Why do you guys fight on here? and I have a proposal for you...

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findinghispath

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Hi, I am a 23 year old newbie to this forum. I am a follower of Christ and would love to grow in his word here. However, everywhere I look I find where people are doing nothing but arguing with one another. Don't we want to bring people to Christ? Don't people already NOT want to go to church because they feel like they will be judged and that Christians are nothing but a bunch of fakers that argue all the time? I know this isn't technically a church but I would say this is a place for people to worship and grow in his word. As far as people who come to this forum that are not Christians, they probably laugh and say to themselves "I'm right about those Christians". I'm not trying to say that Christians are perfect... all Christians are FAR from perfect, but shouldn't this forum be about bringing people to Christ rather than arguing all the time? To be honest I don't see how this forum can go on if people do nothing but argue...

Just think about how many people we could bring to Christ if we were focused on reaching the unreached instead of arguing with one another. I have to tell you it's not about YOU or ME... It's about Jesus... the one who died for us. So... why don't we come together as a community on this forum and come up with some ideas to put aside our differences and reach people? Think about how many people come by this forum daily... It could change their LIFE AND the WORLD we could be apart of God's wonderful work!

So what do you say Christianity Board? Would you like to put the arguing to the side and come together to make this a place of worship and reaching the lost? Or would you rather this place continue to be a place where the lost say they are right about Christians?
 
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aspen

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Christians fight because they believe doctrine defines their Christianity, rather than love. Instead of internalizing their faith, they cling to the Bible, crucifix, or whatever like a transitional object - a teddy bear. Due to their over identification with the external, any disagreement with their pet doctrine causes anxiety and triggers an attack.
 

Thankful 1

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Hi, I am a 23 year old newbie to this forum. I am a follower of Christ and would love to grow in his word here. However, everywhere I look I find where people are doing nothing but arguing with one another. Don't we want to bring people to Christ? Don't people already NOT want to go to church because they feel like they will be judged and that Christians are nothing but a bunch of fakers that argue all the time? I know this isn't technically a church but I would say this is a place for people to worship and grow in his word. As far as people who come to this forum that are not Christians, they probably laugh and say to themselves "I'm right about those Christians". I'm not trying to say that Christians are perfect... all Christians are FAR from perfect, but shouldn't this forum be about bringing people to Christ rather than arguing all the time? To be honest I don't see how this forum can go on if people do nothing but argue...

Just think about how many people we could bring to Christ if we were focused on reaching the unreached instead of arguing with one another. I have to tell you it's not about YOU or ME... It's about Jesus... the one who died for us. So... why don't we come together as a community on this forum and come up with some ideas to put aside our differences and reach people? Think about how many people come by this forum daily... It could change their LIFE AND the WORLD we could be apart of God's wonderful work!

So what do you say Christianity Board? Would you like to put the arguing to the side and come together to make this a place of worship and reaching the lost? Or would you rather this place continue to be a place where the lost say they are right about Christians?


Young man assuming you are a man, there a reason there is so much fighting going on between people who call them selves Christian, it is because most all of the people, on the forums, are at best baby Christians, and don’t know any better.



You see a Christian is a temple of God where no sin exists. Most all of the people on this forum will tell you they still deliberately commit sin.



Jesus told us we could tell a Christian by the way they love. Sin is the opposite of love.



First Jesus told us to love God. Sin is loving Satan.
 

aspen

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Hi, I am a 23 year old newbie to this forum. I am a follower of Christ and would love to grow in his word here. However, everywhere I look I find where people are doing nothing but arguing with one another. Don't we want to bring people to Christ? Don't people already NOT want to go to church because they feel like they will be judged and that Christians are nothing but a bunch of fakers that argue all the time? I know this isn't technically a church but I would say this is a place for people to worship and grow in his word. As far as people who come to this forum that are not Christians, they probably laugh and say to themselves "I'm right about those Christians". I'm not trying to say that Christians are perfect... all Christians are FAR from perfect, but shouldn't this forum be about bringing people to Christ rather than arguing all the time? To be honest I don't see how this forum can go on if people do nothing but argue...

