Message board rejection--how does one internet-evangelize honestly?

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st_felicity

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Does CA refuse to allow some to participate on these forums based solely on the small amount of information provided when you register? I hope not; to do so would seem to discourage a free exchange…

Recently, I tried to register to a Protestant message board (supposedly open to all Christians) that held some discussions that forwarded some very anti-Catholic (and patently inaccurate) beliefs. I filled out a short registration form honestly and used the same username I use here. This is the message I received in return:

Hello,
Unfortunately, your recent registration application at B…Board.com has been declined.

We are located at: http://www…com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi

Your registered name was: st_felicity

(Please Note: I eliminated the name of the board and the address because I suspect the CA Administrators don’t like that and I have a genuine and pertinent question concerning this issue)

There is no explanation, but I was absolutely non-threatening in the form I filled out. I was, however, honest that I am a practicing Roman Catholic. Am I to take this as A) You simply lost the lottery…B) You are not Christian…C) We don’t like your name…D) Leave us alone, we don’t want your kind here–we want to remain in our ignorance of your beliefs and we want to gossip about what we THINK you believe…E) Oh NO!!!:eek: It’s those Catholics–they have logic and reason on their side–run for your lives!!!

**Seriously, how does one evangelize to those who forward innacuracies about our faith if those who know what the truth is about Catholicism are denied access? It’s scandalous! **

**I guess I’m a little niave. I am a convert from the religion of the board I tried to register to, and I am surprised by the rejection–it smacks of fear and loathing–not what I experienced in that church. I guess I’m more used to subtler forms of anti-Catholicism and the rejection was an affront to my sensibilities. **

Anyone else have similar experiences? I sure don’t like the idea that people can say anything they want–foster any incaccuracy and outright lie–and refuse to hear from anyone who may have a different perspective on the topic they are discussing. I would think the injustice of it would be obvious to the moderators of the forum in question–But, maybe that’s my niavety again…

Any comments?
 
I am not going to pretend that I know the mind of the Administrators and Moderators, but I believe that all opinions and perspectives, charitably and thoughtfully conveyed, are welcome here. I have never seen anyone rejected, banned, or suspended because of their registration data, unless of course it is vile and patently offensive. The only cause I have ever seen for anyone being disavaowed at these forums are people who come to cause trouble, and even then they are given a pretty long leash. So, that said, I am not sure if your hesitancy at this message board is entirely warranted.

With regard to you concern about being rejected by other species of Christianity. Remember that Jesus was rejected by an overwhelming majority of Jews, and he Himself was a Jew. Go to your bible and read about the Pharisees. They hated Jesus because he was an anathema to what they had developed as their own special understanding of the Truth. However, we know that Jesus IS the truth. Jesus still forgave them, however. He realized that they were frail, misinformed, stubborn humans. I think you will go a long way in helping the cause of evangelism if you take the same approach.

If you were open to a piece of advice from a long standing member of these forums, and to apologetics and evangelism in general, it is this. Don’t engage in needless debate. It is futile, it proves nothing, it helps nothing. There is nothing more frustrating and spiritually damaging than getting into a debasing arguement with someone who is out to prove that they are right. The more you try to tell them how wrong they are, the more they will insist that they are correct. Its human nature. Learn your apologetics, apply them to people who are receptive to the message. Jesus never tried to force people to believe in Him. Rather, He shared His message with they who wanted to hear it.
 
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Scott_Lafrance:
Rather, He shared His message with they who wanted to hear it.
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I assumed that CA was open to all (hey, they let me on…) since I’ve come across all flavors here–I was going for juxtaposition…

Your advice is well received and good guidance. My attemt was a whim (with good intentions)–and if one doesn’t reach out, one cannot know who might be receptive to the message.
 
…I have, however, sent an e-mail to the message board in question politely requesting an explanation for my rejection. I guess I’ll be surprised if they respond.
 
I’m a moderator on another message board

If we suddenly get 8,9,10 people all registering, all with a common backround, there is a good chance they won’t be accepted. It’s happened before that a bunch of people will storm a board, and basically take it over in an attempt to correct/evangelize, and make compete trolls out of themselves- I’m sure we have all seen the anti-catholic posters here, and it’s basically the same thing from another perspective. You might try trying again in a month or so when you know there is no active campaign to inform the board. I would expect everyone from yesterday was declined (it’s bb, yes?).

I’m not saying that was your intention- to storm the board and start correcting everything in an exteremly harsh manner, but it doesn’t happen infrequently on boards, either. Try again in a few weeks, and you may have better luck.
 
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alyssa:
I’m not saying that was your intention- to storm the board and start correcting everything in an exteremly harsh manner, but it doesn’t happen infrequently on boards, either. Try again in a few weeks, and you may have better luck.
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That makes sense…would one register using a different name?

On the other hand–there were some pretty heinous things said about Catholics and a poster who must have been defending Catholicism was refrenced in the other members’ posts but all of his posts were missing from the thread. None of the responders seemed to take offence at his attitude–it was just argueing the statements he had apparently made. Doesn’t look good…

CA is pretty evenhanded about removing offensive stuff–At first blush, the other board did not seem so objective.
 
I assume that this was the board that a number of people were trying to get on yesterday. I tried to say in a nice way that it was for a denomination not known for its love of Catholicism. I was wanting to follow up this morning to see what happened but the thread on this board was apparently deleted. Also, I pulled up all of my posts this morning and none from that thread was listed. Apparently the moderators here don’t want to get a war started.
 
