Dear fellow Revelifers,
I've been disappointed in a lot of comments on this website as of late. I know there are many in the midst who don't believe Christ is Lord or who don't live according to the ways of God's scripture and so I don't expect to see a jaw-dropping love overwhelming the forums but I do expect those of us who claim Christ to be salt and light, even on online forums. I think we, as a community that seeks to grow together for the sake of Christ, need to be reminded of some good guidelines for interacting in online forums. Revelife has
it's own code of conduct, and perhaps that ought to be posted again soon but I wanted to provide some guidelines I've embraced that I hope will be of use to you as well. They help me to see the log in my eye from time to time.
Blogging/Commenting Code of Conduct: (adopted from sojourners.com)
I will express myself with civility, courtesy, and respect for every member of this online community, especially toward those with whom I disagree—even if I feel disrespected by them. (Romans 12:17-21) I will express my disagreements with other community members' ideas without insulting, mocking, or slandering them personally. (Matthew 5:22, Romans 1:28-32)I will not exaggerate others' beliefs nor make unfounded prejudicial assumptions based on labels, categories, or stereotypes. I will not twist the words of others for my own benefit. I will always extend the benefit of the doubt. (Ephesians 4:29)I will participate in community accountability by rating posts [via e-props, minis, and recs]... based not on what ideas are expressed but on how they're expressed, and will flag [report] posts that violate the official rules of conduct. (Proverbs 12:18)
Can we commit to taking a few seconds before clicking the post link to examine our words, attitudes, motivations, and meditate upon the affect our words may have on others? Can we commit to treating one another the way we desire to be treated? Can we commit to putting others above ourselves? Can we commit ourselves to forgiving those who trespass against us online and to treat them well in return? I know I'm part of the problem and right now I commit to doing my best to live up to these goals of kindness
If we can't make these commitments then we're not going to be of much help to one another. I hope and I pray that we can make these commitments and remember what it means to always love one another online. Thanks for giving this post your time. Peace and grace be with you all!
Do you think things are getting out of control around here? Did you know we have a code of conduct?
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Comments (29)
(formatting is a bit off)
I agree people get pretty insulting, unfortunately I've even gotten caught up in it a bit.
However, the quality of posts being put up on Revelife have deteriorated significantly. I feel like they're just posting anything just to put up content instead of putting a real effort into making quality, useful, and beneficial posts.
One thing I've added to my "code of conduct" is to stop reading most of the posts unless I know the author is good. That is a personal one because I know my personality.
Thanks for the reminder
@TravelingStranger@xanga - my words exactly...
@TravelingStranger@xanga - Ya know, I dismiss a lot of bloggers because of things I have read by them in the past but recently I keep going against that pattern of mine and as a result I keep finding myself surprised by how much I appreciate the blogger's post. Maybe they improved. Maybe I needed a break from their work. Maybe both. I don't know. I just know I've been impressed by writers I was previously unimpressed with. It's been interesting. I try to give everyone a fair chance. Then, if unimpressed, I try to give them a second fair chance later on.
Just because you don't like something doesn't justify you to be angry or disrespectful. There's perfectly polite ways to express your disagreement or give constructive criticism.
Personally I liked Revelife a lot better before the censorship. There were a lot more atheists that would comment here than there is since the censorship and I like to see the atheists comment on here. I understand what you're trying to say but I think censoring can have the opposite effect. This is the real world with real conversations. I say that unless someone makes a threat to someone else, this should be uncensored and if you're offended by someone's comment, then don't reply back.
@TheGreatBout@xanga - That is probably a very good piece of wisdom to take. I do try to give everyone a fair shot as best I can; there is one guy that I disagree with but he writes in a respectful and intelligent fashion, so I find I can still learn some things from his writings, but I guess I still struggle to find a certain balance.
I suppose the best way to put it is that it depends on my mood. lol. If I am having a bad day, I don't even bother getting online at all anymore.
I agree with you completely, unfortunately I'm often wrong myself.
