Quick to Encourage, Slow to Condemn
by Motte Brown on 07/24/2007 at 2:03 PM
Over at Desiring God's blog, Abraham Piper has a helpful post on reading blogs well for those who want to be good stewards of their time on the Internet. He recommends that we read the Bible first, stay away from trash, and utilize time saving tools and methods such as RSS feeds and scanning articles.
Piper also provides some useful advice about the comments section, which is particularly relevant for our blog given the recent Catholic/Protestant debate.
Be quick to listen, slow to comment.
The comments section beneath a blog post is meant to further the discussion that the post began. If commenters keep this goal in mind, comments can be very helpful. I try to do my part by asking myself whether I am making a contribution to the discussion with my comment. I don't mean anything fancy -- just something that is encouraging, clarifying, or maybe just pleasant. Often I discover that my goal is not to contribute but to correct, or worse, criticize. In these cases, I delete the comment and stay out of the fray.
Another good rule is, if you wouldn't say it to someone in person, don't say it on a blog either. Of course, this isn't a perfect rule, since some of us are mean in person too. Maybe better would just be: Be kind and be positive.
How would you characterize our comments section? Is it too much correction and not enough kindness? And can we meld the two? Is it possible to correct and criticize (in the evaluation sense, not the finding fault sense) in a kind and positive manner? Or should we follow Piper's example and never correct or criticize?
1. Megan said the following at 9:45 PM on Jul 24:
I think it's possible to comment without getting personal in presenting your own opinion.
Meaning, if my opinion drastically differs from someone else's, posting that different opinion may further the discussion along. Criticizing them for having that opinion tends to make people get unhappy and uselessly argumentative.
Whenever I comment, the only time I directly address someone is if they've asked me something or if I'm referencing a jump-off point for my comment.
I also avoid commenting if a lot of people have already voiced my opinion. Or at least...I try to: on a moderated blog you don't always know who's in the comment line in front of you!
The comment sections on this blog are often very enlightening and interesting to read. I don't like when people get into disputes over the nitty-gritty details of the Catholic church's position on this or the Calvinist take on that because it often seems like folks are chasing their tails. Other than that, I enjoy this blog in part because of the comments.
2. Naomi said the following at 2:00 AM on Jul 25:
I think the comments section here is pretty balanced. Clearly, everyone has different opinions on something. That's just how things are.
Besides, there are just topics that very sensitive so emotional comments are expected.
I actually think that the Boundless Line itself would step up and comment if there emotional comments like this. It's okay to correct if it's in love. ^_^
3. Robert J Espe said the following at 6:51 AM on Jul 25:
I think the comments section devolves into a forum. Word limits on individual posts, only allowing one post on a topic from each user, and maybe limiting the number of comments per post might be ideas to consider.
Having a separate forum might be more conducive to in depth discussion.
4. brx said the following at 7:54 PM on Jul 25:
If the correction or criticism is _constructive_ and NOT mean-spirited sarcasm, then I'm all for it! I welcome it when I'm on the receiving end and I'm usually willing to give it; though sometimes I just don't have the time for the detailed explaination it would require.
One could reason that we have a responsibility to do good by helping each other - and if you're not providing correction for fear of seeming critical, then maybe you are in effect, not doing the good that you could be doing.
Then again, I'm an engineer who is a stickler for product quality and I tend to see many production quality problems in terms of a lack of properly channeled, corrective feedback. :P
Robert J. Espe, I actually appreciate many of your long posts!
5. Captain Sensible said the following at 6:44 AM on Jul 26:
What would Jesus do if He had a blog?
Would He post something good, and then just throw it open to "comments", without taking the trouble to correct any faults in them, thereby giving a wide public platform to spread wrong teaching? Would He promote writers that have written books containing false teaching, and even provide a link to their website, so that the readers of His blog could easily access yet more wrong teaching? Would he abdicate His responsibility by saying that comments are "a different matter" and so it wasn't His fault if His blog ended up reinforcing wrong attitudes and wrong thinking?
And if He came across a blog that repeatedly did this, would He feel that after pleading with them to change their policy, it was now time to shake the dust off His sandals and move on?
Just a thought...
6. Motte said the following at 9:09 AM on Jul 26:
Captain Sensible:
I've never been a fan of the WWJD question. But I'll try to answer your questions anyway.
We often don't take the time to correct opinions we believe may come from "wrong teaching" because we don't think it's our job to. Since the comments section is peer oriented, I believe discerning readers know the difference between teaching and opinion. And I think they know the difference between Boundless Line contributors and comment contributors.
The Boundless Line contributors try to maintain a Boundless/Focus on the Family philosophy based on biblical principles with our main entries so readers won't be confused about where we stand on an issue. That is our charge.
I believe this answers questions one and three.
As for promoting writers that have written books containing what *you* deem false teaching, certainly you would grant us deference to decide for ourselves whether or not there is worth in those writings. Though we may not agree with all authors on every issue, obviously we believe the ones we promote have a contribution to make. And so we give them grace on matters where Christians may disagree in good conscience. And we're never afraid to point out those disagreements.
I hope this helps.
7. Ted Slater said the following at 11:24 AM on Jul 26:
To the anonymous commenter hiding behind the pseudonym "Captain Sensible" ...
Two things:
1) We allow your comments to be published, though we find your tone to be sometimes disagreeable. Would you prefer we not publish comments that are found to be disagreeable?
2) There is precedence for not addressing every "off" comment uttered. Consider Jesus as He was being wrongly accused. At times he remained bewilderingly silent, leaving people's comments unaddressed. Sometimes that's the best thing to do.
The thing is, as we've mentioned before, we have a small staff and are simply unable to reply to every comment that includes something we disagree with. We find, though, that other commenters often bring correction to the false statements. And even if a particular wrong statement remains specifically unaddressed, we believe the truth has been presented sufficiently on our website and elsewhere on our blog so that those who "have ears to hear" should be able to make sound decisions about what they believe. We highly esteem our readers, and respect their discernment.
We have made the decision to post most comments, "Captain Sensible," even those we disagree with. Further complaining about our policy is frankly a waste of your time. I'd like to see you stay here, strip off your pseudonym, and continue participating with your comments. I'd hate to see you leave, but if you feel the need to "shake the dust off your sandals and move on," then that's what you've got to do.
8. J-Twinkle said the following at 12:58 PM on Jul 26:
To Ted Slater:
Thank you for responding in a loving, clear, but firm manner.
To Captain Sensible:
It is not our job to force people towant to change their thinking, attitudes, and behavior. It is our responsibility to live the way God and His Word has instructed us to, and allow others to make that decision FOR THEMSELVES. The best thing that you can do to deal with the issues that you are describing is continuing to pray for everyone involved and to pray for truth and love to win out in the end.
9. Constance said the following at 4:16 AM on Jul 28:
"Be kind and be positive" with something "encouraging, clarifying, or maybe just pleasant." I wholeheartedly agree; our words should be edifying and not destructive.
I believe there are times, however, for harsh words. Intellectual bullying and willful deceit must be combatted, and I suspect it cannot always be done with a "positive" tone. There is nothing calm nor pleasant in arresting violence; and we must defend the weak.