On "The Happy Thread," of all places,
@Matthias aptly described internet forums as "notoriously toxic environments." Bingo.
I participated for years on one forum, having nothing to do with religion (the JFK assassination, actually) where we were required to use our actual names, actual photos and actual educational credentials, all subject to verification. Was it any less toxic?
Nooooo. Forums about embroidery, houseplants and "How to Achieve Peace of Mind" are equally toxic.
I look back now on the very first forum on which I ever participated - IANDS - some 27 years ago. I thought "Wow, this is GREAT! Direct mind-to-mind communication without all the silliness that gets in the way." Uh,
no, as I quickly realized. Things became so heated at our little Near-Death Experience forum that IANDS pulled the plug.
In fact, over the years what I call the "psychology and dynamics" of forums have become almost more interesting to me than the topics being discussed. There are lots of reasons for this toxicity, but's that not the purpose of this thread.
The question here is, "What's your purpose?"
I can articulate mine: (1) I'm a professional writer and forums are one outlet now that I'm retired; (2) I post for myself, to help organize and refine my own thinking; and (3) I regard all forums as huge Monty Python skits, simply fun to observe and perhaps egg things on a bit.
If I ever started to take any forum too seriously, to allow it to make me upset or angry, I'd move on. I'm not a masochist.
What might be other purposes? You tell me.
- You hope to actually learn something? (You're a rare bird if that's your purpose.)
- Christian fellowship? (Oh, dear, you are a masochist.)
- You think you have unique insights into God's truth and want to share them with others?-
- You hope to persuade/browbeat/outshout others into accepting your views?
- You're lonely or bored and forums are a substitute for actual human contact? (I'm a bit of an urban hermit myself.)
- You just like to argue about anything and everything? (Well, yes, that too.)
- The cloak of anonymity allows you to be the real you or at least the you you'd like to be?
- You're looking for love in all the wrong places?
- All of the above?
It seems to me that clarifying for yourself "Why am I here?" might be a useful exercise and might even reduce the toxicity. Although, I must say, the toxicity can be fun if you recognize the Monty Python aspect.