The Standard Advice




Yowie wrote:
>
>Engineer wrote...
>>
>> Yowie wrote:
>>
>>>Oh, *now* I understand it. Jesus wanted us to behave like two year olds
>>>calling each other names in the playground. If this keeps up, we'll soon
>>>have someone demonstrate what a spirit-filled tantrum is like and probably
>>>get to see how Christ-like it is to make another to cry all the way home
>>>to
>>>their mother.
>>>
>>>Thankyou for correcting my notions of what it is to be a Christian.
>>
>> THE STANDARD ADVICE:
>
> There is a way to influence what gets discussed in a newsgroup that
> works well, and another way that has never worked no matter how many
> people have tried it.
>
> What works: Post articles on the topic you wish to see discussed
> and participate in the resulting discussion. Use killfiles and
> filters so that you don't see the articles that you dislike.
> If you don't know how to use a killfile, use good old fashioned
> discipline and don't read posts by people who post articles that you
> dislike. Never, ever respond to articles that you dislike.
>
> What doesn't work: Respond to articles that you dislike, complain
> about articles that you dislike, complain about posters that you
> dislike, complain about how terrible everyone else is for not posting
> what you want them to post. Talk about how to respond to articles
> that you dislike. Make the articles that you dislike the center of
> attention, the main topic of discussion, and a personal crusade.
>
>Engineer, I thank you for the Standard Advice, but unlike you, I don't find
>Jeff to be a troll and I will not treat him as such. I think it would be
>safe to say that Jeff and I are unlikely to agree with each other's
>interpretation of the Bible, and as a consequence of that, how we go about
>living our lives in accordance with our own interpretations are also likely
>to be quite different, but he and I have not exchanged cross words, and I at
>least admire him for his ability and dedication to find Biblical verses that
>support his view, whether I agree with that view or not.
>
>As such, when I reply to Jeff (and in this particular case, Dennis as well)
>I am not doing so with the attitude of replying to a "troll" or indeed,
>attempting to shut him up. I am, in fact, attempting to engage him in a
>meaningful conversation - and in the case of my above post, attempt to
>inject a little humour into a clearly deteriorating situation.
>
>I do believe Jeff found it funny. I'm glad. I like the 'sound' of his laugh.
>It reminds me that there's a man behind the posts that can smile and laugh
>and joke around, and by the same token, a man who can be hurt, who can take
>offence, a man who will - like most people - act defensivley if he feels
>threatened or insulted. Indeed, somone who, despite our theological
>differences, is in many ways similar to me. And if I don't want to be
>accused of trollery and be called names for holding and defending my own
>points of view (as wrong as they may seem) then I have a certain duty to do
>the same for others. Which is why I will continue to read Jeff's posts and
>engage Jeff in conversation when I feel it is warranted, and will attempt to
>do so in the way I would like to be addresed if I found myself in a similar
>situation (whilst admitting I'm flawed and may be tempted to do otherwise):
>
>With respect.
>
>If I find myself unable to do that, then, and only then, will
>I find myself having to ignore him completely. But note, killifling someone
>simply stops me from doing something I wouldn't be proud of later. I don't
>see it as some sort of punishment for (perceived) misbehavior, and would
>much prefer to read and consider on-topic but 'unpopular' posts than just
>ignore them.
>
>And, in the spirit of the thread this appears in: "You can't make me. Nerny
>nerny ner!" :-)

<chuckle>

There exists two and only two possible answers to the question of whether
you [Yowie] like or dislikes "us behaving like two year olds calling each
other names in the playground", "tantrums", and "making another cry all
the way home to mother." Either you like such behavior or you don't.
I am going to go out on a limb and assume for the sake of argument that
you don't like such behavior and would prefer to see less of it. If so,
the standard advice applies; you responded, and the result was more of
it. The same goes for Dennis posting "troll" and any other reply by
anyone.

Now let's assume for the sake of argument that you do like such behavior
and would prefer to see a lot more of it. If so, the standard advice
still applies; you responded, and the result was more of it, and you got
what you wanted.

If you read the standard advice closely, you will notice that it is a
universal truth, not something that only applies to Trolls. For example.
you might dislike me talking about the Standard Advice. If so, not
responding to this post will result in me talking about something else.

You might also note that the Standard Advice does not define which posts
you might happen to like or dislike. If you happen to really like posts
which quote Monty Python sketches, respond to them and initiate them.
If you If you happen to dislike posts posts which quote Emo Phillips,
don't reply to such posts. Whatever your preferences are as to what
others post, the Standard Advice is a time-proven and reliable method
of getting whatever you happen to prefer.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

"I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing
on the edge, about to jump off, so I ran over and said "Stop!
Don't do it!"

He said, "Why shouldn't I?"

I said, "Well, there's so much to live for!"

He said, "Like what?"

I said, "Well...are you religious or atheist?"

He said, "Religious."

I said, "Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?"

He said, "Christian."

I said, "Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?"

He said, "Protestant."

I said, "Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?"

He said, "Baptist."

I said, "Me too! Are you Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?"

He said, "Northern Baptist."

I said, "Me too! Are you Original Northern Baptist or Reformed
Northern Baptist?"

He said, "Reformed Northern Baptist."

I said, "Me too! Are you Reformed Northern Baptist Missouri synod
or Reformed Northern Baptist Wisconsin synod?"

He said, "Reformed Northern Baptist Missouri synod."

I said, "Me, too! Are you Reformed Northern Baptist Missouri synod
reformation of 1879, or Reformed Northern Baptist Missouri synod
reformation of 1915?"

He said, "Reformed Northern Baptist Missouri synod reformation
of 1915."

And I said, "Die, heretic!" and pushed him off.

-Emo Phillips


.

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