled against it, but I am beginning to understand that nothing can change a individuals heart and mind except the Holy Spirit. We are only instruments in Gods hands and can only present ourselves in faith to do what He asks of us....

Red,
Thank you for the window into your soul. Having said that we err in coming here to change people, and echoing what you said, that we can't change people, a new thought came to me. We can change people- through love. That is the only method that our Lord uses to change us- He knows what works. The added benefit for us is that, if we love others, and if we fail to change them, we still love them.

If we keep thinking about this (this isn't rocket science for us- We're Christians, for Pete's sake!), I think this present storm and strife could turn into something beautiful.

 

[IntoTheCrimsonSky]

Red,
Thank you for the window into your soul. Having said that we err in coming here to change people, and echoing what you said, that we can't change people, a new thought came to me. We can change people- through love. That is the only method that our Lord uses to change us- He knows what works. The added benefit for us is that, if we love others, and if we fail to change them, we still love them.

If we keep thinking about this (this isn't rocket science for us- We're Christians, for Pete's sake!), I think this present storm and strife could turn into something beautiful.

Very nicely put.

God bless

 

[reddogs]

Very nicely put.

God bless

Crimson,

I just noticed your age, were are all these young kids coming from, is the Spirit being poured out and we are missing it........what a glorious time we are living in and there is so much more to come.......



A pleasantly surprised Red