Goodbye

Larry --

I fear our paths have not crossed often, but I am
sad to see you go. While I have not been able to
get to know you at all, the very reasons you should
stay are the reasons you listed for leaving.

There are a lot of fine people here, and the
majority of them have no desire to see the arguing
and name-calling, nor do they join in on it.

Perhaps we could count the number of times
the threads deteriorate, or take note of which
threads so that they can be avoided, or even
take note of the ones who do tis so that they can
be avoided. If these numbers, therads, and
people were compared to the others, you would
find more reasons to stay than to go.

 

Larry,

Funny how the Lord works. I just confronted finally this very thing you addressed so much better than I. I am leaving also. I am staying until after Christmas as I committed myself to a dear lady in the Christmas exchange. Some will ask you to stay and continue to allow people to kill the brethren with their tongue. As I said, I tried to bring it up and my only choice is to shut up & stay and watch the slaughter continue, or leave. I will leave also after the exchange, making some very happy to see me go.

There really is nothing else you can do. It is only right to leave in my opinion when you feel there is no resolution. It is easier to ignore rather than confront.

I hope I didn't hijack your thread but it seems the Lord gave me this opportunity to let you know you aren't the only one who sees this problem.

There are many who have blessed me and I hope to stay in contact with them. I pray for us all including those who stay.

Go in peace. God bless you.

 

Abiyah,

The problem is how many more threads will have to be ignored until there is none left to post on? I cannot off the top of my head seen one serious discussion that has not turned into a slander rather than debate.

 

"All that is needed for evil to succeed, is for one good person to do nothing."

Cheers,

Jim

 

I am sorry that when people feel they need to leave to go to another board, they have to turn their good-byes into a bashing of the Baptist Board.

We are not perfect here, we're just forgiven.

I am always sorry to see anyone leave here, but if you must go then God speed.

Blessings,
§ue

[ November 04, 2003, 12:26 AM: Message edited by: I Am Blessed 16 ]

 

I'd like to hear more.

Please tell me in what ways you feel that the administration of this board could make it a better place and a better reflection of Christ.

Refrain from naming names, please. Don't let it become a slugfest. Don't fall into the same trap as those whom you criticize. Give me constructive recommendations. You have a vital opportunity here.

Clint Kritzer
Administrator

 

Elnora --

I am sorry to see you leave, too. Very sorry,
because I have at least gotten to know you some
and have enjoyed our exchanges. Of course, we
can stay in touch, but it won't be the same.

Sure, I usually stay away from the Bible Transla-
tion and Arminian/Calvinism threads most of the
time, but once in a while, there will be a topic even
there that draws me in. But then, I guess I do walk
into frays at times, and sometimes, I guess I have
unfortunately caused some.

I had the unfortunate experience of saying some
choice things on another board about my old
church, learning later that the woman I said them
to was my old pastor's daughter. I felt so stinking
bad that I haven't been back, and I never said
goodbye. I certainly know I am not perfect -- far,
far from it.

I do wish you woud stay on, but if you must go . . .

:-(

 

Very big sigh.

What the gumdrops is going on here?

 

I was surprised to see this thread reopened.

I must say to alleviate any fears about bashing here. I have never gone behind anyones back to bash. I will never go to another board and gossip about this one. I never have and pray I never will. When I tell people I love them I mean it.

God bless.

 

I agree with Larry, although I see this in all the forums that I read on this Board. Presently, people are afraid to post an opinion for fear of being attacked, labeled, or banned. The atmosphere is stifling and the opinions expressed must be of the majority. Rules are not enforced equally. There seems to be a double standard.

This is the first Board I was a member of. I have been a member longer than the date shows because I forgot my user name and password and had to reapply. When I first joined the Board, I was very lonely and found refuge here.

Since joining this Board, I have been on some non-religious Boards and I am ashamed to say that no one is attacked when one disagrees or has a difference of opinion on those Boards the way they are attacked here. And yes, I have had my salvation questioned here on this Board.

The women's forums on this Board have all but dried up.

When I post, I try to think of the all the ones who are reading only, especially the non-Christians who are searching for the truth.

