Jim Thomson@FreeRepublic.com
Cheers!!
Posted on 06/09/2010 2:33:23 PM PDT by markomalley
After profiling the different types of blog commenters recently, I had some requests for advice on how to be the good kinds of commenters, rather than the bad. Here are some dos and don’ts that might help:
1) Be charitable. If you are not making a comment out of love, you have no reason to make it.
2) Do not comment when you’re angry. You’ll probably regret it and won’t be able to undo it. Anything good to say will still be good in a few hours when the anger has worn off a bit.
3) If you quote part of the article or another comment, make it a short quote. Do not copy and paste huge chunks of the article or other comments into new comments. If we need to reread the post or another comment you are referencing, we can scroll up and reread it. Just give us enough of the quote to know what you are referring to.
4) Do not leave really long comments (aka don’t be a Tome-ist). People generally will not read them and they are convo-killers. If you can’t say what you need to say in a paragraph or two (or maybe three), then I would suggest dropping a few of your lesser points for the sake of your better points. Try to be as succinct as possible. This will make your comment more valuable, more appreciated and more likely to be read and responded to.
5) If there is a character limit on a combox form, it’s there for a reason. Please don’t spread your long comment across multiple submissions until you’ve said all you want to say. It’s annoying.
6) Do not feel like you have to have the last word. Say your piece and then rest at peace.
7) Make good points, not lots of points. A lot of blog comment convos start with one point. Then somebody responds with 3 points. Then the other person responds with 6. And with each iteration each person feels the need to respond to each point the previous person made plus a few new ones. Try to reverse that trend. Respond to 6 points with 3. Respond to 3 points with 1. Make your one point just that good.
8) Go with your gut. If you’re gut is telling you that maybe you shouldn’t say something (but you still really want to say it), don’t say it. You’re gut is probably right.
9) If you are sharing links or promoting something, make sure you are contributing to the post topic/conversation. If you are only interested in promoting something else, you will do more harm to your cause than good.
10) Say a quick prayer before making a comment.
11) Be an informer, not a misinformer. Don’t spread information around unless you are reasonably sure it is true.
12) Read the post (don’t be a Slacker). Responding to something that you haven’t read is just obnoxious and foolish. Just ask Attorney General Eric Holder.
13) Remember that you are a guest on somebody else’s website. Don’t say anything you wouldn’t say in somebody’s living room if they invited you over for dinner. If it doesn’t pass the living room test, keep it to yourself.
14) Remember that your comment is public. It is not a private conversation between you and somebody else. Far more people will silently read your comment than respond to it.
15) Be Christ. WWJD? Allow Christ to work through you. Don’t say anything Jesus wouldn’t say. Your strongest evangelization weapon in the combox is your love and the way you conduct yourself - not the points you are making.
16) Comment. You don’t have to be really smart, have an awesome point, or something really valuable to contribute. Your opinion is valuable. Saying something encouraging or nice is valuable. And you never know how it will impact the many unknown people who will come across it and read it.
One of the fundamental aspects of giving a soul to the internet is our loving presence. Don’t be shy.
might be something of interest for your profile page
When Christ cleansed that temple out was he being charitable and was it done in LOVE?
bookmark
1) Be charitable. It will drive your opponents nuts.
This only covers comments, to bad it does not cover anti-religion threads that are only created to bash a certain religion and to illicit negative diologue. That gets a wink and a nod sometimes.
Maybe they shouldn’t be posting things that do nothing but say “Our faith is better than your faith”
I’m encouaged that the writer didn’t ask WWPD (what would the Pope do)?
Just kidding.
But, but, what if you're a lazy clod and you just can't help it? I know, no excuses just like my TI use to say. Good ideas.
Good advice.Although, I admit I opened it at first becauseI misread and thoughtit said: Holier than thou. :)
Very good points, all! Thanks for posting.
17) Don’t clutter up otherwise good sites with fluff from phony baloney, blow dried, TV preachers and then run tattling to the mod when people complain.
Yes.
Absolutely!
They were stealing from both God and the people, it was Christ's love of both God and his fellow man that compelled him to clean out the Temple of the thieves.
Well done!
Ha! TM4 the thread killer I am!
We have (1) Prayer, (2) Devotional, (3) Caucus, and (4) Ecumenic threads. These appear to be working just fine, as it is. The only "problems" you run into are on the "open threads" ... and that's another story altogether, and I think the open threads should be left wide-open and left alone as they are.
Prayer threads are closed to debate of any kind.
Devotional threads are closed to debate of any kind.
Caucus threads are closed to any poster who is not a member of the caucus.
For instance, if it says “Catholic Caucus” and you are not Catholic, do not post to the thread. However, if the poster of the caucus invites you, I will not boot you from the thread.
The “caucus” article and posts must not compare beliefs or speak in behalf of a belief outside the caucus.
Ecumenic threads are closed to antagonism.
When Christ cleansed that temple out was he being charitable and was it done in LOVE?
Exactly.... Jesus, Himself, would be called "unchristian" by many ... LOL ... And in some countries, He would be accused of "hate speech" too ... hoo-boy!
Anyone who wants to promote this idea of being "more christian" than Jesus was in His life on this earth and more "christian" than what the Bible says in God's Word -- is simply trying to promote some version of "hate speech" and silence people from speaking the true Word of God.
Maybe they shouldn’t be posting things that do nothing but say “Our faith is better than your faith”
The Gospel, per the Scriptures -- says that all other "religions" are worthless and are "absolute garbage" (uses words worse than this) -- and leads straight to hell.
All other religions are worthless, according to God ... there is only "one way" and that way is by way of Jesus, as the Messiah of Israel and no other way (no organization on earth, no church body, no group, no-nothing)...
If one follows the Bible and what it says, then they will be telling all those others that they are following a worthless religion which will lead straight to hell and the lake of fire for eternal torment.
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