Besides, the online medium just like television and radio are each in there own respects poisonous to faith and the church, in this example it would be that quantity does not equal the kind of quality that a personal relationship can offer. But judging that somebody is not being lead by spirit simply because they are not articulate, intelligent, or even polite, is in itself quite rude, and you should feel bad for that. If, I were to curse you out right now, for having offended me as much as you just have, you could rightfully assume all sorts of ugly untruths about the quality of my character, but the thing about character is everybody is on the same page, we all have the same capacity for human endeavors. It is a personal moral decision on how it is that we are to utilize them, in terms of language a strongly worded possibly offending statement, made in contempt or disagreement or even outrage is the verbal equivalent to a slap to the face. It is not my belief that we should dismiss any such statement, but to understand it, to ask ourselves if it is justified even if albeit rude, and then turn the other cheek.
Also you're a snob. I don't know you, don't tell me what to do.
@musterion99@xanga - I think the point he is making is that people don't need to be unnecessarily rude. It's hard to actually debate and argue something when people get ridiculous and inconsiderate. I think it's totally possible to have true debates and arguments on topics like religion without getting slanderous. In fact, I think it's healthy too and it would be great if this blog could have such. That being said, for both sides, we need to be considerate and not just put down each other for personal beliefs. It's not censorship, it's being civil.
@musterion99@xanga - Just a question. Have you read the comments from atheists after your reply here? They're so disrespectful toward Christians. So why would you support them posting here? I'm not saying that right should be stripped, but I am all for the censoring.
This is where Christians should be able to communicate with each other. To learn, to chat, etc. They have the corner market on so much of the world what is wrong with us having somewhere predominantly and pleasantly ours?
I love this post. For Revelife in general this is a good reminder. I myself need this reminder at times. Thank you for the post!
@rabbitsarecool14@xanga - I understood his point but he referred to the Code of Conduct rules, which are censorship, and I think since Revelife changed to that, it's not nearly as good as it used to be before that. I used to love the conversations with atheists on here before and now it's virtually gone. They don't come here anymore since the change. I don't always expect civil conversations. If I don't like what they say, I don't have to respond. I know what you're saying but this is my opinion. I liked the old Revelife a lot better.
@MyTwoCentss@xanga - Read my comment above.
I think YOUR tweets are uninteresting, too!
@NightCometh@xanga - If you have a conflict with me I'm more than happy to work through it privately. You posted a similar message on another post of mine today and that makes me think you may want to talk about it.
@TheGreatBout@xanga - LOL! Nope! Just tossing back what you said to me :)
@musterion99@xanga - I'm not advocating censorship. In pointing to the Revelife code of conduct I was attempting to convey that there is a healthy and desired way to communicate according to the community we are all a part of. I'm happy to have all people speaking their minds here. My point is that Christians ought to live up to a certain standard of kindness when engaged in discussion.
@TheGreatBout@xanga - Yes but Christians shouldn't sin either, but we know that we will sin. The problem is where to draw the line in censoring conduct. Again, as I've already stated, I understand what you're saying but I think Revelife was better before it implemented a code of conduct. I enjoyed when atheists used to come here and debate with Christians. That has pretty much died off since the code of conduct was implemented.
Niggers.
I try to be civil. I didn't even comment back on a couple comments because it probably would have turned ugly. My tongue's about to bleed from me biting on it. =/
@hyunj09@xanga - Walking away is the hardest thing for me to do when it comes to being civil. I'm improving though. Like you, I taste blood a lot. Better to taste my blood than my neighbor's though I suppose.
Well there's a saying my mother always told me and maybe your mother used to say it to you; and that was "if you have nothing nice to say...don't say anything at all." It's a simple childlike comment but it has a lot of meaning. If you don't agree with what someone posted and you honestly think that if you post a comment, it won't be in a nice...debateable way, then just don't post...simple as that. I believe in free speech but I also believe in not forming enemies if not needed. Yes there are ways in disagreeing with someone and still commenting in a non-rudable way. For example : i read that someone wrote the "N" word on a comment on here, and i'm african american...but for me I'm not going to be mean about it because I'm sure they weren't talking about me; I would just ask if they could maybe use a better word...so that someone who did read this wouldn't get the wrong impression they were affending them. Get your point across, use free speech, just becareful how you word your post...that's all there is to it; in my opinion.