Post by Maggie on Nov 23, 2013 9:25:09 GMT -6
One of the dangers inherent in participating in a forum is the ease with which it can become a sounding board for one's own causes. When one adheres to a popular cause, the applause of others who hold to that cause too can blind one to the reality that there are other opinions out there and they may be better or more correct. In a worst case scenario one may become hardened in a position that is actually wrong or, worse, evil.
In real life, we know all sorts of people including those who laugh at us, who think we are crazy to love brussel sprouts, and absolute lunatics to go skating with the kids at our age. There are those who think our ideas about X (whatever X is) are dumber than dirt. This variety of opinion is, I think, what helps ground us firmly in reality. The danger for all who forum and win popularity by adopting popular causes is that nothing grounds them in that virtual world. An argument against their pet cause is evil--not the expression of another point of view that might be worth considering. They are confirmed in every opinion they happen to hold and can so lose sight of reality that they become the evil person of their imagination. No matter what they do to drive home their righteousness, it is always good in their eyes. Thus perversion of truth and the inability to hear other opinions, much less acknowledge their strengths becomes impossible. At this point, one has lost his humanity and become a foot soldier in the army of Satan.
May the Lord protect us all from such a fate!
In real life, we know all sorts of people including those who laugh at us, who think we are crazy to love brussel sprouts, and absolute lunatics to go skating with the kids at our age. There are those who think our ideas about X (whatever X is) are dumber than dirt. This variety of opinion is, I think, what helps ground us firmly in reality. The danger for all who forum and win popularity by adopting popular causes is that nothing grounds them in that virtual world. An argument against their pet cause is evil--not the expression of another point of view that might be worth considering. They are confirmed in every opinion they happen to hold and can so lose sight of reality that they become the evil person of their imagination. No matter what they do to drive home their righteousness, it is always good in their eyes. Thus perversion of truth and the inability to hear other opinions, much less acknowledge their strengths becomes impossible. At this point, one has lost his humanity and become a foot soldier in the army of Satan.
May the Lord protect us all from such a fate!
The devil tempts us not--'tis we tempt him,
Beckoning his skill with opportunity. (George Elliot--Felix Holt)