Looks like we're (in)famous

Postby **Kat Walker** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 2:58 pm

I was randomly browsing anime forums at ezboard, and came across a community that had....certain strong opinions about us. ^^; They also mentioned more than a few times about how they'd like to troll us, but were too "mature" for it. *snorts and laughs* Either way, I thought since we've been having a problem with trolls recently, we might wanna watch out:

snipped by Ashley. See explanation further down.

Well, that should satisfy your daily reccommended allowance of flaming ignorance about Christianity and our forums. x_X;

Postby **shooraijin** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 3:11 pm

I've seen this page, and there was some spillover, in fact.

Postby **madphilb** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 3:38 pm

I'm not sure what's worse... Christians peaking into the world and getting upset that it's what it is (I've been guilty of this) or the world peaking into ours and getting upset at us (usually out of as much ignorance about us as we have about them).

I thought about posting there, but they wouldn't have listened or understood (and it sounds like many of the ones posting there are a rather fringe element too)... besides, I'd be as much a troll as those we've been banning from here.

PHIL

Postby **Kat Walker** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 4:19 pm

Yeah, I wasn't trying to say "let's go teach them a lesson" or whatnot, and I certainly wasn't the least bit surprised about it. If anything, I thought they were a bit tame compared to some of the stuff I've been subjected to. x_X

I was just wondering if that might have been a source of trolls, and I thought we might benefit from hearing what non-Christians were saying about us. Not so that we can compromise our beliefs in order to eliminate controversey, but so that we can understand what comes off as overly offensive and be a bit more inviting towards non-believers.

Although I totally agree that most of their rants about us were totally uninformed and biased, and I too was tempted to go in there and see if they would listen to reason. Although of course, they have probably sterotyped and mocked us to the point where they wouldn't listen to a thing we say, no matter how logical. And I just had to laugh at some of their "Bible facts". Funny how self proclaimed open-minded people are often the most judgemental and prejudiced.

Anyway, I'm mildly put off by it but paying any more attention to them would mean they succeeded in ticking us off.

But it's a hard judgement to make when to worry about non-believers and when not to cast your pearls before swine. *sad sigh*

Postby **StarMasayume** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 5:25 pm

Mmn, that is sad. I'm not angry with them, but like you said, there's that urge to want to say a few things to make them understand better. And YES, they come off so biased even when they accuse us of it. :shady:

*sighs*

Christians aren't perfect(which is so stereotyped WRONG that we view ourselves as perfect when the majority of us will admit we're not), and our convictions can vary. I think that by seeing that thread, we can realize though a bit more that what we say here can be viewed by non-christians and can have an affect on them--for better or worse. This is a fellowship for us, in which I don't believe we should be "on our toes" about this. They're visitors, after all, coming into our "dwelling." It just doesn't hurt to keep in mind that what we say can be seen much differently from non-christians.

I just find it sad that they can't understand and feel the need to mock us. I wonder if any of them would listen if we calmly approached them, but I agree--even if some of them won't respect our forums, we can at least not do the same. I suppose the best thing to do would be to curb our indignation and pray. :hug:

-star

Postby **Bunny** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 5:35 pm

The more I read this, the more I hear that old Carmen song, Witch's Invititation, playing in my head. I am really fighting the animal instinct to beat them over the head with a Bible until good ole osmosis kicks in. Too bad that would probably fail miserably. *sigh* I guess I'm down to loving them praying for them.

Postby **DanekJovax** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 6:32 pm

There are a few verses in the Bible that come to my mind about this:

Proverbs 9:7
"Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.

Proverbs 9:8
Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.

Proverbs 13:1
A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

Proverbs 17:10
A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool.

From my past experience as a moderator/owner of an IRC channel, I learned (in many cases the hard way) on what to do with trolls...

999 times out of a 1000 times, you leave them alone.

Every time I read someone post the inanity "Jesus saves... He shoots, He scores!", I just let out another prayer, though a part of me wants to throttle their neck.

This is a struggle we all face, as Christians. What we have had revealed to us didn't come because of anything WE DID, but only by HIS REVELATION.

Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

Matthew 16:17
Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.

Luke 10:21
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

Well, there's more that touches on this, but I hope I made my point.

Pick your battles wisely... don't ever go on emotion... only let the spirit guide you in this kind of response. For then if you act, then to whom you write may even glimpse something of the beauty and glory that is the Lord that may sway even their hardened hearts... but only if it is by the Spirit.

Postby **richardh01** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 8:01 pm

I read through the whole thread on that other board, and I was reminded of the way I felt before I came to Christ. I felt much the way the people on that other board do. I had respect for all opinions, as long as they didn't conflict with mine. I also equated the Christian desire to avoid certain topics as the equivilent of censorship. If someone doesn't want to say homosexuality glamorized and they warn people about media that did that, then I would say that this person was engaging in censorship.

Now that I am free in Christ, I can see the hypocrisy of such a view. Many non-Christians project their negativity onto Christians; unfortunately, many Christians project their problems onto non-Christians. But we never claim to be perfect, we're works in progress!

Postby **Ashley** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 9:13 pm

I'd actually like to ask that links like this wouldn't be posted in the future for a number of reasons:
1. It makes us look just like them. Post a link followed by numerous anti-link replies.
2. Too tempting for not as strong Christians to fight back instead of turning the other cheek
3. Only gets all of us riled up

So in the future guys, if you come across a site like this, pm/email me about it. I appriciate the info, but not at the risk of the forum's reputation or the walk of other members, kay?