Just think about how many people we could bring to Christ if we were focused on reaching the unreached instead of arguing with one another. I have to tell you it's not about YOU or ME... It's about Jesus... the one who died for us. So... why don't we come together as a community on this forum and come up with some ideas to put aside our differences and reach people? Think about how many people come by this forum daily... It could change their LIFE AND the WORLD we could be apart of God's wonderful work!

So what do you say Christianity Board? Would you like to put the arguing to the side and come together to make this a place of worship and reaching the lost? Or would you rather this place continue to be a place where the lost say they are right about Christians?

Start a worship thread.
 

Anastacia

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findinghispath,

It is not wrong to speak up to teach others and discuss the scriptures. Here a some scriptures you should study. Please really do read them.
Here are some reasons, from the bible, to support debating, arguing, refuting and contending for the faith.


Acts 9:29
He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.

Acts 15:1 Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

Acts 18:28
For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Acts 19:8-9 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate: they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them.

2 Corinthians 3:11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope that it is plain to your conscience.

2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

Paul opposes Peter.
See Galatians 2:11-21

Galatians 4:16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

Ephesians 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Philippians 1:7-8 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 1:3-4 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work—which is by faith.

1 Timothy 4:6 If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.

2 Timothy 2:25-26 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

2 Timothy 4:2-4 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Titus 1:9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Jude 3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
 

tomwebster

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Hi, I am a 23 year old newbie to this forum. I am a follower of Christ and would love to grow in his word here. However, everywhere I look I find where people are doing nothing but arguing with one another. Don't we want to bring people to Christ? Don't people already NOT want to go to church because they feel like they will be judged and that Christians are nothing but a bunch of fakers that argue all the time? I know this isn't technically a church but I would say this is a place for people to worship and grow in his word. As far as people who come to this forum that are not Christians, they probably laugh and say to themselves "I'm right about those Christians". I'm not trying to say that Christians are perfect... all Christians are FAR from perfect, but shouldn't this forum be about bringing people to Christ rather than arguing all the time? To be honest I don't see how this forum can go on if people do nothing but argue...

Just think about how many people we could bring to Christ if we were focused on reaching the unreached instead of arguing with one another. I have to tell you it's not about YOU or ME... It's about Jesus... the one who died for us. So... why don't we come together as a community on this forum and come up with some ideas to put aside our differences and reach people? Think about how many people come by this forum daily... It could change their LIFE AND the WORLD we could be apart of God's wonderful work!

So what do you say Christianity Board? Would you like to put the arguing to the side and come together to make this a place of worship and reaching the lost? Or would you rather this place continue to be a place where the lost say they are right about Christians?


Findinghispath, you have had three members answer your post, which one told you the truth? Maybe it doesn’t matter to you, maybe it does. Maybe you don’t know. Your id here is about a path, are you looking for just any path or would you prefer the correct path? I don’t know anything about you but you seem to be interested in helping people come to faith in Christ. If you had a friend or acquaintance that was going to start attending a church that you knew did not teach the truth, would you tell them, “Ya, go ahead and got the false church.” Or would you warn them and say no go to this other church instead?

If someone was directing you down a wrong path would you know it? Would you want to know they were leading you the wrong way? Christ talks about two paths, you know.


 

Robbie

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Yo findinghispath.... don't get discouraged by what other people do... if you do you'll end up constantly discouraged... as it is it seems you have a heart to bring people to God... so start by doing what you think everyone else should be doing... if you end up in an argument about how christians shouldn't argue you'll just be another person who got sucked... BE THE CHANGE... think about what you think everyone else should do and you do it... and may the Lord bless you in your intention... I agree... may His Kingdom come... His will be done....

The best way to change the world around you is to change yourself...

Robbie
 

TexUs

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OP, the first reply is actually a great example. This is passive aggressiveness at its best:
Christians fight because they believe doctrine defines their Christianity, rather than love. Instead of internalizing their faith, they cling to the Bible, crucifix, or whatever like a transitional object - a teddy bear.
I'm not even going to go into the "Separating God's Word from God" argument- all you need to know is that Aspen believes it can be done and others don't think you can separate his Word from Him.
Aspen here tries to passively tell you it can be done and attack those who say otherwise.

