why is this place so hostile?

I think a lot of people, including many who go to church, mistake debating with warring.

The sad thing is, Baptists (just like many others) are known for their infighting. It sometimes makes me wonder how many Baptists are actually followers of Christ. "Love your neighbor as yourself" evidently does not translate into "Love your fellow believer as you love yourself"....

This was posted in the humor section, but the message behind it is tragically true:http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=36725

In the long run, corndogggy, real Christianity -- actually following and worshiping Christ as a born again person -- is not a common thing. The fury of Christ at the Pharisees in Matthew 23 is, I doubt sincerely, limited to Pharisees. There are many, many church leaders who may be excellent organizers, teachers, ministers, all kinds of talents -- but they are not followers of Christ. Thus the members of those churches are not getting what they need.

And some of it will show up on Christian forums. People are more than willing to fight for what they believe to be right, but less willing to BECOME what is right.

God bless you. I'm glad SOMEONE understands computers!

 

I think there are a variety of different answers to your question, but it seems that your post was more rhetorical than anything, so I will just give you a couple :thumbs: :thumbs: in agreement!

 

I could not with any integrity attribute the hostility on this board as problems that arise out of being a Christian. This board in particular is exccessive in its hostility that is not relfected in any other board I have been to.

I do not know that the potential isnt there in other boards but the moderators jobs are different. To much ugliness gets left unaddressed here. It is a shame that adults must be so vindictive.

 

I can testify to that.

 

I guess I run in different circles, because I do not think this board is nearly as hostile as a number of ones I have lurked on.

As to why hostility, speaking very broadly, people don't post to hear, they post to be heard.
Very few ever say that they are influenced by posts to change their minds. Yet it is easy for the same people to get irritated when their brilliant posts not only don't change minds, they seem to be ignored altogether.

And let's admit it, corndogggy, conflict can be more interesting. The threads with lots of responses and views often are personalized and conflict-driven. People complain about those threads, but far fewer post on the "nice" threads, of which there are actually a great many.

 

I think most of it simply stems from the type of people who typically search the internet for forum boards. Why do most of us come here? Many of us come here to "defend/debate/argue" our side of things. We are a specific type, and we are looking for a specific experience. Those sports/hobby forums are filled with people who want to find out current news in that area or just chat with other people who share the same interests. Im not saying that good fellowship doesn't exist here on the BB, but you've gotta admit, many people come here with the express intention of convincing other people that their opinion is correct. This is not mainly a fellowhsip board.

But OTOH, neither is it anywhere near as bad as it COULD be. It has actually helped me mature a bit to be able to handle those who come here only to see their point vindicated.....and it has taught me not to be that way myself. (or at least to try :thumbs: )

 

I have found other "Christian" Websites far more hostile than this one. I left one because of it. However, I believe that many of the hostile people aren't Christians in the first place--just pretenders.

 

Well, it looks like you folks haven't been here that long to have seen times worse than you have seen on this board.
That's right, worse than you've seen already.
Let me tell you all that there's been a whole lot of improvement here, although every now and then, mavericks would manage to trickle through, but all told, everything's under control, really.
The moderators have been doing a good job, and some of the members, including yours truly, have been honestly looking at their posts and seeing some faults in themselves and so began to streamline the way they present their arguments.
Remember that when debating doctrine the id more often than not gets involved and so there is a tendency to think that one is always right and the other always wrong and so often counter-reasonings are taken on a personal context and so the flesh takes over.
Perhaps you perceive this board as hostile because you do not expect to see language and reactions such as you've seen here in a supposedly Christian board.
But bear in mind that this is a board set up not for doctrinal yea's but precisely to discuss them, and so there are various streaks of Baptists and other denominations here, and with those streaks come, of course, different temperaments.
This board is like a church in some sense. Saints who were formerly sinners still living in their former sinners' bodies.

Now, take the "racist" thread you say you have seen.

