To Ignore Or Not To Ignore

[SavedOnebyGrace]

Right now, I have three members of Worthy on Ignore.  I added one today because of crank private messages that are just weird.  He's been reported.  But if I have trouble relating and responding to a poster in a civil manner, isn't it my responsibility to avoid confrontations like that?  I mean, as a Christian.  Isn't that what's best for the forum in general?  On a different Christian forum I had as many as 42 people on Ignore at one time, possibly more.  So what's reasonable?

[SavedOnebyGrace]

2 minutes ago, Davida said:

Walk away and let deception prevail - ok

I didn't say the two people I have on Ignore are deceiving.  I just find them exceptionally and intentionally annoying.  The third person (a newbie) is asking me some very strange questions.  So I reported him and put him on Ignore.  Why he picked me, I do not know.

[Guest Teditis]

10 minutes ago, Saved.One.by.Grace said:

Right now, I have three members of Worthy on Ignore.  I added one today because of crank private messages that are just weird.  He's been reported.  But if I have trouble relating and responding to a poster in a civil manner, isn't it my responsibility to avoid confrontations like that?  I mean, as a Christian.  Isn't that what's best for the forum in general?  On a different Christian forum I had as many as 42 people on Ignore at one time, possibly more.  So what's reasonable?

It's a toss-up in my opinion... a flip of the coin.

Sometimes we do need to confront and other times it's best just to ignore.

When the other person has the Holy Spirit in them and remains teachable in their

spirit, then there's a possibility that they will hear your words and consider them.

If they are not following the Holy Spirit and have hardened their heart to any teaching

then it's best to leave them alone and let God work with them as He sees fit... so praying

for those people is really vital.

[other one]

14 minutes ago, Saved.One.by.Grace said:

I didn't say the two people I have on Ignore are deceiving.  I just find them exceptionally and intentionally annoying.  The third person (a newbie) is asking me some very strange questions.  So I reported him and put him on Ignore.  Why he picked me, I do not know.

LoL,   you are assuming that you were the only one.......                    I don't think so really.

[Guest Butero]

In the entire time I have been here, I can think of only one person I ever put any kind of block on, and that was just regarding pms because they were sending me one nasty message after another.  When the furor died down, I took this person off the block list.  To me, if you have that many people on a block list, you might want to consider that the problem may stem more with you than them.  I don't mean that as an insult, but it is just something to consider. 

If you put someone on a list like that, they can be adding things to a thread that change the entire direction.  You don't see what they wrote, but you do see what others are saying, sometimes responding to those comments, and it breeds confusion.  I would rather know what everyone is posting.  That is just me.  If the subject is making you crazy, maybe it would be better to take a break from it?  Still, if reading their comments causes you to sin in your anger, maybe your doing the right thing.  I personally choose not to block anyone, but you have to do what you feel is right in the sight of God for you.  How do you relate to people you encounter in person, like in church?  You can't block them, so how do you handle those situations? 

[SavedOnebyGrace]

8 minutes ago, Teditis said:

It's a toss-up in my opinion... a flip of the coin.

Sometimes we do need to confront and other times it's best just to ignore.

When the other person has the Holy Spirit in them and remains teachable in their

spirit, then there's a possibility that they will hear your words and consider them.

If they are not following the Holy Spirit and have hardened their heart to any teaching

then it's best to leave them alone and let God work with them as He sees fit... so praying

for those people is really vital.

That's a good answer, Teditis.  I guess I'm looking at a situation where the persons may or may not have the Holy Spirit in them, but they don't recognize that I have the Holy Spirit in me too.  When discussing theological viewpoints, spirit-filled Christians may sometimes disagree.  I have no problem with that.  It's the belligerence I want to avoid.  I've had a couple of lifetimes worth of belligerence at another website for my previous Calvinist beliefs.  I rejected those beliefs when the Holy Spirit spoke to me pointing at scripture to study.

And I know I've crossed the line too, at times.  Sometimes it's hard for some of us to admit when we've not acted out of love to someone else.  I've been nudged by the Holy Spirit to apologize on several ocassions.  I will pray for them as you suggest and hope they pray for me.  God knows, I need it.  Thanks, SObG.

[SavedOnebyGrace]

54 minutes ago, Butero said:

In the entire time I have been here, I can think of only one person I ever put any kind of block on, and that was just regarding pms because they were sending me one nasty message after another.  When the furor died down, I took this person off the block list.  To me, if you have that many people on a block list, you might want to consider that the problem may stem more with you than them.  I don't mean that as an insult, but it is just something to consider.

If you put someone on a list like that, they can be adding things to a thread that change the entire direction.  You don't see what they wrote, but you do see what others are saying, sometimes responding to those comments, and it breeds confusion.  I would rather know what everyone is posting.  That is just me.  If the subject is making you crazy, maybe it would be better to take a break from it?  Still, if reading their comments causes you to sin in your anger, maybe your doing the right thing.  I personally choose not to block anyone, but you have to do what you feel is right in the sight of God for you.  How do you relate to people you encounter in person, like in church?  You can't block them, so how do you handle those situations?

I have put two people on my Ignore list that I missed their posts and unblocked them, much the way you describe.  Not counting the newbie I put on Ignore today, I only have two on Ignore now and can honestly state I don't miss the comments/replies from them.  With respect to the problem may be with me, I couldn't agree more.  I know my personality changed when I started on anti-seizure medications.  It took me awhile to arrive at a balance and then had to add anti-anxiety meds to further combat the side effects.  And I'm on one of the mildest anti-seizure meds.  Sheesh.

I've taken breaks before and it's taken me away from interacting with fellow Christians.  My wife and I do not have a regular church and I don't see that changing anytime soon.  I interact with Christians where I work and that's been fine, but no heavy theological discourse like here.  I am an introvert and that's not likely to change.  There are reasons for that but it would take to long to go into here.  Thank you, Butero, for your thoughtful post.  Yours in Christ Jesus, SObG.

[Guest Butero]

28 minutes ago, other one said:

LoL,   you are assuming that you were the only one.......                    I don't think so really.

You know Other One, anyone replying to this thread could be on his list, so he may not have see all of the replies.  That thought would drive me more crazy than getting upset at what someone said. 

[Guest Butero]

1 minute ago, Saved.One.by.Grace said:

I have put two people on my Ignore list that I missed their posts and unblock them, much the way you describe.  Not counting the newbie I put on Ignore today, I only have two on Ignore now and can honestly state I don't miss the comments/replies from them.  With respect to the problem may be with me, I couldn't agree more.  I know my personality changed when I started on anti-seizure medications.  It took me awhile to arrive at a balance and then had to add anti-anxiety meds to further combat the side effects.  And I'm on one of the mildest anti-seizure meds.  Sheesh.

I've taken breaks before and it's taken me away from interacting with fellow Christians.  My wife and I do not have a regular church and I don't see that changing anytime soon.  I interact with Christians where I work and that's been fine, but no heavy theological discourse like here.  I am an introvert and that's not likely to change.  There are reasons for that but it would take to long to go into here.  Thank you, Butero, for your thoughtful post.  Yours in Christ Jesus, SObG.

I have been there too.  I used to let everything bother me to the point of getting really angry, but I try not to let that happen now.  That temper still shows itself at times, but I am working on it.  God bless. 

[SavedOnebyGrace]

33 minutes ago, other one said:

LoL,   you are assuming that you were the only one.......                    I don't think so really.

Don't worry, you've never been on my Ignore list.  None of the responders to this thread have.