This board

I have long been mystified by the apparent inability of Christians, here as in any place of discussion, to let things go. Perhaps this is one of the reasons Paul warns against debates. He knew that debate would degenerate into personal attacks.

I enjoy a good discussion, but cannot abide name calling hate filled attacks. I have been here almost two years, and have been moderating about 18 months, and my biggest complaint about our board is this fighting, squabbling, un-Christlike spirit that only a few members use to make their point. There is almost a "I HAVE to get the last word in" mentality for this select few posters.

Of course, admin/moderators cannot win. For example I have been attacked and received vicious hate mail from both sides of the versions debate. However, that is par for the course and was to be expected when we accepted our role as moderator.

In another context I have posted these words of Christ several times in the last week. I wonder what our debate could be like if we, all of us, including moderators, took this to heart?

We have a mechanism short of a scathing response when a personal attack takes place. It is called the "Report Post" button (the button is there here now, at the bottom right of every post). If one is not satisfied with that, there is another option. Just be man or woman enough to walk away from the fight. Too often our pride, and our pride alone, won't let us do that.

Belonging to and posting on the BB is not a right, it is a privilege granted by the owner of this site. He pays the bills, the rest of our get to use this place for free. Yet, some seem to only want to complain about how the place is run. If I don't like the way a store is run, I don't go back. I have joined several boards, not liked the way they were run, and left. I didn't leave with a scathing attack on the admin, I didn't even write demanding that my name be removed from the roles, I just quit posting. Perhaps some may feel compelled to take that step. Unfortunate, but perhaps sometimes necessary.

Christ left us an example to follow, when we are reviled, revile not again, but commit ourselves to the One Who judges righteously.

 

I would like to say I have been active on some very good dicussions since I have been on board.with none of the problems I do see on some threads.

 

the irate: you can ignore them, run from them, or be them (you could try reason but remember they are irate)

 

if we were catholic we could try holy water but it might mess up my pc

 

How do you know the question was changed? It was edited to include the comment about the temporary closure of the thread.

 

Hi Dr. Bob,
I guess I couldn't see it because the "Report Post" button kept getting in the way...

Thanks for the info.

here now

 

I did not change a word of the OP when I closed the thread until we had a chance to discuss it in the Private Moderator's Forum. All I did was add a note stating why I was closing the thread for a period. The edit function shows the following on the OP:

This indicates that I am the only Moderator who has edited the OP. Therefore, you must not remember correctly.

 

C4K informs me:
(the button is there here now, at the bottom right of every post).
**********************************************
Thanks C4K.

 

Perhaps it might be a better idea to clarify things before posting accusations?

 

Sorry but you were not. You asked why the OP was changed, which was a fine thing to ask. However, you went on to throw out an accusation that we (the Moderators) edit posts that we do not like and how that seems to be an unfair practice to you. Then you stated that it may be possible that you might not be remembering correctly (which is a fine thing to acknowledge). So... what C4K is driving at is that you should have asked your question and made your assertion that you may not be remembering correctly without adding your accusation that the Moderators use the edit function to gain control over posters (for their own personal reasons).

Yours in Christ,

Bible-Boy

 

Well, that's no fun!

 

It is LESS fun when you try to clarify a post and get attacked. When your words are changed and then used against you in quotation marks.

When you are threatened, this is real bad when it is a moderator ...

I try to count to ten, but sometimes we (I) do not count to ten.

 

As I said before, I utilize this as a mirror to the church (NOT THAT I EXPECT THE CHURCH TO BEHAVE THIS WAY).

If I cannot be righteously indignant with those on this board, then I KNOW that I will not be righteous with members of the church I lead in(*). However, as a student of many arcane and useless subjects (history, logic, math, theology, science), I do believe that many of the attacks are ad hominem (attack the person) rather than the issue.

And therefore, I try to act as if each one of you was in my congregation causing love or trouble. When I do not succeed in an appropriate manner, I have apologized.


(*) If we have this much time, shouldn't our spare time be an indicator that we ARE leaders?