A Few Comments...

I get most of my news from the Internet.  It's been awhile since I subscribed to or even read a regular old newspaper.  What I like about the Internet is that I have more control over what content I want to read about.  Want to know more about a story? You're already plugged in to a vast wealth of information on any topic you can imagine.  Couple that with the nearly instant feedback of fellow readers, and you have a much more interactive and immediate news experience.

As much as I like this new experience, I find myself particularly bothered by one aspect of the new media: the comment.  It amazes me to know end that so many people find a comment section for a story as a platform for discussing anything and everything with the exception of the actual story itself.  Of the comments that are on topic, many choose to use the comment section as an opportunity to express not a well-thought opinion, but as a chance to insult the persons, places or businesses that are being featured.  The only thing I find myself learning from my fellow readers is that they can be ignorant, arrogant, rude and just downright nasty.

I am a fan of commenting.  I've left my fair share of comments to news stories, on blog sites and as reviews for businesses and products.  I find that an honest review from someone I can possibly identify with to be one of the truest forms of sincerity as well as a great source of useful information, especially when it's not coming from a marketing agency.  What concerns me though is that there seems to be little or no sense of propriety in the types of commenting I am experiencing on a regular basis.

As an example, I recently read a story about a local church that is suing a local woman for defamation.  The suit alleges that the woman has essentially embarked on a smear campaign against the church, it's pastor, his family and the members.  For her part, she claims harassment and spiritual abuse by the very people that are suing her.  Let me say that I have a few very strongly held opinions about this type of matter.  As a Christian, I find the thought of a church suing a fellow Christian to be an very poor representation of Biblical teaching.  But I'm not hear to make comments on that particular story.  What really got my attention (and my ire) were the comments from readers.

I read both the story and the woman's blog.  Since I'm not privy to the full discourse of information regarding this case, it's hard for me to say who is speaking the full truth here.  As someone who has known people who have been treated poorly by churches over the years, I find a tendency to want to automatically side with the woman.  That's okay.  I have the right to my opinion.  You have the right to yours.  I have a right to express that opinion in a public setting if I choose.  So do you.  The question is, when you and I choose to express our rights, do we necessarily have the right to do so with no restraint whatsoever over our chosen thoughts and words?

To be honest, yes, we do.  As long as we are not directly violating an established law in our comments, we really do have a right, in a public forum, to think and say whatever we want, even if it's not relevant to the conversation at hand. What isn't governed by law, however, is appropriateness. I find myself counting comments at times to see how many comments are made on a story before the nastiness starts in.

Let's take the example I made above.  On both the site where I read the story and on the woman's blog (which was linked to in the story), comments went to the negative and off-topic very quickly.  Comments ranged from attacks on this woman for expressing her right to free speech, to those who attacked the church and Christianity itself, to those who used some unpleasant labels both for the church and this woman.  I realize that religious issues in and of themselves are likely to be a source of heated debate among our very diverse culture.  I realize that we're simply not all going to agree with each other.  But does that mean that we have to dish out venomous attacks on people just because they are involved in a particular case?  The fact is that most of the people issuing their thoughts on those sites simply didn't have all the 'facts' of the case to begin with.  Unless they are directly involved (and I suspect most of them are not), then all they can do is draw their conclusions based on the short story or blog posts they took the time to read.  Are we really exercising our true judgement if we haven't bothered to learn more about the very stories we rush to report on?

I sometimes wonder if the folks that comment have even read the actual story or bothered to do some additional research before typing out their thoughts.  I also have to wonder if some of these folks have ever had a formal education with lessons in grammar or spelling.  But I digress. If a story or blog post leaves their site open for comments, anyone is certainly welcome to participate.  But are we really doing the rest of the world any good by throwing out a thought in anger and haste rather than giving thoughtful consideration of the matter at hand, considering the possible concerns of both sides of an issue, before racing to be the first to attack a person based on qualities perceived about them based simply on a story or photo?  One commenter in the story I referenced above told the woman she needed to stop blogging and go get a job to take care of her family.  There was nothing in the story to indicate the woman was either destitute or lacking employment.  As such, what value did that comment bring to the discussion?  What followed was a back and forth tirade between other people that attacked the commenter for their callous attack, by then callously attacking the first person.  On and on it went until the comments lost all focus on the story and it was a big name calling session.

