What Would Jesus Do?
What Would Jesus Do?
What if it is not being done in lieu of offering valid, constructive and challenging debate and discussion on a certain subject, but is being done because the other person is merely trolling instead of offering valid, constructive and challenging debate and discussion on a certain subject?
While we can determine by following a discussion who is merely trolling and behaving inappropriately, we still have to ask if its proper and 'good' to call them names like 'idiot', 'stupid', 'retard' or 'moron', and what higher good that ultimately serves and if that hurts or helps your "witness" for Christ (I speak here of those so called 'Christians' who are aspiring or claiming to represent Jesus). Otherwise in any dialogue if a person is obstinate, refusing to have a civil, reasonable, respectful discussion....you have other options like finally agreeing to disagree, reporting the person if you feel they are violating any forum rules, or put them on IGNORE. -
So you have options. - you don't have to be rude or crude.
Would you think it is okay to point out the lack of substance on the other side of the discussion by calling the person names after repeatedly trying to bring meaning to the discussion and getting nowhere?
See above, the same options or solutions are available in how to handle a situation. I've had rounds with some, and have resorted after much discussion in calling out misbehavior as 'buffoonery' or 'bigotry', so would imply the other person is behaving like a 'buffoon' or 'bigot', their behavior proving such according to a proper definition. I'm careful not to use words like 'moron' or 'idiot', although the temptation is there in some cases. This can happen after so many rounds of dialogue have been exhausted. Unfortunately continual name-calling just increases animosity, antagonism and diverts more from the actual points of discussion into a 'flame-war' that becomes 'personal' becoming more demeaning, a tit for tat war, and where does that go? Who does that edify? What good or value comes from name-calling taken too far, it only hurts, demeans and devalues. This is the antithesis of love and its motivation.
I would also disagree with your explanation (and other 'truth-smackers' by the way) that because Jesus called some people certain 'names' that a so called follower of his also has the right to name-call. This is basically using Jesus as a 'poster-child' to justify their method of 'truth-smacking'. As far as Jesus goes, you'd have to look at every incident where he name-called, the situational-context, purpose, etc. - in some of these cases you cant correlate or equate the 'situational-context' to a modern day internet forum. So the ole "Jesus did it so I can too" mentality doesn't really fly....which is why extreme forms of 'truth-smacking' are merely 'self-serving' if anything....a religious ego justification to engage in 'verbal whiplashing'. - again, if anyone thinks this gives them brownie points with Jesus, I'd reconsider.