It's a meek looking post (Starting out about love) that ends on an attack of DOCTRINES. The very thing he said the SENTENCE BEFORE we shouldn't do.

Again, positions don't matter here, I'm simply pointing something out within his own post.

That something is called hypocrisy.


Ask most people that refuse to hear of Christ, why not and they'll cite the very reason I just did: hypocrisy. They see someone say we should let love define it and not doctrine yet in the next breath attack a doctrine not their own.
I'm not saying I'm innocent of this, I'm just pointing out a great example of it that came up within the VERY DISCUSSION that said we shouldn't do it.

If you had a friend or acquaintance that was going to start attending a church that you knew did not teach the truth, would you tell them, “Ya, go ahead and got the false church.” Or would you warn them and say no go to this other church instead?
Let me add to this... That could be a POTENTIALLY DAMNING action to take to just let it slide.
When eternal lives are at stake here, how can you be too careful with what folks are taught?!?!?!

Christians were never called to a life of "easy". Period. That includes doctrine. Paul says we're to work out our faith with FEAR and TREMBLING... Does that happen if you're never challenged or question what you believe? No!!
 

Foreigner

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Christians fight because they believe doctrine defines their Christianity, rather than love. Instead of internalizing their faith, they cling to the Bible, crucifix, or whatever like a transitional object - a teddy bear. Due to their over identification with the external, any disagreement with their pet doctrine causes anxiety and triggers an attack.



-- Actualy, this ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ is one of the reasons Christian argue.

A single person thinking they can speak for the feelings and motives of ALL OTHER Christians while trying to give the impression he himself is somehow above that shortcoming.

Amusing, at best.



.
 

HammerStone

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I see about one or two responses here which I'd deem reasonably Christian in nature.

The sad fact is the lot of you folks are even arguing about a thread about too much arguing. I'm ashamed for any non-believer who comes across this thread outside of Robbie's response (and potentially Anastacia's which was made within reason and directing us to Scripture) because they see nothing different than you'd see on any political pundit show where two talking heads go at each other. They see exactly what you get in the world - bickering, judgment, and even a tinge of condemnation.

Ya'll are missing the boat! :angry:

Two of you have made judgments about this new member without even knowing him or her. One person has decided to call this poster a young him (why the heck does age matter that much? Immediately you're trying to place yourself at a "higher" level...). What if it's a man in his 60s? What if the OP is a young women? An older widow in her 70s? Why should it matter - are they not a child of God regardless?

I understand about finding the right path. This forum began - and for a time did - to let folks debate and discuss the Word of God. However, at this time its full of squabblers who run amok and seek merely to show the other person wrong more than anything. Your paths are not all one in the same - thank God that he cares enough to give us a path for us - so how can anyone pretend that their way is the only way? We know Christ is the way - but just perhaps someones way to Christ is not exactly your own!?

I'm really to the point of absolute disgust. This is a disgrace to this community and more importantly, to God the Father. Calling someone an idiot, a liar, Bildad, and whatever other name you can come up with is not Biblical. Simply because some insults are more obvious than others does not make them Biblical. I can see right through them myself, and God can see far further and deeper than I can fathom. Sure, Jesus may have thrown out some harsh words, but look at the fraction of his ministry they made up and notice how every other time (and even when he had them) he had something constructive to say.

I've received three PMs in the last week alone of new members who want their accounts removed because they don't even feel able to jump in to the discussion. They'll either be insulted or belittled or are just sick of reading that done to someone else in every other thread. Regardless of whether these members believed as you - you've lost them. You've not made any point to them and regardless of what path you think you have down - you've potentially damaged or even closed theirs.

It's my fault this has gotten out of hand, but I am telling ya'll right now, shape up or ship out. If you cannot produce a constructive post then don't post it. The insults are done. The belittling remarks are toast. My apologies to the OP, but we've talked with PM. You can use this thread as your first example of the kind of stuff that will get you kicked off the boards. This community is going to show folks what Christianity is about, and it's so much more than arguing, traditions, and rude behavior of the world.
 
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TexUs

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I see about one or two responses here which I'd deem reasonably Christian in nature.
I dunno, isn't that... Part of what causes disagreements?


