Forum abuse, and what to do about it

Matthew C Jones
Matthew C Jones Member Posts: 10,295 ✭✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

Most readers have noticed by now that many threads get derailed. The theological debates are often interesting but quickly lose the reader who came to that thread with a legitimate interest in the original posting. When the debate loses fodder the name calling begins. Personal attacks aren't far behind.....

Several spiritually mature members have made strong pleas for this to stop. Others, like myself, have tried to engage conversation with antagonists. That has proven futile. 

Is it time to institute behavior modification techniques? Daycare centers have the "time-out" system.  We can't really go for the "off with their head" corporal model but it seems I was wrong thinking things would eventually calm down. The only time I ever tried to report "Abuse" was on one of my own thoughtless postings. I discovered that system feature was not yet functional. Maybe we now need that feature.

If the world knows we are Christians by our love, what must we be saying by our misdeeds?

I once won an auction for a rare Bible on eBay. The seller refused to sell and re-listed it. I won it again, & again. The Seller said I won it "too cheap." I suggested he use a reserve or higher listing price because refusing to honor the contract was not very Christan. He swore at me saying "Who said I was a Christian? I'm just in it for the money!"

I enjoy the humor and keen insights that others, even antagonists, sometimes post. I learn a lot and that's what I'm here for. I pray that we strive to rise above our sin nature and be known as Christians.

 

 

Logos 7 Collectors Edition

Comments

  • Esther Jones
    Esther Jones Member Posts: 134 ✭✭

    Just a few random thoughts, Mr. Jones--I totally sympathize with you. 

    I have been on many forums.  On a majority of them, these types of "misdeeds" are moderated.  Do we have moderators on this forum?  That is, not just people who have that title, but who check in frequently, watch over each posting, and correct or delete those posts that violate terms of service in a Matthew 18 manner?  For that matter, are there terms of service here?

    More thoughts:

    I cannot change others, I can only change me.

    Whatever I do, I DON'T FEED THE TROLLS.

    It takes at least TWO to argue.  Do the math--I may need to subtract myself from the equation.

    Original sin is inherent in all of us, as exampled by the need for this thread.  I am not better than you, nor are you better than me--we are all rebellious, theiving, blaspheming liars in desperate need of a savior.  It can be expected that in any group of believers there will be unbelievers who cannot act in any other manner than what they really are.  Pray for them.

    Esther

  • Graham Owen
    Graham Owen Member Posts: 665 ✭✭

    I cannot change others, I can only change me.

    And the Church would be a much better place if more people realised this. Over the years I have learnt that when I meet someone I feel the need to change that God sent them to help me change!

    God Bless

    Graham

    Pastor - NTCOG Basingstoke

  • Matthew C Jones
    Matthew C Jones Member Posts: 10,295 ✭✭✭

    I cannot change others, I can only change me.

    And the Church would be a much better place if more people realised this. Over the years I have learnt that when I meet someone I feel the need to change that God sent them to help me change!

     

    Both of you are so right. (I need to change me, as evidenced by my rants & misdeeds.)

    That would also explain why God gave me the wonderful wife I have...... He is obviously still working on me. I'm a long-term project[A].

     

    Logos 7 Collectors Edition

  • Floyd  Johnson
    Floyd Johnson Member Posts: 4,002 ✭✭✭

    Both of you are so right. (I need to change me, as evidenced by my rants & misdeeds.)

    An impossible task - so why not ask God to do it!  [:)]
    Which I see he is.  PTL.


    Blessings,

    Floyd

    Blessings,
    Floyd

    Pastor-Patrick.blogspot.com

  • Graham Owen
    Graham Owen Member Posts: 665 ✭✭

    God Bless

    Graham

    Pastor - NTCOG Basingstoke

  • Jim
    Jim Member Posts: 731 ✭✭✭

    I like some forums that have an thumbs up and thumbs down vote for each entry along with a tally. I usually skip the ones with a large negative vote. I have also seen many comment systems that have a link with each entry that can be used to report that entry as abuse. I admit these tend to be on blog comment systems rather than forums.

    I've never moderated a forum, but I have been on ones where the moderator splits the topics when there's a clear fork in the thread.

    I mentioned this in another post, but part of this problem would be helped with better forum presentation software. If reply threads were visually arranged, you could easily see where a topic split into subtopics and for me that usually solves the problem because I can see at a glance who replied to whom and where the topic split allowing me to choose which part of the discussion I want to follow.

    Have a great day,
    jmac

  • Esther Jones
    Esther Jones Member Posts: 134 ✭✭

    I have to agree that compared to other forums I frequent, the software here is quite limited.

    Esther