How Do You Deal With Vitriol?

American Clarion ^ | December 7, 2013 | Zorek Richards

[WXRGina]

If I were going to write a dictionary, I might include this:

vit·ri·ol·ic (adjective) 1.filled with bitter criticism or malice. 2. Example: read comments on YouTube.

Unfortunately, YouTube does not have a corner on bitter criticism and malice. I can read it in the comments sections of almost every Internet blog and newspaper throughout this country. Sometimes it’s not easy to overlook some of the comments, but because of them, we need to thoughtfully consider our responses.

We might give the most rational, well-constructed, evidence-filled line of reasoning. We might show from the evidence, from the premises, from the arguments, from the logic, and, maybe even from Scripture (if necessary) what the truth is. And, having constructed this awesome edifice of calculation, we would assume that the proper response will be — could only be — submission to the truth. Wrong.

This assumption fails to take into account the age in which we live that esteems how we feel over how we think. It fails to take into account the biblical claim that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jer 17:9). It fails to grasp that the mind-set on the flesh is hostile to God (Rom 8:7). It fails to consider the reality that a sin-sick world long ago surrendered to a debased mind (Rom 1:28). And when it comes to politics, it is often fed to us by a debased news media (ie, Martin Bashir et al.) that thrives on entertaining over offering any news of real substance.

So, do we have a Lose-Lose proposition? No, but the challenge needs to go beyond the subject yet still remain grounded in reason. Granted, some people can’t be won. There will always be the person who, rather than debate intelligently, will attack you personally and maliciously. They are often anonymous people who sometime makes you wonder if they are just not using their mom’s computer while she’s out purchasing disposable bibs for them. Or they are the pseudo-intellectual who devours large portions of Oprah Winfrey and Al Sharpton “witticisms” and are looking for the chance to use the word “racist” which has been being readied for use since the conversation started. And to be fair, it does not end at people on the left. There are people on the right who do it also and sometimes even better.

So, how is it not a lose-lose situation? Becuz reality. Reality will prove it. There are natural laws which are in effect in this world: the law of gravity, the laws of thermodynamics, and the law of “you will reap what you sow.” If what we are saying is correct then reality will prove it. Not as quickly as we would like to sometimes, but affirmed nonetheless. Truth lacks free choice. Truth has to result in truth. If it doesn’t, it is not truth and nor was it ever. As a Christian, I am quite aware of this when it comes to debate or dialogue on an issue. So, I can take a personal attack with a grain of salt. If I have taken the time to think through my politics, then the result of a personal attack should be the same.

Russian philosopher Fyodor Dostoyevsky said, “When reason fails, the devil helps!” True. But it’s not time to retreat; nor surrender! In fact quite the opposite. Our fight is not just against faulty reasoning or supposed evidence, but “against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12). We should keep in mind while we are constructing our rational defenses that reason may not be enough. We may need something more. We may need the power of the Word of God or the conviction of the Holy Spirit. “Though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ “(2 Cor 10:3-5).

While faith is “the evidence of things unseen”, it does not require that they are without evidence or reason. Charles Hodges words ring true: “Faith is not a blind, irrational conviction. In order to believe, we must know what we believe, and the grounds on which our faith rests.” Our language does not require a separation of church and mind, and neither does God. Time to remember the words of Martin Luther: “If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.”

[Zeneta]

Saying something at a table or bar doesn’t have the same weight

---

You haven’t sat at the bar with me.

[reasonisfaith]

The answer to the question cannot be other than truth.

Reality cannot be contrary to truth. (Reality cannot be contrary to truth.)

Yes, vitriol is the condition of our hearts, all of us. But there is one way to overcome it.

If you accept that Jesus Christ is who he says he is, and if your belief is from the heart, then you will seek to know him through the word of God.

The Lord tells us to “bless those who curse you, pray for those who spitefully use you.” (Luke 6:28) There is no escape from this.

Richards is right—the worst enemy of evil is reality. But reality is the same as truth. So the answer is tell them the truth, do it with love (real love, strong like what Paul showed, not the soap opera stuff we’ve learned from television) and this will overcome our natural passion for spite and revenge.

[reasonisfaith]

This sort of truth telling does not come from us, and it is not a thing. It is a person—the Lord himself—acting through us.

[Irish Queen]

Liberals tend to become uneasy with comments not supporting their firmly held beliefs. One technique a dedicated liberal uses to avoid debate is what I call the parting shot.

First example: At a neighborhood block party Obamacare came up for discussion. Several people voiced concern over its affordability.

Libby Liberal declared, "Everybody should stop worrying because Obama has promised to make everything better.

Someone else answered, "But I don't want to pay for all the illegals."

Libby Liberal replied, "Stop! I don't want to hear about that, I'm an immigrant too." (She had come with her family from Australia at the age of two.)

I said, "Let me tell you a funny thing my green card bearing housekeeper said. While in the kitchen Elena overheard a friend and I discussing a mutual friend who was closing her insurance agency.

Libby stood, "Stop, stop, stop why would I want to hear anything your maid said." She made a fast exit from the patio. p> I continued speaking, "Elena rushed into the dining room and slammed her hands on the table declaring, "Obamacare, bleh!"

Second example: My husband and I were seated with six others in a cruise ship dining room. One couple was from Toronto Canada. When the subject of government health care came up, I repeated what my housekeeper had said.

The the Canadian woman got up and said, "Come Ian, I don't want dessert. You must have made that up. No poor immigrant person would every say that. We visited Los Angeles last summer, and I will never forget all those poor, uncared for children without proper food or medical care. Ian, we are leaving."

After the couple left my sweet hubby replied, "Poor Ian."

Yes, there some self-described progressives who love a good debate, but most toss a snowball or two of their opinions and then runaway.

[Chode]

the other side sucks...

[WXRGina]

Then there’s that. :-)

[Dysart]

[WXRGina]

Ooooh! Nice ones!

[mom of young patriots]

I hear you. I’ve drawn my share of fire on FR too. I have since learned that I have got to be the adult in the room when the other person is throwing a keyboard temper tantrum. It certainly doesn’t feel good to let them get the last word, inevitably an insult, but it will at least shut them down. Small minded people enjoy bating others and the game collapses when their target ignores them.

I am getting better at picking the unstable ones and try to leave the gauntlets where they lie. I enjoy trading ideas and having intelligent discourse which can include respectful disagreements, but that is impossible when the other person is irrational.