I've received three PMs in the last week alone of new members who want their accounts removed because they don't even feel able to jump in to the discussion. They'll either be insulted or belittled or are just sick of reading that done to someone else in every other thread. Regardless of whether these members believed as you - you've lost them. You've not made any point to them and regardless of what path you think you have down - you've potentially damaged or even closed theirs.

It's my fault this has gotten out of hand, but I am telling ya'll right now, shape up or ship out. If you cannot produce a constructive post then don't post it. The insults are done. The belittling remarks are toast. My apologies to the OP, but we've talked with PM. You can use this thread as your first example of the kind of stuff that will get you kicked off the boards. This community is going to show folks what Christianity is about, and it's so much more than arguing, traditions, and rude behavior of the world.

There are two rule books for my actions on these forums.
1) Bible
2) Your rules.

#2 is non existent.

As far as my remarks to #1, did not even Paul call out Peter as a hypocrite when he preached one thing but acted another way? I'd like for you to demonstrate to me how my calling aspen out on his hypocritical remarks was unBiblical.
The rest of my post deals with debating and argumentation in Christian circles. It happens. Do you deny the examples I used? They came from the Bible.

So the way I see it, I don't see anything Biblically wrong or inaccurate about what I posted.
If you don't like it, I sure don't see what basis you don't like it on. There's certainly no forum rules that speak to it.
 

Foreigner

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Tex, it is simple.

Those the run the site lay down the rules.

If they say no insults or accusations, so be it.

Don't like the rules, leave the site.

It really is that simple.
 

TexUs

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Tex, it is simple.

Those the run the site lay down the rules.

If they say no insults or accusations, so be it.

Don't like the rules, leave the site.

It really is that simple.
I'm saying there ARE NO RULES and they most certainly aren't enforced the basic couple that are (like denial of the Bible or Christ).

It'd be like God telling the Israelites to follow his laws and not telling them what his laws were. It's kindof hard to expect people to adhere to your code of conduct when you don't have a written code of conduct.
 

Ingbert

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Hi, I am a 23 year old newbie to this forum. I am a follower of Christ and would love to grow in his word here. However, everywhere I look I find where people are doing nothing but arguing with one another. Don't we want to bring people to Christ? Don't people already NOT want to go to church because they feel like they will be judged and that Christians are nothing but a bunch of fakers that argue all the time? I know this isn't technically a church but I would say this is a place for people to worship and grow in his word. As far as people who come to this forum that are not Christians, they probably laugh and say to themselves "I'm right about those Christians". I'm not trying to say that Christians are perfect... all Christians are FAR from perfect, but shouldn't this forum be about bringing people to Christ rather than arguing all the time? To be honest I don't see how this forum can go on if people do nothing but argue...

Just think about how many people we could bring to Christ if we were focused on reaching the unreached instead of arguing with one another. I have to tell you it's not about YOU or ME... It's about Jesus... the one who died for us. So... why don't we come together as a community on this forum and come up with some ideas to put aside our differences and reach people? Think about how many people come by this forum daily... It could change their LIFE AND the WORLD we could be apart of God's wonderful work!

So what do you say Christianity Board? Would you like to put the arguing to the side and come together to make this a place of worship and reaching the lost? Or would you rather this place continue to be a place where the lost say they are right about Christians?

I'm fairly new to this forum, too, so haven't gotten into any fights with anybody.... yet.
wink.gif


I've seen some pretty strong disagreements here, but not much that I would call real fighting. There are all different kinds of Christians and Christian beliefs. None of us are likely to agree 100% with what the next guy says. Discussing our differences isn't the same as fighting about them.

I think if I were an unbeliever, I'd rather be on a board where it's safe to say things Christians may disagree with rather than one where nobody rocks the boat. As a person who has been told on other Christian boards that I can't even be a Christian, I know exactly how it feels when you can't even ask a question without being accused of causing strife.

If we can't bring up the tough subjects or talk about differences, how are we ever gonna learn anything?




And Christians are not perfect. Sometimes we do say stupid things and need somebody else to point it out to us.
 

Ingbert

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Tex, it is simple.

Those the run the site lay down the rules.

If they say no insults or accusations, so be it.

Don't like the rules, leave the site.

