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Friday, January 15, 2010

The Comment Sections

I confess I read the comment sections on websites and blogs. I don't recommend doing this all the time or waste a lot of time doing it; nevertheless, it is an interesting exercise.

Go to youtube. Go to any news website that gets a lot of traffic. Just read and observe what's said. Follow people's flow of thought. Do they reference something in the article? Do they address a previous comment? Perhaps they do not address the content directly, rather they address the person (positively or negatively). What's the tone of their comment? This exercise is especially illuminating upon public discourse, values, and worldview regardless of how important the topic–or trivial. What is said in these rapid-fire scenarios often reveals what we truly believe.

Yes, to be sure the internet provides a certain level of anonymity, which gives the commenter the perceived permission to blast anything and everything that spews forth from his/her mind and heart. But that in of itself presents an interesting view into the human condition. It is not natural to love; it is not natural to build up. All the more important to be transformed from within, and then have love and encouragement overflow into every situation. Jesus is so good at this; why can't we be more like him? I want to be more like him.

P.S. If you do this, don't be shocked by the potential vulgarity.

Related Post:
Give Yourself an Assignment

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