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.
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.
Christians who follow the Bible in its proclamation of the Gospel, according to the way we are told in those Scriptures, are duty bound to tell all the other false religions and those perpetrating false doctrines (those "doctrines of demons") that they are pushing cult teachings and that those teachings will lead straight to hell and to eternal torment in the lake of fire.
Christianity is "exclusive" in its teachings and all other religions are "false" and deserve to be called false and heretical. They deserve to be bashed out of existence for teaching doctrines that the Bible calls "doctrines of demons" which will lead to death and eternal separation from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
I meant like Catholic posts that try to explain why other denominations aren’t true because it is the only true church. Very much a turn off.
4) Do not leave really long comments
I never read a post over two or three paragraphs. If I see links in that long post as well I just scroll on past.
I meant like Catholic posts that try to explain why other denominations aren’t true because it is the only true church. Very much a turn off.
I understand ... :-) ... and it can work both ways, too. I mean, if one says that they've got the "only way" -- then they better be prepared to defend it and defend it vigorously, because if they're wrong, they're gonna get hammered bigtime.
And that goes for Christianity (per the Gospel and exactly according to what the Word of God says). Christianity will have to stand and defend its position in what the Bible says, in regards to the Messiah of Israel, being the only way to God and not through any man or any institution and any organization and/or any group -- being the one and only true way.
And so, if some "organization" comes up and tries to say (in place of what God says in the Bible) that "this organization" is the only way to God and without going through it (and its own teachings) that you can't be saved -- then they better be ready for a lot of flack over that one -- because that's not what God says in His Word ... :-)
This idea, which says, we should not criticize (when others are wrong) and we should "play nice" (when others are sending people straight to hell by their false teachings) -- is garbage -- and that's all that is being "promoted" here ... by some saying to "play nice" ...
It's lame and it's ridiculous. I just say "tell it like it is" and when some other group is teaching false doctrines, then make sure you are clear that they are teaching "doctrines of demons" and are sending people "straight to hell" and not to God.
That's all I'm saying ... :-) ...
#18 If, for some deeply irresistible need, you feel the urge to give advice, don't be disappointed if no one takes it.
#19 Do not attempt to psychoanalyze the deep seated emotional physchotic breaks that have occurred in the minds of posters who were rejected by their mothers and still compete for their father's love. Never try anything like that.
#20 Above all don't be thin-skinned and think the whole world is against you. The whole doesn't know you....yet.
Consider that stolen, err, borrowed, yeah, that’s it, borrowed.
That’s a keeper.
FRegards,
SZ
Well put ST. And it would also help if, before commenting, that the person determine the type of thread. It may not be posted in the title but you can find it in keywords and topics section. But if they are open, they should be left open.
Agreed. I suggested this to add to the other two threads linked in the RM profile, not as a proposal for a rules modification.
I would tend to agree unless they take a serious approach at defining why my faith is better than your faith. And if they can manage to do so without an overtly pejorative tone. For example, if I, as a Catholic, read an article (or a post) that refers to my faith as "Romanist" or "Papist," I will instantly either a) ignore it; or b) interpret every single iota in the worst possible light. (I would be confident that if I was to post an article that talked about "Bible Thumpers" or "Snake Handlers," that non-Catholics would likewise do the same)
If you take the articles that OneVike posted today talking about the roots of the Reformation, there is no way that the articles could be considered in a positive light; however, since they were pejorative-free, I actually read them.
#22 When you start to post something accusing somebody of some inconsistent or negative position, if you're not sure they hold to it (you think they might, but aren't sure), ask them. Put the comment in question form vs. assumption form. [Exception: If the poster is an active member of a given body of believers, then some assumptions about standard doctrinal positions can be made...but even then, remember that some are "cafeteria" pick & choose-'em style; others are "inactive"]
#23 Don't hold other posters to a standard you're not willing to apply to yourself. For example, if you accuse others of intolerance, ask yourself first, "How tolerant am I of their religious vantage point?" (If you're intolerant of it, then it doesn't make much sense to accuse others of perceived 'religious intolerance')
Yes. When He cleansed the temple, He was cleansing His Father's house. That shows love for His Father. He was also doing so for the good of Israel. That, too, was showing love.
But the key thing is that this same Christ did a whole lot of other things. He, in fact, had the majority of the Pharisees really, really upset with Him because He offended them (He forgave too much and did good not according to their rules).
He did both. And sometimes in surprising fashion.
But here's one thing: would a person who felt compelled to harshly critique every violation of his beliefs feel compelled to walk into a house of worship and shout out those beliefs?
Just curious. Are you offended because we believe that the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ and contains the teachings that Christ gave to the apostles?
Are you offended that we affirm that belief publicly?
Or are you offended when somebody is "in your face" about it?
LOL
shamelessly ripped off
“1) Be charitable. If you are not making a comment out of love, you have no reason to make it.”
Darn! Jesus and Paul and Jude missed that one!
I mean like Prot posts about how Catholics are evil and satan worshippers.
but those are just facts. /sarcasm
Who ever was posting those “Radio Replies” threads should be banned
Funny!!! Oh, how I hope JR doesn’t get many of these!
I agree with your designation of the truth of the gospel. Regardless, we are told to “speak the truth in love”, so I still think the guidelines in the OP about posting comments are important to abide by. I cannot be responsible for how someone receives the message but I CAN be sure of my motives for posting and the tone in which I speak/write.
Definitely some excellent points, but indeed they are a bitter medicine when one’s sacred ox is being thoroughly gored on a regular basis.
Ultimately it boils down to maturity, does it not?
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