The Potential Atmosphere of Comments
So far I haven’t noticed anyone else stating online the same primary reason I have for usually not having comments enabled. This post is a continuation of yesterday’s Comment Chaos. I’ll begin from where I left off…
Keith’s response to Nyman’s post expresses my thoughts exactly. Notice Nyman’s response to it.
The number one reason why I usually will not enable comments is because it goes against my Christian beliefs. Christians should do what they can to avoid arguments and quarreling. Allowing an environment for the kind of debating that typically goes on when comments are enabled on controversial posts fosters an ungodly spirit.
When I encounter posts which contain heated responses going back and forth on controversial topics, I quickly begin to feel very disturbed. That’s unavoidable for me — probably because of being both a Christian and an Aspie. Others cannot know the intense degree to which I’m empathetic towards the feelings of every human being.¹ That’s why trying to explain this in a way others can comprehend what I’m talking about might be impossible, but since it’s not for me to judge what others are capable of, I shall make the attempt.
Imagine a young child who loves both of his parents equally. Then try to imagine how that child would feel while hearing his parents arguing passionately. He would be disturbed because he wants his parents to get along together. For them to be against each other on an issue (or issues) reveals evidence of the potential that they will divide apart (i.e., split). What condition does that then leave the child in? He suffers heartache, especially since he knows there is nothing he can do that’s within his power or control to keep them from hurting each other.
Think about what and why people get defensive. Jesus was perfectly humble. He valued not what others in this world thought of him. Nor did He insist others follow Him. He merely abided His earthly life with His heart’s affection ruled by God. He loved mankind, but loved His heavenly Father more.
What stimulates the need in people to force their opinions on others is pride. Proud people don’t let God be God. When that’s the case, they take it upon themselves to act like god. That’s chaos, because there is no unity (i.e., no common denominator). Chaos and confusion are the grounds for malice to grow.
I once said on my blog, “There is no love in strife, quarreling, wrangling, bickering, or any debating that stems from pride. A malicious spirit only invites disrespect and needs to be disregarded.” God has reasons for saying what’s stated in Romans 1:28-31 and Matthew 5:11-13. There are many other bible verses warning mankind about strife.
I also had written, “Just because others like to debate and argue doesn’t mean I should too. If you’re here to complain, criticize, accuse, and/or condemn me, then maybe it’s best you leave. I don’t allow readers to challenge what I write in my posts, since most contradictions have already been argued elsewhere ad nauseam.” If the way I said it sounds nasty, I didn’t mean it to. It’s hard to know how to say something so people get the message that you mean what you say, while at the same time, keep from crossing the boundary of acting like a god. Adding to that, all the different types of characters who are reading online makes it impossible to not offend someone sometimes, especially if they’re unwilling to be understanding and/or are intolerant of others who differ.
If this post gets misconstrued as being like a sermon given by a preacher because I’m not going to enable comments, the reasons for that will probably vary. For starters, to judge like that is to not look at the whole picture. I am more than my blog. I have lived beyond a middle age. That means my blog is affected by a history of being (mis)treated by others in different ways, a lifetime of learning that has developed who I now am today, and (most importantly) being in training under the rule of my Heavenly Father. I won’t go beyond what I’ve already said, because what I’ve already said might be too much for some people to gracefully accept.
¹Even though I’m super-sensitive towards how others feel does not mean my behavior reflects it perfectly all the time. I have moods just like anyone else. I’m more aware of the times when I’m being a hypocrite or jerk than when I’m not being like that.