Other comments included long drawn-out manifesto style paragraphs denouncing the historical problems of the church and Christianity itself.  While perfectly fine in terms of the right to express their opinions, but what does it have to do with this particular discussion?  Does it really add value?  One comment in particular attached church worship music and this person's view that a church that used more 'current' styles of music were being disingenuous.  Really?  Like or dislike church music, what in the world did it have to do with the content of the story?  It makes me wonder what some folks really have going on in their heads.

I have several blogs.  This blog is one of the few where I really take an opportunity to express opinions on a variety of matters.  The others are more 'how to' style.  I have to say that I welcome comments on my blogs.  Unfortunately, I learned early in the process that I cannot simply open my comments area to anyone at any time.  I found myself with people using my comments area as a place to advertise products - and not particularly helpful products mind you, most of them were products better suited for back-alley transactions in some seedy part of town.  I found people making comments about me that knew nothing about me.  I found people being rude or offensive for no good reason.  For that reason, comments on my blogs are moderated, by me.  Offensive, rude, incorrect, pushy or advertisement type comments don't get posted.  What I do allow are comments that are relevant to the conversation at hand, even if they are in complete disagreement with me.  I've said it before and I will continue to stand by my belief:  learning to understand those who disagree with us only helps to make us better people.  I learn from those who disagree with me.  I believe that truth should never be afraid of a challenge.  I just wish that those expressing disagreement would learn to do so with better manners.  Lastly, I'd love to see people do away with what I call 'veiled vulgarity'. While the use of 'fkng' or 'a$$' in place of the actual words in your comment may save it from deletion by the IT staff it only serves to detract from any point you hope to make.  People may be able to see that you're upset, but do you think it helps better make that point? Can you make your point without swearing?  Some of the greatest speakers in history have spoken or written words that helped shape the world, and most all of them have done so without dropping the f-bomb. I think our world would be a better place if vulgarity where reserved for places where the general public isn't necessarily hanging out. But then again, that's just my opinion.

I don't know that I'll really ever understand the need people have to do these things.  Perhaps it's that need that many share to be recognized, to be seen as someone with something important to offer.  Whatever it is, I find myself very carefully choosing when and where I offer my thoughts on a particular issue.  I have a venue here to spout my opinions to any who may care to read them.  I don't need to troll the latest news stories in an attempt to be the 'most relevant' commenter on any particular issue.  I  am interested in what my fellow humans have to think about various subjects.  I just wish they'd do it with a little more focus, decorum and perhaps a dictionary.

Any comments?

Hello, and welcome to my blog.  The purpose of this blog is to give me a forum to express my thoughts and ideas as well as feelings I may be having about events in my life or around the world.  I may even share some photographs from time to time.  We do after all live in a very visual world.

The opinions you see expressed here will likely reflect my Christian faith.  This may be obvious at times and at others a bit more veiled.  What I say, what I do and what I believe are all impacted by my faith.  I state that here so there can be no uncertainty about how I approach my life and what informs my thoughts and actions.  I would also say that, like everyone else that shares my point of view, I am an imperfect person, wholly capable of making mistakes.  I am the last person to claim that I am perfect.  Only God is perfect.  It is His perfection that sets the standard by which all other things are measured.


Whether you agree with me or not is entirely up to you.  Will my purpose here be to proselytize my readers? Perhaps.  But that is not my sole purpose.  Each life has value in this world.  Some more than others.  What is unique in the time we live is that every person with access to a computer and the Internet now has a chance to share their perceptions of the world in a forum that makes those thoughts available to a vast audience.  People may come across those writings and choose to find some value in their expressions, regardless of having any relationship with the author.  Maybe someone can find something of use in the ramblings of a random person who, one day, decided to make their thoughts known to a wider audience.


I enjoy sharing conversations with people that do not share my same belief.  While it is my hope that in time everyone could come to the same knowledge of faith that I have, I understand that is a lofty goal that will likely never come to be.  I learn from others that do not believe as I do.  I learn more about myself.  I learn more about my faith.  Some who share my belief are afraid of tough questions about God, the Bible, Jesus, what have you.  I however choose to welcome tough questions as they push us to better understand what it is we hold so dear.  It may take time to frame a response to a tough question, but in the end, I find I have usually grown in my own faith as a result.  I think those who are honestly and openly looking toward Christianity for answers appreciate truth from its adherents, regardless of whether they find themselves in agreement or not, rather than a saccharine response that covers reality with fluff. 


Regardless of your opinion about me or my writings, I do hope that your time spent here gains you something of use in your life.  Maybe, just maybe, it will be something important enough that you will then share what you've found with someone else. Either way, thank you for stopping by and taking the time to read what I have to offer. ~Erik