Giving the benefit of a doubt to the starter of that thread I think all he was actually saying is "why set aside a certain day for a mere mortal complete with all the trimmings of a holiday" ?

And then some on this board take that as a racist thing, being big admirers of the man being celebrated, and begin to debate the OP along that line. The OP then defends himself, and things start to deteriorate from then on.
I happen to agree with the OP, yet am myself oftentimes a victim of racism in subtle ways, because racism manifests itself in many forms, such as job turndowns, or a church you visit first time and you are treated like you're not even there.

So, keep your chin up. Wade through the "hostility", and you'll see it isn't what you thought it was.

 

Sorry, but you must not get around much. I can give you links to 3-4 "Christian" boards that make this board look like a love-in.

 

Me too.. it is much better than it was in the wild west days...
I was called fat, and was sent emails telling me I was going to Hell, and sending my youth group there all because I wasn't a KJVO.

I don't think it is as bad as that now. Or maybe I just changed!
One thing that makes BB unique is the relationships here.
I have seen people fight like crazy on one thread, and tag team together on another one. Then when people request prayer for something, everyone comes together to support them... even the supposed enemies.

We are a family. We fight, we cry, we fight, we laugh, did I mention we fight... but when it all comes down to it... we are still family.

The mods are more fair here than other boards..
One board I was reading the other night had a thread about interracial marriages... and one person said that they were against them because the blacks are supposed to be servants... Talk about racism... I still haven't seen it that bad here.

 

Well I may be blissfully ignorant. I dont have the time to venture into all that many boards. I did venture into a site that was athiest and titled after their hate toward the Bible. But I expected that to be somewhat hostile.

I have to say I have seen it worse here.

 

If the BB was all hugs and kisses I'd never come back. It takes iron to sharpen iron, ya know.

The BB is actually fairly calm, outside of the Bible Versions/Translations forum and the Other Christian Denominations forum. Enter those at your own risk.

 

I haven't felt nothing but Loveeeeeeeeeee.

My daddy used to whip me until I wet on myself and say it was because he loved me.

:BangHead: :smilewinkgrin:

 

Did someone say love?

 

While I would whole heartedly agree that there are "Christian" boards that are worse in their demeanor than this one, but that doesn't excuse poor attitudes and disrespectful posts in this one.

We should be able to talk about our views while still respecting the other person regardless of what goes on on other boards.

I myself have stopped posting on a great number of threads because as one poster said many people "know" they are right and are out to prove everyone else wrong. There are a great many here that are extremely unteachable and have no desire to be teachable and that comes out in their posts.

Again just because it is worse somewhere else doesn't mean poor attitudes and disrespect should be put up with here.

If we offend someone we should be big enough people to admit fault and learn from the account and move on instead of trying to justify it.

 

I think it would help if we try to have an open mind about other peoples views. (As in the non essentials) And try to be teachable like you said. I think that would help us not be so upset at times.
If nothing else, this board has been a learning experience for me. Very interesting at times. lol
Scarlett might have said it best in her post, as usual. She's a very wise woman.

This board is calmer compared to the past. Progress maybe?

 

This isn't a forum here that I moderate so maybe I can try to explain a little. We do have strict rules here, we also have a "report post" button for posts which violate the rules POSTED HERE .

We are dealing with adults posting in "debate" forums. There will be a different demeanour there than in the "fellowship" forums. The moderating team must allow some measure or liberty in expressing views and opinions or censorship would result in a board with no discussion.

When it comes right down to it, the onus for proper posting comes down to the posters. While we often tend to see arguments from our own viewpoints as "balanced" when we disagree we see them as "hostile."

There are real, imperfect sinners saved by the grace of God posting here.
There is no excuse for ungodly posting, no one should do it. But people here, as in the real world, are imperfect.

I have posted on many boards, but I keep coming back here because of the balance between freedom to post and limitations on improper behaviour.

 

It will be most interesting to see how our attitudes will differ and how our "treatment" of others will differ once we're in the presence of our Lord.......what a day that will be.