Proposal: Catholic Discipline For Commenting Online

[TheUbiquitous]

WHEREAS commenting online may be injurious to maintaining a state of grace, as it may increase occasions or near occasions of pride, wrath, or sloth, as well as other sins; and

WHEREAS this selfsame practice is yet potentially an excellent tool for engaging hearts and minds, which is itself essential for planting seeds for the Holy Ghost; and

WHEREAS Catholics are not Amish; and

WHEREAS we must evangelize all nations, even those whose inhabitants spend a great deal of time online; and

WHEREAS a "bitter zeal" connotes no wisdom but is "earthly, sensual, devilish," leading to "inconstancy, and every evil work," ([url="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+3&version=DRA"]James 3[/url]); and

WHEREAS our "adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour," we must "be sober and watch" ([url="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%205%20&version=DRA"]1 Peter 5[/url]); and

WHEREAS it may be deemed helpful to establish rules or method which will cut down the occasions of sin while optimizing planting good seeds; and

WHEREAS it is a cause of grave scandal to non-believers for a Catholic to spout nonsense, for even non-believers can know certain truths; and

WHEREAS it is a cause of grave scandal to Catholics if a Catholic begin to spout nonsense, for Catholics worship Truth Incarnate; and

WHEREAS that a publicly identifiable discipline may be helpful to expedite fraternal correction, which itself may help constancy in technique and prevent the errors listed above; and

WHEREAS any discipline adopted by more than one person should be submitted first for feedback and approval among the others;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that before such a list of rules for Catholics commenting online be proposed for adoption, a draft of rules shall be to be appended to this most solemn declaration, submitted to a community for dissection and feedback, for a period of no less than one week, nor less than is deemed necessary by the community-at-large.

PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE RIGHT HON. COMMENTER THEUBIQUITOUS FOR PUBLIC DISPLAY IN THE FORUM OF PHATMASS.COM, THIS TUESDAY THE 28TH OF AUGUST, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD TWO-THOUSAND TWELVE. AS PROCLAIMED ABOVE, HENCEFORWARD ARE THE RULES PROPOSED FOR ADOPTION:[list=1]
[*]Self-deprecation may be necessary. Practice.
[*]Except when provided above, never use first-person personal pronouns. (I, we, my, me, our, &c.) Avoid second-person personal pronouns. (You, your, &c.)
[*]Before submitting your comment, examine your conscience carefully. Always listen to it and obey it, even when your comment seems innocuous.
[*]If rebuking someone else, write it as a rebuke to yourself as well (cf. Matthew 7).
[*]Look it up. Use links.
[*]If you can't prove what you say, but it is necessary to say, admit as much. Ask for help finding a source.
[*]Rarely does someone write so badly that you can't figure out what he means. Otherwise, never respond to tone or grammatical errors.
[*]Write well, and concisely.
[*]If your conscience bears a mortal sin, never continue an argument.
[*]Always read what is written, avoiding quick replies. If necessary, outline long comments.
[*]Writing truth in charity may require a stern voice. May.
[*]Winning is not the bull's-eye. Mutually understanding truth is the bull's-eye.
[/list]

[Vincent Vega]

Cf Point 8, latter half and point 10, latter half.

[TheUbiquitous]

Very good. However,

[indent=1][s]Concisely = short[/s][/indent]

Concisely = no shorter than it needs to be



Yes?

[Winchester]

Shut up.

[PadrePioOfPietrelcino]

I like it, how long did you spend thinking this up?

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote]
2. Except when provided above, never use first-person personal pronouns. (I, we, my, me, our, &c.) Avoid second-person personal pronouns. (You, your, &c.)
[/quote]

Strikes me as kind of [url="http://chronicle.com/article/50-Years-of-Stupid-Grammar/25497/"]Strunk and White-esque bossiness[/url] that ultimately hinders communication rather than fostering it. I'd simply strike that one out entirely and add something in more along the lines of never accusing people of failings and never holding yourself up as a paragon of virtue.

[TheUbiquitous]

Well, most of this has been personal practice for a while, or at least I've meant it to be.

[TheUbiquitous]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1346224191' post='2475656']
Strikes me as kind of [url="http://chronicle.com/article/50-Years-of-Stupid-Grammar/25497/"]Strunk and White-esque bossiness[/url] that ultimately hinders communication rather than fostering it. I'd simply strike that one out entirely and add something in more along the lines of never accusing people of failings and never holding yourself up as a paragon of virtue.
[/quote]

Avoiding the "personal I" actually helps a lot in avoiding taking things personally, and helps from emoting. It focuses the conversation away from personality, with all its failings, and avoids statements from sounding like accusations. It also helps with word count.

