Thursday, January 05, 2006

should i stay or should i go

i have a dilemma.

i received an email today from scott (last name removed by me) (a guy who has previously commented on this blog) asking me to remove the post and comments under "slammed by swaggart" and all comments posted about him. personally, at this time i have no interest in removing my post (this is after all my blog, where i place my thoughts, and if someone doesn't like it they can easily skip over it). i would also say that if i saw someone was obviously attacking scott's character within a comment i would delete the comment and warn the commenter. i see no need to delete a comment where someone is expressing their opinion on scott's ideas being wrong. those comments would be their opinion. i view that as a part of a conversation. i can't abide attacking who else someone is but i am perfectly fine with someone accusing someone's ideas of being wrong. afterall, this whole thing began by scott commenting to accuse my ideas of being wrong and i left his comments up.

my problem here arises concerning scott's comments. after saying that he feared i would probably delete his comments he is now asking me in a email to erase them for him. i'm not sure what the ethical thing to do is in this situation. though i have never been asked before to delete a comment, under most circumstances, if asked by the author, i probably would. these comments are different though. some of them are accusatory against me, others are making accusations against other individuals. these comments became a part of the discussion that was taking place within the comments of the blog. i don't believe the flow of comments will make any sense if i remove the remarks that scott made that caused everyone else to respond. i'm not sure that i have a responsibility to delete such comments.

i value you opinion and therefore i am asking for it. i am going to spend the next several days praying and thinking over this and then make a decision. during that time i would also appreciate your input. what are your views on this? thanks.

posted by robert terrell at 8:41 AM |

12 Comments:

  • keep 'em up. welcome to blogdom where words matter.

    was he sorry for his comments or just wanted them off? Not that it matters...

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Thursday, January 05, 2006 1:45:00 PM  

  • Keep them up. You make a comment and you should have to stick to it.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Thursday, January 05, 2006 2:00:00 PM  

  • I tend to agree with zac and grant. Words matter, whether they are typed or spoken.

    It's also a matter of who you say owns the comments on your blog. Are they owned by you, since they are left on your little plot of virtual real-estate? Or are they owned by the commenter, and you take no responsibility for them.

    If they are owned by the commenter, then you are obligated to respect their wishes. It also absolves you of any responsibility for what they say. Resonably, of course.

    If they are owned by you, then you may do with them as it suits you. But guess who's responsible if somebody posts a link to child porn, or Al Quaeda? That's right. Robert Terrell.

    In short, I guess it's just six-and-a-half of one - half a bakers dozen of the other.

    By Blogger J.T., at Thursday, January 05, 2006 2:53:00 PM  

  • I gotta vote that you leave everything up as is. When you post comments on someone else's blog you open yourself up for criticism. If someone can't take the criticism then maybe they need to keep their thoughts to themselves.

    Robert I may not agree with your views on many things, including the emergent church movement, but I will defend your right to hold those views and to debate them. This exchange has been a debate of your views and I see no reason to destroy the record of that debate.

    By Blogger rob, at Thursday, January 05, 2006 7:47:00 PM  

  • I also agree that the comments should be left on your blog. Frankly, I'd be kinda disappointed if they were removed. Free speech is what blogging is all about. If someone regrets their comments, it's a lesson to "think before you speak," just like in real life.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Friday, January 06, 2006 11:29:00 AM  

  • I think you should remove it. Going back and forth does not glorify God. It doesn't matter who's right or who's wrong, debating the scriptures is never right!

    Ask yourself this, If I leave it up "Does it give God Glory or would it cause a person who is not saved to turn away from Christ".

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Friday, January 06, 2006 11:49:00 AM  

  • Why would you want to keep these comments up anyway dude? Unless what this guy is saying is true.

    I don't know I gotta wonder. Why would any minister enjoy making fun of people? Not saying you ment it that way but that is the way it seems to people who read it.

    My friends from school get off on checking out web pages making a joke out of church and preachers. I hope they don't see this!

    If I would post anything like you did on my blog my parents would kill me (not really) but they would be mad as heck.

    I am 19 and I know this is not right. I really don't think you were attacked, but what you have posted on da blog was. I mean can't you understand why?

    I wouldn't want to be involved with this if If I were you.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Friday, January 06, 2006 12:21:00 PM  

  • "anonymous" i think you poise an excellent question of whether keeping the comments will glorify GOD or cause a non-CHRISTian to turn away from CHRIST. i think i need to ask the reverse question also. i'm not sure that it glorifies GOD to remove the comments or that i non-believer would necessarily think removing the comments was a reason to believe in CHRIST. i will consider both sides of your question before i make my decision.

    i do have to disagree with you however on your debating scripture statement. i see nothing wrong with debating our understandings of scripture. in fact, i would say that when it is done right it helps us to better understand the truth of GOD's word. fighting is not usually a good thing but i wouldn't say that debating is always wrong.

    By Blogger robert terrell, at Friday, January 06, 2006 12:28:00 PM  

  • btw, guys & girls if when you comment you would post a link to your blog i would appreciate it. i'm interested in hearing your opinion but i am also interested in knowing whose opinion i am hearing. thanks.

    By Blogger robert terrell, at Friday, January 06, 2006 12:40:00 PM  

  • i know that you will find my opinion shocking, but here goes...Whatever floats your boat!!

    By Blogger sharon, at Friday, January 06, 2006 2:22:00 PM  

  • Frankly, I make it a practice to immediately delete any anonymous comments from my blog. If you can't be bothered to say who you are, then I can't be bothered to be concered about anything else you say.

    By Blogger J.T., at Friday, January 06, 2006 10:36:00 PM  

  • I'm leaning with jt on the anonymous comment - (btw jt - love your site - do you have an rss feed? can't find it)

    to speak like that doesn't even offer the chance for true communication or bridge building...

    besides, the whole thing started by critiquing comments, not people.

    in terms of 'making fun of people' - spend some time with Jesus in Matthew 12 and 23. I guess He wasn't very christlike either...

    (what is the emoticon for tongue in cheek anyway?)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Sunday, January 08, 2006 11:05:00 PM  

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