Comments on: If only a soft answer turned away anger…

By: Bene Diction

Bene Diction — Tue, 09 Mar 2004 00:50:13 +0000

Hi Jared:

Sometimes people say things just because they can.
I hope your friends have rallied around you and helped this fellow understand he is being hurtful and needs to stop.
If it appears he can’t then you have to be the one to move on. I’m speaking from sad experience on that point, and remain grateful for the common sense I found in the blogging world when I encountered abuse.
It doesn’t have to be complicated. When we believe people are created in the image of God we don’t abuse them.

I respect you for re-evaluating your boundaries.
You bring up a great point.
We all have gifts.
There are seasons, times and purposes.
If some of your personal gifts and needs don’t fit well into the blogging model, then what can you bring?
I have seen you bring fruits of grace, mercy and encouragement many times Jared. I’ve seen you stand in defense of others with gentle and patient meekness. Perhaps it is time we give some of back to you, eh?

By: Jared

Jared — Tue, 09 Mar 2004 00:22:22 +0000

Thanks, Bene.
What made it worse was that the guy came back to comment on my announcement that I was taking a break (which didn’t mention him at all) just to get in one last little jab. I find that not only rude, inappropriate, and unChristian — but downright evil.

I’m in the process of reevaluating my presence online and to what extent, should I resume blogging, I will participate in my comments threads and others.
I have a healthy need for debate, and I also have a gift for prophecy (not prescience, just declaring the truth firmly), but I’m learning that the exercise of these things is not always prudent in a community pretty much built on anonymity. People can hear things incorrectly and are more tempted to say incorrect things when they don’t have the immediacy of face-to-face contact.

By: Bene Diction

Bene Diction — Mon, 08 Mar 2004 23:41:04 +0000

Hi Jared:

Thanks for clarifying.

The ‘vicious rhetoric’ is a personal choice isn’t it? I know we come from all kinds of backgrounds and levels of maturity, but when we tell someone their word and tone is hurtful and they don’t/won’t stop the abuse, it’s hard to shake the dust off and move on.
I guess all we can do is remain determined to keep our own speech and behaviour honouring to God, others and ourselves.
I am sorry you’ve been subjected to verbal harm.

By: Jared

Jared — Mon, 08 Mar 2004 23:15:57 +0000

Actually, just a brief correction:
The Thinklings are not taking some personal time. This Thinkling is, especially from my solo site, Mysterium Tremendum (http://www.thinklings.org/jared). And another Thinkling has mentioned easing off a bit. But we still have 10 or so other blogg-able Thinklings who aren’t going anywhere. And the one or two of us who are taking a break will likely be back.

Just wanted to point that out, because the Thinklings group blog is not taking a break at all. Blogging will continue.
It’s Myst.Trem. that is on official hiatus.

I also like what you have to say about how believers online treat each other. That is almost exactly why I’m taking a break. Another blogger called me “a pig of Satan,” “a bull**** artist,” “a hypocrite,” “a backstabber,” and “a fake Christian.”

Sing it with me now:
“And they’ll know we are Christians by our vicious rhetoric . . .”