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Elijah_Baley
Guest
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,” (James 3); and
WHEREAS our “adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour,” we must “be sober and watch” (1 Peter 5); 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 ELIJAH BALEY FOR PUBLIC DISPLAY IN THE FORUM OF CATHOLIC.COM, EVEN AS HIS ALTER EGO THEUBIQUITOUS POSTS A PARALLEL THREAD ON 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:
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,” (James 3); and
WHEREAS our “adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour,” we must “be sober and watch” (1 Peter 5); 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 ELIJAH BALEY FOR PUBLIC DISPLAY IN THE FORUM OF CATHOLIC.COM, EVEN AS HIS ALTER EGO THEUBIQUITOUS POSTS A PARALLEL THREAD ON 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:
*]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.