[indent=1]compare this to [/indent]

I've found that avoiding the "personal I" helps a lot to prevent folks from taking things personally. I mean, without this rule, conversations are focused on my personality against yours, and every time I make a statement it sounds like an accusation against you. I've also found that it helps with my word count.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='TheUbiquitous' timestamp='1346224227' post='2475657']
Well, most of this has been personal practice for a while, or at least [size=5][b]I've[/b][/size] meant it to be.
[/quote]





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Edited August 29, 2012 by Nihil Obstat

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='TheUbiquitous' timestamp='1346224490' post='2475658']
Avoiding the "personal I" actually helps a lot in avoiding taking things personally, and helps from emoting. It focuses the conversation away from personality, with all its failings, and avoids statements from sounding like accusations. It also helps with word count.

[indent=1]compare this to[/indent]

I've found that avoiding the "personal I" helps a lot to prevent folks from taking things personally. I mean, without this rule, conversations are focused on my personality against yours, and every time I make a statement it sounds like an accusation against you. I've also found that it helps with my word count.
[/quote]


Certainly it [i]can[/i] do that, but the way to achieve my goal is not, IMO, to try to strike out personal pronouns entirely. All it takes is rather some situational awareness and tact. Sometimes they are good, and sometimes they are not, but usually a bit of simple common sense is all it takes.

[TheUbiquitous]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1346224497' post='2475659']



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Don't click this:
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[img]http://wpshrine.com/uploads/subb/wpshrine_Lucky_Star_91_1280x800.jpg[/img][/spoiler]
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[/quote]

Ah, but look at the first rule! This, meant as a self-rebuke, fits nicely!

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1346224680' post='2475660']
Certainly it [i]can[/i] do that, but the way to achieve my goal is not, IMO, to try to strike out personal pronouns entirely. All it takes is rather some situational awareness and tact. Sometimes they are good, and sometimes they are not, but usually a bit of simple common sense is all it takes.
[/quote]

Very good. Works for this sinner, though, so maybe keep these two rules as alternative rules, suggestions rather than requirements.

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

it all sounds well and good, but too many rules causes a greater burden than nescisarily for good will,and more opurtunity for the faithful to break rules and enter into self condemnation. Check the readings and gospels for this coming sunday. We studied this at my first bible study group today. The whole washing the hands before eating rebuke jesus gave to the pharisees. And how they add to the law, like i will give you the example a member of the group bought up as to how the priests of the old israel where required wash upon entering the tent where the covenant was contained (i can't remember exactly but you should get the point.) and how the pharisees that decided to apply this law to many different things. Which is not nescisarily bad to wash hands before eating but not amounting to salvation. And these pharisees did this they suited the law to things that it wasn't made for therefore heaping unescisary burden upon the general populance whom with such a burden than failed to avoid the weightier matters of sin, i think two examples jesus mentioned where pride and folly which should be addressed first and foremost. Something like that anyhow. I get it but am not so good with words. Like the symbols of the church are still good like signing ourself with holy water before entering the house of GOD which is actually what the law meant. Aha i remember the other example somone mentioned, when the law said it is not what goes into your mouth that makes you unclean but that which goes into it. Here jesus was talking directly about food, but now days people apply that law to lets say watching a bad movie delibrately and claiming jesus has okayed that.

Edited August 29, 2012 by Tab'le Du'Bah-Rye

[TheUbiquitous]

What of the value for discipline? Regarding unnecessary burden you have something there in your exegesis, but as described in the OP this appears to be a necessary burden, or at least a helpful one. Wouldn't a public discipline help the Catholic community online?

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

[quote name='TheUbiquitous' timestamp='1346227151' post='2475682']
What of the value for discipline? Regarding unnecessary burden you have something there in your exegesis, but as described in the OP this appears to be a necessary burden, or at least a helpful one. Wouldn't a public discipline help the Catholic community online?
[/quote]

I don't understand what do you mean. I will go and read your OP again. I am a bit simple thats why i may need more explanation on such a large OP i may have not understood you correctly, i will read it again more carefully.

[TheUbiquitous]

Shorter version:[list=1]
[*]Here are some rules to help your loving, truly Catholic witness online.
[*]Do you have any suggestions?
[/list]