Posted on 12/07/2013 9:38:07 AM PST by 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.”
The very problem is debate, discussion and the expression of different points of view. Perhaps war should be tried letting leftist people know it is serious and the time for play is over.
I don’t deal drugs at all.
Spot-on!
ACTUALLY ... this happens a whole lot on Free Republic. It’s not limited to the liberal mind. You can see all sorts of personal and vicious attacks on this forum.
I think one can viciously attack ideas and philosophies. That’s okay. But inevitably, if the disagreement continues for very many rounds of posting - it will devolve into attacks on the person making the comment.
And this doesn’t have to be attacks on those who are more on the liberal side, but it happens to those who are conservative, here on this board.
And then there are the snide and snarky remarks.
Also ... there are those who won’t take a thread seriously and instead make it devolve into a joke-fest - or those who make totally nonsensical remarks.
It’s the same on all forums and not just Free Republic — so it is apparently a “human condition” that no one can seem to get away from.
That day is probably on the way.
YEP! True, so true!
I try to keep it to a minimum but sometimes I slip...
I used to debate on the internet....I learned better.
I think it may be “in the air.” I express war and revolution in front of people and receive a neutral to an approval response rather than an outright rejection. I do not mean to say people are waiving their rifles but am saying I believe people are now thinking about it.(Based upon my limited experience.)
Yeah, me, too. A LOT! :-/
We’re shoved into a desperate corner now, under this communist regime. So, we wonder what we’re going to do. Naturally, our thoughts turn “that way.”
Ignore the emotion, ignore the personal attacks, stay on message.
Return it in equal measure but be sure to SMILE!!
There is a certain level of that but if you read the comments section on any news outlet site, youtube videos, and even facebook, there is an unwillingness to agree even on basic facts. It starts from a falsehood and devolves into name calling.
Invariably, the “apolitical” musicians on facebook who post some Obamalovefest thing about Obamcare or Same Sex Marriage or Abortion to their wall (or more pointedly lead off with a slam on Ted Cruz for “shutting down the government”) then act surprised when some of their “followers”/”friends” try to interject some counter viewpoint into the discussion.
“Sit down and shut up” has been the spoken liberal mantra since at least the PC 1990s when Bill Clinton publicly uttered them.
I guess this site will always have snarkies like him.
I am PROFOUNDLY glad that I don't know him or that he doesn't live next door to me.
If one side will never concede a point in a debate (and as in the 2012 debate, the moderator was lying on behalf of one of the participants and attacked the GOP debater), then such communication is pointless.
A rigged debate is a rigged election. All of the moderators come from the same political side and share views with the Democrat candidate. The American public deserves better.
The entire perspective of “what are the top issues of the day” and “what is the correct solution” are cast by the framing of the questions.
SNOPES has shown they can turn a “rumor” into FALSE, TRUE, or HAZY based on how they frame the synopsis. Distract, divide, pile on half-truths to discredit other facts/claims.
There’s one in every crowd. Some posters (and trolls) seem to gravitate to attacking a specific individual poster, not (just) for the content of a current post, but some long imaged personal grudge.
There is this guy in the White House who keeps giving me “the finger” anytime for any reason. I would like to remove him from his job but the Senate and House “leaders” are giving me the finger too!
What to do?
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