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blessedinnyc -> RE: We Can Have Differening of Opinion, But... (9/3/2008 12:04:53 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Jhud
Actually gayle, I have been very disappointed with your posts lately, and how you have spoken about candidates you disagree with. Perhaps you might want to lead by example?
You have an interesting point. I think there is a collective guilt on this issue. I'm sure we can find many examples of just about everyone (namely me) causing trouble.
One thing I would add, though, is that when we communicate via text, it's often easy to read people who disagree with us as being angry. On a Christian forum, this tends to be exacerbated by the fact that people are often 100% sure they have the truth and don't couch their statements.
It's interesting the reactions we have to those who couch and those who don't. Dubya, a conservative who disagrees with me about nearly everything, is someone who I respect- and a part of that may have to do with the fact that he is willing to couch his words. On the other hand, I am currently in a fierce debate with people who don't always soften their statements.
My humble suggestion to improve the level of discourse is:
-If someone who is a conservative (or liberal) makes a good point, admit it. Then go ahead and disagree with them. I see some conservatives do this more often than not, and that simple step makes it easier for me to hear what they have to say, without actually seeing it as that they've conceded anything. Us liberals could still learn a thing or two from Reagan. :)
-Switch sides every once in a while on an issue that sounds reasonable. It's an interesting way of stirring the discussion up a bit. I often see cow doing this.
-Don't take it personally! People who see these forums as an intellectual discussion probably get the most out of it. If you're trying to influence people, Dale Carnegie says its best to understand the other person's perspective and work with that. Meanwhile, it's almost always more fun when you approach politics with an intellectual bent. Not that that means casting off Christianity- it's just that if you're going to an amusement park, it's more fun to raise your hands in the air off the first big drop on that roller coaster than to be studying Psalm 37 throughout the ride. I think Jhud is a good example of taking an intellectual approach to discussions.
-Couch your words! Dubya is a great example on this, IMHO. As a conservative, he disagrees with me about nearly everything, but for some odd reason, I still see his posts as very thoughtful. I think it has to do with the couching parts.
Not getting angry, being rude, or doing other stuff is often difficult on an online forum, so sometimes, it's important for us to reduce the temptation for others (1 Cor. 10:32). This is something I am trying to work on, although I have a long way to go (James 3:2).
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