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AlanFromWichita
Guest
I started a discussion about this in another forum, and here are a few fruits from that discussion:
Sometimes an impassioned debate ends with one person making sarcastic or dismissive remarks, followed by “I will pray for you”
One observation was this usually happens right when the debate is finally reaching the heart of the matter.
One called it the “holy brush-off.”
One caught me at being judgmental of people who write that kind of thing, because no matter how bad it looks I cannot presume to judge their remarks as insincere.
This is an illustration of what I am talking about…
hypothetical author:
It can come across as meaning, “you are not worth another word of discussion – only God can help a mess like you.”
Is this (sense of having been written off as hopeless) a case of being oversensitive? How should a person think, feel, or respond when on the receiving end of such a remark? Let’s assume the receiver honestly was not trying to be obstinate, but was sincere about the discussion and was really trying to get at the truth – but due to the nature of the topic and the posters’ passion involved it ended up this way.
Further, for this discussion, I will not necessarily assume that the person writing the remark is doing so to be condescending or dismissive – maybe they are, maybe they aren’t.
Does anyone want to discuss this? Mild thread hijacks are welcome afa I’m concerned, within forum rules – under the larger topic of “real and perceived barriers to effective interpersonal communication and/or Christian charity.”
Alan
Sometimes an impassioned debate ends with one person making sarcastic or dismissive remarks, followed by “I will pray for you”
One observation was this usually happens right when the debate is finally reaching the heart of the matter.
One called it the “holy brush-off.”
One caught me at being judgmental of people who write that kind of thing, because no matter how bad it looks I cannot presume to judge their remarks as insincere.
This is an illustration of what I am talking about…
hypothetical author:
This is admittedly contrived, but I hope any of you who have seen what I mean will recognize it.It is you and your kind who are the problem these days. You have demonstrated hostility toward truth, and you should not disgrace your fellow Catholics by counting you among us. Your views are disturbingly aligned with Hitler and other dictators. You and your kind make me sick, and I cannot even read any more of your trash talk, much less respond any more.
I will pray for you.
Peace,
Joe Poster
It can come across as meaning, “you are not worth another word of discussion – only God can help a mess like you.”
Is this (sense of having been written off as hopeless) a case of being oversensitive? How should a person think, feel, or respond when on the receiving end of such a remark? Let’s assume the receiver honestly was not trying to be obstinate, but was sincere about the discussion and was really trying to get at the truth – but due to the nature of the topic and the posters’ passion involved it ended up this way.
Further, for this discussion, I will not necessarily assume that the person writing the remark is doing so to be condescending or dismissive – maybe they are, maybe they aren’t.
Does anyone want to discuss this? Mild thread hijacks are welcome afa I’m concerned, within forum rules – under the larger topic of “real and perceived barriers to effective interpersonal communication and/or Christian charity.”
Alan