Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Being right online...



Or somebody is wrong on the Internet.

This past week I came across a site with a ton of comments which turned out to be pretty much just an argument between two or three people.  I was struck by one authoritative commenter insisting, "I'm right on this!"  Back and forth, back and forth the comments totaled up.  Why would anyone do that?  If you believe you are right - state your case and move on.

We all want to be right - and when we are convinced we are right, we often refuse to listen to those who contradict us or just want us to consider their plight from another point of view - especially concerning topics about which we either know very little or find baffling.

12 comments:

  1. Did you read the same thread as I? Cause I saw that with a Patheos post correcting Michael Voris on his call out of his diocese's seminary having gays in it based on an announcement from a rector to have the sems use bathrobes and not just towels.

    Of course his "white knight" producer, Christine Niles, came in to defend Voris and then a Patheos Deacon correctly quoted church documents and Satan's work ensued.

    I don't at all side with Voris on this, not that there MAY be gays in that seminary, but because a) clearly it was demonstrated there was a lack of journalistic integrity on the part of ChurchMilitantTV, b) that CN displayed a repeat pattern of behavior of outright biased defense of Voris when another blogger rightfully employs proper fraternal correction to Voris' detractions, and c) that Patheos Deacon rightfully stated that there is a proper way to deal with these people in seminary, albeit at the order and discretion of the seminary (which is sadly horrid to moderate) in today's institutions.

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    1. Saw that same thread too a few days ago. What was amusing was the squabble about the "four Emmys" that Mr. V. claims to have.

      Anyway, who has time to engage in such stuff anymore? I got too many dishes to wash, floors to mop, bathrooms to scrub, but most importantly, a world to pray and hope and intercede for.

      Delete
  2. Being right... or ‘righteous’... a priest’s perspective... you may find this transcript of interest...
    http://crownofstars.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/pilgrimage-revisited.html

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  3. What's more creepy: a post w/ 150 comments, all by the same three people; or a post w/ 150 comments, by 150 different people. In the latter case there is no discussion, it is just 150 people emoting at the woeful state of the Church--crying out into the darkness as it were. I've often seen the latter at a certain site that rhymes with "Lurch Eloquent".

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    1. They both sound awful!

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    2. When moderators (CN and crew) delete all rational comment, what you have left is the 150 lost souls, wringing their hands and crying, "the sky is falling".

      Delete
  4. It isn't about winning, numbers, stats, being right, trouncing the opponent, banging the truth over someone's head. It isn't about success. Another post I read included a count of converts - how many people came into the Church as a result of a particular apostolate. Elsewhere on another post a commenter argued about how impotent another manner of evangelization was - compared to this or that 'active' apostolate. It's not about stuff like that.

    "Keep yourself in peace and thousands around you will be saved." - Seraphim of Sarov

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. They forget that the Holy Spirit, not people, converts souls.

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  5. I've been involved in a lot of apostolates over the years: Cursillo, Marriage Encounter, The Apostolate for Family Consecration, Opus Dei, NFP, Engaged Encounter. Most of them argue that they are the group that will "save the Church" so give them all your time and all your money. My conclusion is that we are all part of the body of Christ. We each have our role to play whether it's as the heart, the brain, or the little toe. (Some of us bloggers function as the big toe, trying to help maintain the balance of the body.) We could all use a little humility about the things we are doing, I think.

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    1. "We could all use a little humility about the things we are doing, I think."

      No way! I'm on a mission from God.

      h/t The Blues Brothers

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    2. I hear you on NFP wanting all your time and money. My wife and I have been NFP-ers since shortly after our first baby. We're now expecting number 7 and the first one hasn't turned 10 yet! NFP definitely requires a lot of time and money.

      Delete


Please comment with charity and avoid ad hominem attacks. I exercise the right to delete comments I find inappropriate. If you use your real name there is a better chance your comment will stay put.