After ten years, it is time for me to leave Baptist Board. I decided months ago that this forum was no longer edifying to me, in fact, it was becoming unhealthy to my spirit to participate. There is too much disinformation, ignorance, prejudice, conspiracy theories, misogyny, racism, and bad theology, even kooky theology, on display here.
It has become impossible to have a civil discussion on just about any issue, both political and theological issues. It’s quite fashionable to rubber stamp anyone with a differing opinion here as a liberal. Insults and putdowns are normal here. (Yes, I’m guilty of sending insults, though usually only in reaction to one sent my way.)
I no longer consider this place to be a positive force for the gospel. I shudder when I consider the unsaved people that visit here and read the bickering and outright crazy opinions and theological positions espoused. This place has become a lousy testimony for Jesus. I don’t want to be associated with it anymore.
Consider the vast numbers of registered members on this board. There are almost 15,000 members. What happened to them? They’ve left. Consider that people register, maybe write a “Hi, I’m New Here” post and then are never heard from again. Why is that? I would suggest they’ve taken a look around and don’t like the tone around here.
There are no longer any women that post here regularly. Let that sink in. In fact, there are hardly any women that post here at all. Just a couple of years ago there were at least a half dozen women that participated. No more.
This place is dying. Many other good people who gave well considered, thought provoking posts have left. Most of them were not in lockstep with the pro-Trump purity bloc that dominates this place and I suppose they got tired of being insulted, shouted down, and having their pro-life stance, conservatism, and even their salvation questioned. Just to be clear, I opposed Trump (and Clinton) in 2016 but have come around to supporting him after seeing what he has accomplished.
Pretty soon, as more and more people leave, this echo chamber will resonate with posts by only about a dozen people. I have an image in my mind of the same handful of people sitting in front of their keyboard waiting to pounce on anyone that dares post something that deviates from the party line.
To the mods and/or owner of the board: I think the best thing to happen to Baptist Board would be to get rid of the political forum and the Calvinism vs. Arminianism forum. These two forums generate the most heat and least light of any of the forums on BB. Either that or tighten the rules and do some actual moderating. Political bickering can be found ANYWHERE on the internet. Why have it here?
My exit strategy was to make it to my ten-year anniversary in December and then sign off. It soon became apparent I would not make it that far. The next exit point I considered was when I reached 25,000 posts. I’ve reached that now so I am signing off. Twenty-five thousand posts with almost 5,600 positive ratings. I consider that to be a pretty good ratio. I think that record gives me the liberty to say the things I’ve just said.
I am leaving. Go ahead and post your vitriol and insults towards me regarding this post. I’ve been here long enough I already know exactly what you will say and who will say it. I will not respond. In any event, I don’t expect this post will survive more than a couple hours of publication. If it stays up I will be surprised.
I pray the Lord will give all of you good health and a long and blessed life. Good-bye.
It has become impossible to have a civil discussion on just about any issue, both political and theological issues. It’s quite fashionable to rubber stamp anyone with a differing opinion here as a liberal. Insults and putdowns are normal here. (Yes, I’m guilty of sending insults, though usually only in reaction to one sent my way.)
I no longer consider this place to be a positive force for the gospel. I shudder when I consider the unsaved people that visit here and read the bickering and outright crazy opinions and theological positions espoused. This place has become a lousy testimony for Jesus. I don’t want to be associated with it anymore.
Consider the vast numbers of registered members on this board. There are almost 15,000 members. What happened to them? They’ve left. Consider that people register, maybe write a “Hi, I’m New Here” post and then are never heard from again. Why is that? I would suggest they’ve taken a look around and don’t like the tone around here.
There are no longer any women that post here regularly. Let that sink in. In fact, there are hardly any women that post here at all. Just a couple of years ago there were at least a half dozen women that participated. No more.
This place is dying. Many other good people who gave well considered, thought provoking posts have left. Most of them were not in lockstep with the pro-Trump purity bloc that dominates this place and I suppose they got tired of being insulted, shouted down, and having their pro-life stance, conservatism, and even their salvation questioned. Just to be clear, I opposed Trump (and Clinton) in 2016 but have come around to supporting him after seeing what he has accomplished.
Pretty soon, as more and more people leave, this echo chamber will resonate with posts by only about a dozen people. I have an image in my mind of the same handful of people sitting in front of their keyboard waiting to pounce on anyone that dares post something that deviates from the party line.
To the mods and/or owner of the board: I think the best thing to happen to Baptist Board would be to get rid of the political forum and the Calvinism vs. Arminianism forum. These two forums generate the most heat and least light of any of the forums on BB. Either that or tighten the rules and do some actual moderating. Political bickering can be found ANYWHERE on the internet. Why have it here?
My exit strategy was to make it to my ten-year anniversary in December and then sign off. It soon became apparent I would not make it that far. The next exit point I considered was when I reached 25,000 posts. I’ve reached that now so I am signing off. Twenty-five thousand posts with almost 5,600 positive ratings. I consider that to be a pretty good ratio. I think that record gives me the liberty to say the things I’ve just said.
I am leaving. Go ahead and post your vitriol and insults towards me regarding this post. I’ve been here long enough I already know exactly what you will say and who will say it. I will not respond. In any event, I don’t expect this post will survive more than a couple hours of publication. If it stays up I will be surprised.
I pray the Lord will give all of you good health and a long and blessed life. Good-bye.
