The Shewing away of Duane Brotherly

[nebula]

As far as the boards discontentment and consternation, I recognize it as pharisaical. Some people are champing at the bit to cast the first stone and deliver their own judgement.

Well, you'll find that anywhere. I mean, go into any gathering of people, and you'll find some people who know each other better than others, people who know each other a long time, some who know each other shorter periods of time, some who agree on most things but disagree on others, people who are just plain at odds, ....

The tough part about the boards is you never see the person - can't see the face expression when they speak, can't read the body language, can't evaluate their countenance, can't hear how they speak. All you have is what the person says and how they say it.

If a person comes in saying, "Hi!" it's all smiles and friendlies. If someone joins in a non-controversial topic and adds to the discussion, there's warm hugs all around. If someone posts an alternative view to a thread that had not seen but one side, there'll be resistance (hey, people don't change their minds easy!). If someone posts in a topic that is in full swing debate - yeah, it'll get rough. (If someone goes into the Sport section, opens the thread cheering the Cowboys, and posts a pro-Redskin message - prepare for the lynch mob!) If someone posts a new thread that starts out controversial - just expect it to not be pretty!

I know I've learned that some people have certain sensitivities to certain areas, so I am cautious when I write about those things - if at all - for I know I risk stirring up the hornet's nest. But this comes from evaluating circumstances and from getting to know the people on the Board. This is a process that takes time - just like getting to know the people in a brand new gathering you went to.

Face it, if a new person enters any gathering of people and begins rattling off his/her opinion on things, there's bound to be agreements and disagreements, friendly reception and not-so-friendly reception.

It's like chats and boards need their own set of ettiquettes, and if the individual hasn't figured it out on their own (s)he will probably never figure out the need to develop ettiquette.

Now Duane, based on what he's "spoken," I only was able to develop an understanding of three things about him.

1) He believes in a [heretical doctrine] that he "knows" God revealed to him. (He would never say how God revealed it to him, or how he knew it was God.)

2) He has a need to convince others of this doctrine. (He would never say why this was so important to believe this.)

3) He has a big insecurity problem. (His farewell post is a perfect example of that - what was he expecting from what he said? What was he looking for - "O wow! We know nothing of hearing from God. Teach us what God revealed to you so we may hear from God, too." ???? But someone says, "Bless you, brother, but you are in error," and he responds, "Why are you attacking me? Oh, I'm being persecuted for Christ's sake!" )

But are there people here with pharisitical attitudes? Sure, it happens, but it happens everywhere - in churches I've been to, Bible studies I've been to, youth groups I've been to, non-Christian gatherings too - same spirit, different application. I say this not to justify it, but to point out that it is not a Worthy Boards specific problem. (Actually, if you thought what you've encountered here was bad - you should see the Board I tried about before I was brought to this one! :x: )

With the exception of a few topics, the board this week seemed to be settled more back to "normal" - from what I could see. I hope you'll find the rest of your experience here more pleasant. We make mistakes, we learn, we grow. And we hope and pray we find ourselves better for having gone through the experience.

I was just thinking, are you still feeling hurt over something someone said to you? If I did, please PM me. I don't want you carrying around any unnecessary burdens. OK?