It really is that simple.

Agreed. I think it's entirely possible to talk about whatever differences we may have without the insults and accusations.

Going back to the OP's point of what a nonbeliever may think of it, if they see this as a place where Christians rationally discuss issues without the craziness found on some other sites, maybe they'll it as a place where they'll feel safe enough to ask the kind of questions that are really bothering them.
 

TexUs

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Agreed. I think it's entirely possible to talk about whatever differences we may have without the insults and accusations.
I 100% agree... But I don't see any of them in this thread??? I assumed he was referencing the overall feel of the forums recently.


I still think one needs an established set of rules though.

We'd consider calling someone "Satan" because they disagree with us, an insult. I think we could all agree on that.
What about calling someone "blind" to the truth? "Misled"? Or what about, "Satan has blinded you"?
I've seen all of these things on here.

If one wants to eliminate insults a line needs to be drawn.

OR- leave it as it is and implement the Biblical method of discipline when questionable cases arise.

I run a forum of 50,000 people- 6,000 active at one time. Now... It's secular. Not a Christian forum. I must draw a line in the sand. Here, there's the luxury of applying Biblical principles and methods- and I think it's something worth exploring.
 

Foreigner

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I think that if you are going to accuse someone of hypocrisy or dishonesty, you should give the specific reason(s) that you feel would justify that comment.

Just throwing it out there without supporting it accomplishes nothing but spreading discord.
 

TexUs

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I'm saying there ARE NO RULES and they most certainly aren't enforced the basic couple that are (like denial of the Bible or Christ).

I'd like to add to this even one of the moderators is universalistic... Doesn't that paint a picture of the level of "core Christian values" that are accepted- or rather- ignored, here??

You can trash the Son, the Father, the Bible... But you should all feel shame if we call someone out on hypocrisy????

I think that if you are going to accuse someone of hypocrisy or dishonesty, you should give the specific reason(s) that you feel would justify that comment.

Just throwing it out there without supporting it accomplishes nothing but spreading discord.
Ahhh but I did...
 
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Ingbert

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I 100% agree... But I don't see any of them in this thread??? I assumed he was referencing the overall feel of the forums recently.


I still think one needs an established set of rules though.

We'd consider calling someone "Satan" because they disagree with us, an insult. I think we could all agree on that.
What about calling someone "blind" to the truth? "Misled"? Or what about, "Satan has blinded you"?
I've seen all of these things on here.

If one wants to eliminate insults a line needs to be drawn.

OR- leave it as it is and implement the Biblical method of discipline when questionable cases arise.

I run a forum of 50,000 people- 6,000 active at one time. Now... It's secular. Not a Christian forum. I must draw a line in the sand. Here, there's the luxury of applying Biblical principles and methods- and I think it's something worth exploring.

To a degree, I agree, but insults can be very subjective. I know I've said things before that I didn't think twice about, but the other person read it as an insult.
sad.gif


Some of the things you mentioned I would take as condescending, but not really an insult. Others might be highly insulted by them. It would be very hard to say what exactly constitutes an insult.

I think it would be better, unless something is blatantly obvious, to let the person know in a private message that they've stepped over the line, or getting close to it.




 

rockytopva

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I am a Lab Technician at a large factory and I seek out fellowship. Some of my best friends are Baptist, we have a Jehovah's Witness whom I can say that I have always treated as a gentlemen. I will go up to guys I don't even know and ask them if they go to church or not. I also have got a book ministry where I will go up to people I don't even know and say here's a good book! There was one guy who wanted to get saved but was afraid of my Pentecostal Holiness church so we all got together at a Baptist church where he gave his heart to the Lord after looking at a Franklin Graham testimonial movie. Different denomination simply do not bother me. If you don't like my church go somewhere closer to your liking. My main aim is to win people to Jesus Christ and my hopes are that when people choose a church that they will find one where they feel the Lord wants them most.


Hammerstone... I have always thought of doing my own site as I have IT degrees. But after being tested here I can say that I would have failed the test as an administrator and would have ended up in deep depression over it all. So my apologies for anything inappropriate on my part. I have simply never knew anyone disrespectful to my country or denomination and was unprepared for it all.
 
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