I feel that the Baptist Board entry statement and I quote BaptistBoard.com is a free discussion forum for the Baptist community.
We believe that open and honest exchange of ideas can be beneficial to all participants. is no longer being applied." The Board does not seem to be for all types of Baptists.

Another problem, I see is that questions from new members are not taken seriously and many times these questions are not answered. I know that many of my questions have been totally ignored.

Further, is it against the rules of the Baptist Board to join other Boards? Many of the members were on other Boards before they came here and they still are.

To answer your question about how the administration could make this Board a better place and a reflection of Christ would be to have the rule "NO questioning of member's salvation, even the nonBaptist". Another thing would be to address the opinion and not the person.

I also think that people take some opinions as an attack personnally when they are not, but I don't know anyway to solve that.

I don't know if it is true that permanent banning has been done without warning, but if so, it seems members should be warned at least three times before a permanent banning.

I think the fear of permanent banning without warning which may be caused by a rumour or misunderstanding is another problem with the Board at this time.

I appreciate this Board and thank you for the work the Administrators and Webmaster are doing to further the Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ.

 

Even beautiful roses have thorns, and often they prick when we least expect it. So it is with people. We must learn or adapt to taking the good with the bad, try to see the good, but always alert for the thorns in the brush.

There are a lot of good people on the Board and I appreciate them immensely. There are also some who are looking for a lifting hand, a little pat on the back, and we must be aware of them also. As george Beverly Shea sings, "If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living will not be in vain."

Cheers,

Jim

 

Absolutely not!

Thank you for your replies so far. I am still listening.

 

Thank you, Clint.

 

I will say this, moderating is not easy, and from my experience as a moderator, fairness was always a consideration. I agree that rules were not always applied equally, because moderators are human too. I assure all readers, that before a decision is made, the situation is generally thought through carefully.

May the Lord continue to bless the moderators, and may we continue to respect all, moderators and people alike. Afterall, the main purpose here is fellowship, and we all should be pulling the oars in the same direction.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Clint I so want to address this and was going to, but I have been called out. Are you going to leave this open a little longer?


Love in Christ,
GloryBound

 

I worry a lot about whether I have done some of the
things mentioned here. Sometimes, it is easy to
get carried away with the passion of the moment
and I will write things that may be offensive. I
know that in recent days, I have had to hold
myself back in one thread from writing what I
was really thinking, but what I did write was still
very harsh. It is very difficult for me to know
where that line is, so that I will not cross it.

I know, too, that there are two board members
whom, if I am to be honest, I just do not like! In
order to keep from writing too much, I simply
avoid them and one other (that I actually do like!),
especially since I have admittedly written clear
statements to two of those which clearly did
question their salvation. However, when I did it,
I did it out of sincere concern for them.

So one wonders at times where that line is . . .
and have I crossed it . . . and was I not repri-
manded because no one noticed, because others
agree, or because I am seen as incorrigible?

But regarding PMs for discussion of some
problem between people, I have seen this used
and abused too often. Too many people have
said they were viciously attacked on PMs, that
people use these because they are afraid to
show their real faces in public but will on a PM,
etc. For this reason, if I am going to write such a
thing, I would rather write it in public and take the
heat. At least this way, I can learn from the
experience, rather than being covert and possibly
never learn anything. Besides, many PMs have
found their ways out onto the public board, to the
shame of us all.

Once, I wrote a PM in support of a board member,
and the receiver completely turned what I said
around,attempting to make me out to be evil. I
learned from this to use PMs even less. I will use
the PMs to communicate privately on a light level,
but I will not use them in order to deiberately
discuss anoteh member, whether supportively
or not.

And finally, I think the moderators have been doing
a wonderful job. I would not want their job, so I
really appreciate them all.

 

I certainly hope a guest or a baby Christian thinking about joining does not see this thread. I would hate for them to get turned off by the comments of a few when there are so many good people here.

It is opening up private scars to people who did not even know there was a problem.

What ever happened to solving these issues via PM or, at the very least, in the Members Private Forum which is password protected?

BTW, it's not just some of the members who are afraid to speak out. It works that way for moderators as well.

 

I have found that communication normally involves many levels of expression.. Facial, posture, tonal qualities etc... we need to remember that when we post they cant hear us or look at us so it is hard and cold or hot and flaming etc. the written (or typed) word must be very carefully chosen.