I have blogged for over twenty years now. As a chronically ill, mostly house-bound woman, it is a form of witnessing and serving God that is achievable for me. And although I feel close to God in the writings and I enjoy a sense of usefulness, there's often horrid comments behind the scenes which spoil it all...
These comments are like hounds baying for blood if a post happens to be something readers disagree with. And, yes: it's usually taken out of context to prove their point. Sad thing is it's actually God's Word they are fighting over. Still, it's all good- as long as we remember for Whom we write.
This is not limited to blogging comments, but social media in general. People are often so aggressive and needlessly rude. It's almost impossible to post anything without the drama of offending someone. Which isn't often the case at all.
I often wonder just what these keyboard warriors think when they spew hateful comments from their keyboard. Are they not aware that there's a person with feelings on the receiving end? or don't they care? I believe it's the latter...
It's quite easy to insult or demean someone you can't see. It's akin to the pilots bombing the cities in war time- just release the bombs and high tail it out of return firing range. They don't deal with the death, destruction and carnage at ground level...
But ultimately, words are as damaging as those bombs. We have people who have suicided over being bullied online. We have to stop and think before we write. Written or spoken words have the power to harm or uplift.
In light of this, I have culled my friends list on Face Book and also have reassessed and often left, those groups and pages that are rife with trolls who hurt each other with hurtful comments.
Some of these groups were Christian groups where people spoke "in love". There's nothing loving about demeaning someone online under the guise of helping them avoid error. Let all be done in love. The love of Christ.
My hope is that keyboard warriors will actually stop and think before they slam into someone. There's a place for correction and there's a Way. The Way. Let's use our keyboard to bring the best out of ourselves and to others. In love. In humility. In Truth.
© Glenys Robyn Hicks
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. Colossians 4:6
This is not limited to blogging comments, but social media in general. People are often so aggressive and needlessly rude. It's almost impossible to post anything without the drama of offending someone. Which isn't often the case at all.
I often wonder just what these keyboard warriors think when they spew hateful comments from their keyboard. Are they not aware that there's a person with feelings on the receiving end? or don't they care? I believe it's the latter...
It's quite easy to insult or demean someone you can't see. It's akin to the pilots bombing the cities in war time- just release the bombs and high tail it out of return firing range. They don't deal with the death, destruction and carnage at ground level...
But ultimately, words are as damaging as those bombs. We have people who have suicided over being bullied online. We have to stop and think before we write. Written or spoken words have the power to harm or uplift.
In light of this, I have culled my friends list on Face Book and also have reassessed and often left, those groups and pages that are rife with trolls who hurt each other with hurtful comments.
Some of these groups were Christian groups where people spoke "in love". There's nothing loving about demeaning someone online under the guise of helping them avoid error. Let all be done in love. The love of Christ.
My hope is that keyboard warriors will actually stop and think before they slam into someone. There's a place for correction and there's a Way. The Way. Let's use our keyboard to bring the best out of ourselves and to others. In love. In humility. In Truth.
Let us use our keyboards to impart hope, strength and holiness as unto the LORD. May we speak words of grace, seasoned with salt and may we become grace-filled keyboard warriors!
© Glenys Robyn Hicks
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. Colossians 4:6
very well said. xx Ann
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ann! Blessings, Glenys
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