Postby **DanekJovax** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 9:37 pm

Hai! ;2)

Postby **MasterDias** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 9:39 pm

I found that site the other day while searching for stuff at Google. It's really not suprising that we would attract that kind of attention. It's not the last time it's going to happen either.

Postby **Bobtheduck** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 9:54 pm

Well, it's much easier to handle non-christians bashing us... It's harder when Christians troll boards like this saying we're all watching porn and we're going to hell...

EDIT: Anyhow, I just now read through that site, and their main problem is that we don't agree with homosexuality... However, some of them are people who I meet constantly who are interested in anime PURELY as a rebellion against Christianity.

Standing up for what is right will always meet opposition.

In case any of you trolls are here, I want to say something...

I DO believe that homosexuality IS biological... So is being incredibly violent and having a strong desire to steal. And all of these things are still WRONG. Just because it's "natural" in that definition doesn't mean it's right. Being human means we can have choice over the wrong parts of our nature, but to really change we need the Holy Spirit. And the only way to have him in your life is to accept Jesus as the master of your life and admit that you haven't been "good enough" to make it on your own. No one has. It's nothing to freak out about, just give yourself to Jesus and you can get help from others who are Christian (that's really what Church meetings are supposed to be about) and we can take these wrong and dangerous things we do naturally and overcome them...

Man, why can't I be so bold in real life...

**sighs**

Well, maybe this is a slow start!

Postby **DanekJovax** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 10:05 pm

True enough, Bobtheduck, but just remember, we know the truth of the matter, and it's their folly for spreading slander or rumors they haven't bothered to check the validity of.

It will all be reconciled in the End. Just endure it until then, unless you're led to do otherwise. :2)

First, Ban all the Trolls. . . · Postby **MillyFan** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 10:13 pm

Bobtheduck wrote:Well, it's much easier to handle non-christians bashing us... It's harder when Christians troll boards like this saying we're all watching porn and we're going to hell...

Oh yeah

I can tell you that firsthand. I've been in a few debates like that at another board, and I SO hope that never happens here.

Don't you just love the stonewall tactic when debating people like that?

You work for an hour or more making a long post about how anime isn't porn, provide information links, do everything you can-and the person replies with something like "I am not even going to read your post because I know that you refuse to believe the truth. God told me that anime is bad, and you need to start walking with Him." I've been replied to with a post like that once, and I felt like I was doing this :bang:

^sigh^ if any of you really want to see a place from whence such ignorance comes, PM me. That site is just. . .ugh. I would link to it here, but I can't because of the new link-bashing rule, and I know it would tempt a lot of you to do just that. It even tempts me to do that. :bang:

Postby **Rashiir** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 11:16 pm

I'd actually like to ask that links like this wouldn't be posted in the future for a number of reasons:
1. It makes us look just like them. Post a link followed by numerous anti-link replies.
2. Too tempting for not as strong Christians to fight back instead of turning the other cheek
3. Only gets all of us riled up

So in the future guys, if you come across a site like this, pm/email me about it. I appriciate the info, but not at the risk of the forum's reputation or the walk of other members, kay?

Good call, Captain!

Postby **Gremio** » Sun Sep 21, 2003 12:43 am

ah well, your always going to come up against this type of thing if you serve G-d. The devil only attacks those that pose a threat to him.

If any of the morons on that site had brains they would truely be dangerous. So let them say what they want, its just pathetic.

Oh and good idea blocking the link....dont want any unecessary board flame wars.

Postby **Kat Walker** » Sun Sep 21, 2003 8:00 am

I'd truly like to apologize for that, Ashley.

I didn't think it'd affect anyone here that much (the absolute last thing I thought it'd start was a flame war as we all probably are equally annoyed v_V; ), but I wasn't thinking that I might have sank to their level with the whole "anti-link" thing.

Anyway, I can be a bit too bold with people like that. I ought to learn when to let my pride go and pray instead of taking an offensive stance. God can do much better than an argument can to open a hardened heart.

I've seen newbie Christians blow their tops with things like this, and go and start a futile argument without enough knowledge to debate properly...and not to mention they were debating with people who wouldn't believe the sky was blue if it was a Christian telling them. That always ends in disaster. I definitely should have realized that. I'm really really sorry.

One good thing did come of this, I learned alot while reading all of your posts. Other than that, shame on me.

Postby **Rashiir** » Sun Sep 21, 2003 9:33 am

people who wouldn't believe the sky was blue if it was a Christian telling them

That is so true of many of my friends.

Postby **uc pseudonym** » Sun Sep 21, 2003 12:38 pm

I could state my opinions by posting a bunch of things that are similar to statements already posted. Instead, I think I'll state my opinions with things that are already posted.

MasterDias wrote:It's really not suprising that we would attract that kind of attention. It's not the last time it's going to happen either.

madphilb wrote:I'm not sure what's worse... Christians peaking into the world and getting upset that it's what it is (I've been guilty of this) or the world peaking into ours and getting upset at us (usually out of as much ignorance about us as we have about them).

Ashley wrote: I'd actually like to ask that links like this wouldn't be posted in the future for a number of reasons:
1. It makes us look just like them. Post a link followed by numerous anti-link replies.
2. Too tempting for not as strong Christians to fight back instead of turning the other cheek
3. Only gets all of us riled up

people who wouldn't believe the sky was blue if it was a Christian telling them

DanekJovax wrote: "Jesus saves... He shoots, He scores!"

uc pseudonym wrote: Had to post that last one.

Jesus Christ wrote:And I will be with you always, even to the end of the age.

Looks like we're (in)famous

Looks like we're (in)famous

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