Posted by Rick [Rick] on March 26, 1999 at 16:59:42 {FMFBt36Xyc4OMRnBnS.YMWRctB9oBIfGc}:
In Reply to: *****Truth and WAR posted by Moderator 52 on March 26, 1999 at 15:20:20:
Gdday Neighbor (as the Aussies would exclaim)! :-)
I agree with your thoughts that "OT�s expression as a supposed theological dilemma needing an answer rather than a personal attack or insult. In fact, similar sentiments to OT�s are frequently expressed by people who have little if any faith in our creator."
Perhaps rather than getting trigger happy on the warning form, I should have simply gone into showing him that the same message can get delivered without accusatory or inflammatory wording. The wording came across to me as a personal attack or insult to God himself.
I believe you can challenge someone, even publicly question their credibility, in a respectful manner that leaves open the channels of communication. Others can respectfully show you where they believe you're wrong. However, openly calling someone, e.g., a murderer because that someone was accused of murder -- rather than respectfully stating the evidence that convinces you so and so is in fact a murderer unless someone else proves otherwise -- is a personal attack on that person.
Delivery of a message is important on the single-dimensional sphere of a discussion forum because besides words there is no depth. Words must convey everything, and if written with inflammatory style can start "flame wars." That was how the designations "flamer," "flame bait," and "flame war" were coined in electronic discussion forums. Someone would skillfully state something in provocative and inflammatory words that caused an all-out "flame war" of angry, hateful and retaliatory words.
Examples:
A regular board participant wanting to discuss their frustration with the old testament and issues OT raised might state: "I apologize in advance if offending anyone, not my intent, but an issue about the old testament is bothering me more and more. That issue centers around IMO gruesome accounts of babies dying and women being raped. The thing that really bothers me, and in my search for the honest truth I'm open to being corrected if wrong, is that the old testament shows that God was behind many of these deaths. Admittedly, this has given me a hostile feeling toward God, and I have even stopped believing in God as one who is good and loving. You can well imagine the hostile feelings toward God one might have in this predicament. Although convinced this is the terrible truth, I ask anyone to really and truly prove me otherwise. If you can do this, I'm not going to deny the truth. Regretfully, I will not hold my breath. If I'm wrong, please prove me otherwise. Respectfully, (name)."
Can you imagine the good in-depth discussion this might start that will lead to greater understanding of God and his moral standards from both sides?
A "flame baiter" who wants to cause trouble might state the exact same message the opposite: "I could care less if offending anyone, because that's exactly my intent. Wake up you fundies! An issue about the old testament is ******* me off more and more! (Proceeds to do a complete hatchet job on God, calling him a rapist and murder, and then extrapolates that every Christian in the forum has the same tendencies with their children...finally the tirade ends causing the board to fill with insults and namecalling, a tidal wave moderators cannot control.) (Even signoff is "flame" material...) With utter disrespect and contempt, (signs name).
You see my concerns for this forum about getting participants to compose their posts thoughtfully? If that's not worth the time and effort, then is the message worth even sharing if it will cause many others to leave in disgust?
Your thoughts on my thoughts?
Rick