Comments on: Why I’m rarely mean on my blog even though I’m not really that nice of a guy.

By: Kari P.

Kari P. — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:09:52 +0000

I will now show my ignorance…. I thought it was pronounced lambLasting. Please laugh…. Otherwise I will feel uncomfortable. :)

By: Mike McArthur

Mike McArthur — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:14:04 +0000

I agree with Chelsea, ‘niceness’ is a value-added feature on a blog when so many folks can be so nasty to others online. Regardless of the avatar, a real person is behind it.

By: jennapants

jennapants — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:33:56 +0000

oops. i’m laughing at myself spelling “clarified” wrong. oh, the irony.

By: jennapants

jennapants — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:33:16 +0000

yeah. glad you clafified. but, what’s this??? you don’t like someone??? i’m getting out my church directory RIGHT NOW to make some guesses…

By: The Invisible Man

The Invisible Man — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:21:24 +0000

Not online I can’t.

By: Chelsea Bass

Chelsea Bass — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:55:21 +0000

Of the many reasons I keep reading your blog, Abraham, the fact that it is not a vicious debate blog ranks highly. There are too many boys considering themselves Christian theological watchdogs who really just want to pick fights.

Thanks for being merciful.

By: Katie

Katie — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:54:31 +0000

Is it strange to have people talking about you like you’re not here…on your own blog?

By: Linda

Linda — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:34:58 +0000

What is wrong with critiquing people’s beliefs as long as it is done Biblically???

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:16:40 +0000

I thought that’s what you meant. I find the slight differences between (among?) ‘all,’ ‘each,’ and ‘every’ easy to lose track of when I’m not being intentional about it.

By: Abraham Piper

Abraham Piper — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:12:42 +0000

Hmm. My sentence was ambiguous.

I wasn’t talking about one particular guy. Just that everyone in my audience could find someone they like in the crowd of people I don’t.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:09:59 +0000

I kinda doubt Abraham would have any desire to critique, nay, lambaste, our Lord and Savior.

By: Chris Tomlinson

Chris Tomlinson — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:05:41 +0000

Jesus?

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:47:44 +0000

So who’s the one guy whom we all like?

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:46:05 +0000

The Invisible Man.

By: JMH

JMH — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:45:29 +0000

The strongest thing I’ve seen you say was on FB or Twitter or something: “Woke up this morning worried I wouldn’t have something to mock [RETRACTED] for. Problem solved.” I laughed out loud. But blogging it probably would have generated some unpleasantness.

By: Michael Krahn

Michael Krahn — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:39:08 +0000

Oh, is it Michael Jackson?

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:32:07 +0000

The fact that he is thinking of others also shows that in a way he is being his true, thoughtful self, even though he does not share every thought that he thinks. It sounds like he’s putting off the old self and living Galatians 2:20.

I wonder what he thinks about everyone thinking about what he thinks…

By: Tim A

Tim A — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:09:49 +0000

Who can be 100% transparent in ANY situation?

By: Ched

Ched — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:05:03 +0000

Nice.

By: Aaron A.

Aaron A. — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:49:46 +0000

Why is our happiness dependent on whether or not Abraham is 100% transparent online.

I’d call any one of your bluffs if you said you were 100% transparent online.

B/c only, we shouldn’t be 100% transparent online. Keep some boundaries.

By: Sheldon

Sheldon — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:48:43 +0000

I think it depends on your motives. If you are critiquing or lambasting in attempt to keep your readers from following someone teaching error, then lambast away. Sure, feelings may get hurt, but it might be needed. Martin Luther said “Peace if possible, truth at all costs.”

By: See No Evil

See No Evil — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:48:33 +0000

And of course the other factor is that people are partizan and petty enough these days that if they don’t like and agree with everything you write they won’t keep reading. Or worse yet, they might stop following you on Twitter!

By: Abraham Piper

Abraham Piper — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:35:09 +0000

You’re very kind.

By: Kevin Ring

Kevin Ring — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:21:37 +0000

On the blog he feels compelled to be Atticus Finch but fears he’s really Bob Ewell. Deep down he wishes he could just be “Boo” Radley.

By: Joel

Joel — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:21:25 +0000

Case in point. Tempted to ironically lambast you about this post, but I’m not sure how other commenters would react.

One issue is that it’s impossible to know your audience online.