I think most people know whether they want to search the truth out or not. Like St. Aquinas said, if you want to learn the truth about a philosophy or religion go analyze what the proponents say, don’t read/analyze what the critics say - they have an agenda. So why would I g to a Protestant board if I had genuine questions/doubts/interests about the Catholic faith?

So while I totally support your goal of spreading more truth where apparent lies are passed around freely, that is happening there because they aren’t concerned about it. If people want to learn the truth they will come here. I feel confident most people know that.

I just hope we always consider those people and their questions without motive until proven otherwise (which sometimes we don’t :banghead:)
 
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geezerbob:
I assume that this was the board that a number of people were trying to get on yesterday.
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Fahgeddabout the other board–actually it’s irrelavent to the issue. I had never tried to go on a protestant site before and I was surprised by the totally FALSE things being said. Apologetics is to clarify what the Catholic Church ACTUALLY teaches.

I guess, as drawn out in this thread, the question is: Is it appropriate to seek out where those false assumptions about Catholicism are being forwarded to attempt to correct the error at the source where some might come to believe wrongly, or does the Apologist wait for a challenge and simply offer the defense?

Thanks so much for the responses–I’m grateful for the generous and clearly genuine guidance.
 
Oh those type of boards. Usually it’s a bunch of Christians who want a back patting party. Dont waist your time on those types. Remember what Jesus said about throwing pearls at swine.
 
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st_felicity:
Does CA refuse to allow some to participate on these forums based solely on the small amount of information provided when you register? I hope not; to do so would seem to discourage a free exchange…
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We do not reject any based on their registration info.

Or more precisely, we do not reject any based on an a priori judgment of their supplemental info. We have Wiccans and atheists as members, for example.
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st_felicity:
Recently, I tried to register to a Protestant message board (supposedly open to all Christians) that held some discussions that forwarded some very anti-Catholic (and patently inaccurate) beliefs. I filled out a short registration form honestly and used the same username I use here. This is the message I received in return:

Hello,
Unfortunately, your recent registration application at B…Board.com has been declined.
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Be sure to check their “forum rules” first. Some “Christian” boards are restricted to Protestants only. Nice, eh?
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st_felicity:
We are located at: …com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi
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***(Please Note: I eliminated the name of the board and the address because I suspect the CA Administrators don’t like that and I have a genuine and pertinent question concerning this issue)***We don’t care much. If someone comes and posts a link to CARM and asks for the forums’ opinion, it will be OK. On the other hand, if a troll comes on and starts a new thread in each of our forums damning Catholics and touting Jack Chick’s web site with a link thereto, well, we’ll probably delete all or most of those threads after banning the fellow (for breaking our published rules, not for posting the link, per se). Or if someone posts links to a porn site, that’s a “no-no” as well.
 
Wow!!! Almost verbatim what I said. Can I be an unofficial Adminstrator pro tempore?
Administrator:
We do not reject any based on their registration info.

Be sure to check their “forum rules” first. Some “Christian” boards are restricted to Protestants only. Nice, eh?

We don’t care much. If a troll comes on and starts a new thread in each of our forums damning Catholics and touting Jack Chick’s web site with a link thereto, well, we’ll probably delete all or most of those threads after banning the fellow (for breaking our published rules). On the other hand, if someone comes and posts a link to CARM and asks for the forums’ opinion, it will be OK.
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Scott_Lafrance:
Wow!!! Almost verbatim what I said. Can I be an unofficial Adminstrator pro tempore?
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Check with Therese Martin. She’ll want to be sure your curmudgeoness/charity ratio is set just right. 👍
 
Hello Saint Felicity:) I was rejected too:crying: I also emailed them about it.I was direct without being rude.I told them that it is sad that there are slanderous remarks and false information on their board.Whats more sad is those being slandered are not allowed to defend themselves or correct falsehoods.I told them I would pray for them.It is certainly says alot that they won’t allow us there.Perhaps they know somewhere deep inside that we are Jesus’ Church and pride keeps them from the aknowledgement of it.God Bless
 
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Lisa4Catholics:
I was rejected too:crying: …I told them that it is sad that there are slanderous remarks and false information on their board.Whats more sad is those being slandered are not allowed to defend themselves or correct falsehoods.
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Good One!👍 Lame-o me just asked for an explanation…:banghead:
 
YOu folks should PM me the web site, I will infiltate…I AM a Protestant, but I don’t think Catholics are not Christians.
 
Administrator:
Be sure to check their “forum rules” first. Some “Christian” boards are restricted to Protestants only. Nice, eh?
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Yeah–I never understood how one comes to the conclusion Catholics aren’t Christian…Wow–I sure do sound really niave–I never knew that about me…:o I DID read all the rules first, but if to the group it’s a given that I’m not Christian–I can see where there may be a misunderstanding.

I’d still like to know if Apologetics is better suited as a defensive art rather than to be used on the offense.:confused:
 
Is this the board I was talking about? From reading the posts, they are very uncharitable and do consider Catholics as cult members, pagans, and not Christians at all. I see them all as brothers in Christ. I just try to see why they believe in what they do, from their point of view, and not assumption on our part. Half my family is Baptist, and they are really great people, and never would condemn me for being Catholic.
 
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