Why is it?
 

I belong to a couple of other forums online. One for photographers (professionals and wanna-bees) and one for daycare providers.

I was just sitting here thinking a little bit ago and it occured to me that in all the time I've been on these other forums, I have yet to see anyone banned because of how they treated other forum members, or for any other reason for that matter. There is not the nastiness on these other forums that I see here - ever!

So why is that we who claim to be Christian people - representing our Lord! - have such a hard time with this here?

I'm not saying that we have to agree with each other all the time. That isn't going to happen anywhere. But can't we express our thoughts and beliefs in a kind, loving manner instead of jumping down each other's throats?

They seem to be able to pull that off in the other forums - where thoughts and beliefs are just as strong as they are here! And they can pull it off without the help of the Holy Ghost even. Maybe we just need to THINK before we speak :) :whistle

Thanks for letting me spout off. I'll step out now and let you all go back to your fun.

Re: Why is it?
 

Good post and so true. Blessings to you folks.

Re: Why is it?
 

Good question, Margie! I wonder myself as well! :D

Re: Why is it?
 

I'd be willing to bet that if anyone on the photography forum said "NO professional photographers use Nikon lenses. They MUST use Kodak!", you would see the fur start to fly.

Therein lies the difference between this forum and the others. This one focuses much more on lifestyle, and how much the group (the church) is or is not able to have a say in what goes on outside of the four walls.

Re: Why is it?
 

I've seen people on that forum make comments about how they are died-in-the-wool Nikon users or Canon users. And they have discussed the merits of each. And at the end, each person has walked about comfortable with the fact that what they are doing is right for them and that they don't have to make the decision for anyone else. All they can do is point out the merits that they see. Then the choice is up to the other person.

I see no reason why that kind of principle couldn't apply to things here just as easily.

Re: Why is it?
 

Why would the devil try to stir up strife on these other forums? What could he possible gain? This forum deals with heaven and hell issues. Maybe just maybe he can use someone to hurt someone else and they throw up their hands and just quit.

Re: Why is it?
 

Great post Margie, Thank you.

Re: Why is it?
 

We can disagree agreeably,one can tell someone that they feel someone is in error and still be nice about it.

Re: Why is it?
 

Margie3, Here are my thoughts on this....Well, I am "paraphrasing" Charles Dickens a little:

A Brief Description of AFF:

It is the best of forums; it is the worst of forums. It is the forum of wisdom; it is the forum of foolishness. It is the forum of belief; it is the forum of incredulity. It is the forum of Light; it is the forum of Darkness. It is the spring of hope; it is the winter of despair. We have everything before us; we have nothing before us. We are all going direct to Heaven or we are all going direct the other way. In short, the forum is so far like the present world that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

...He also said, "Charity begins at home and justice begins next door"....Charity ought to extend to a little farther than our four walls. When that happens, it's the best of times and the best of forums!

Re: Why is it?
 

Clearly people feel more strongly about their Apostolic doctrine, than those people feel about their Nikon cameras.

....(and understandably so.)