But it's just posting...

Oh, Gib, that's a dangerous post!

 

A couple of years ago I tried Instant Messaging and got totally overwhelmed. People got insulted if I was talking to someone else and told them we could talk later (and these were people I KNEW!) and others would just stay in conversations forever. It was easier to just disconnect the entire thing and email.

I've been in chat rooms a couple of times for specific purposes -- our Christmas 'party' for the moderators a year or so ago. One for parents of retarded children, etc. I have a very difficult time with that sort of thing. I can't type fast enough to keep up with conversations (I mean, it's only about a hundred words a minute tops!) -- so even in rooms with a definite purpose I couldn't deal with it.

Baptist Board is the only board I contribute to, but we are also members of three science email listserves (one creation, one intelligent design, and one on carbon 14 dating) and that yields about a hundred emails a day.

Sometimes we just erase them all and start with a fresh slate and pretend we just joined or something!

How can people spend so much time on computers just talking? Having to actually work on this one is enough enough enough!!!

The long and the short of it is that although I just laughed at the lead post here, I truly do not understand the mindset of people who spend their time chatting on computers. There are REAL people in their own towns to be friends with!

 

Like everything, chat is a big a problem as one chooses to make it. I mainly use IRC & ICQ, with Messenger and Yahoo for a dozen or so other people.

I've met 30+ of those on holidays and never had a problem. The 30+ would argue against it though because they had to meet ME!


I have trouble staying awake here on BB sometimes

Pete

 

I, like Dr. Bob, use AIM to chat with my kids and grands.

I also use AIM to communicate with other moderators and administrators on matters of the BB. I do not consider that 'chat'.

I also do not consider the BB a 'chat room'. It is for posting. If this was a 'chat room', I would not be here, because I do not DO 'chat rooms'...believe it or not, I have a REAL life.

 

Aaaahh Bob its gotta start somewhere

I could be posting what I believe as truth - and lets say there was a female on this board

and somehow what Im saying is fitting her life - its touching her so deeply that she just PM's me once - but then I respond - the suave guy that (Im not)

and all of sudden I have a conversation going via PMs - it could go farther (after all who can resist my easy-going uptightedness)

 

That's one FAT kneecap!

 

Helen, you should see him with his hot-cheese sundaes with extra fudge.

 

I'm 50-42-48... Middle linebacker size.

And, I can still do 35-40 pushups.

 

Gib,

I do think the instant messaging and chat rooms are very dangerous. Before I was saved I was on AOL all the time. In chat rooms and private chats. A lot, and I mean A LOT of men there were married. You would form friendships with them. You would get to know them.
I have also had phone conversations with them. Once you hear, oh only call between this time and this time, and it was really odd hours, then I would look out. One guy even told me about his wife and her schedule.

Only thing AOL brought me was my husband. Yes we met in a chat room and he also led me to my salvation. We have been happily married for 5 yrs and have a son between us and 4 altogether.

If I was saved then there would be no way you would catch me in there. I do go on a game site where there is chat, and the person I play with I tell them upfront what I will not tolerate, and if they cross that line I leave the game imediatly. I also find it a good way to witness.

 

Now Bob - I prefer single and female

 

Mostly its chit-chat---I don't do on the board what I wouldn't do at church---the way I talk to the "Women folk" on the board is the way I talk to women here at church---

But mostly---they don't know what in the world a "870" is---and none of um know what Blackbird is referrin' to when he says, "Mercury outboards!"---probably think its some kind of car with old timey running boards or something.

 

I use msn, aol, and netscape messengers to communicate with my family and a couple of coworkers. I never say or do anything I would not do in plain view and hearing of my wife
tried the chat rooms but hated them. Post here and on Christian Guitar Resources site. Like this site much better.
Chat can be problematical for some. Wife got kind of hooked on it for a while, but felt convicted that it was a waste of time.

 

Unfortunately, almost any activity can lead to sin, if the people involved are so inclined. Some churches discourage mixed Bible studies, afraid of what they might "lead to." One of my favorite verse is, "To the pure, all things are pure." If one is truly pure of heart, many activities can be participated in without fear of "leading to" something else.