There Are Cliques on the BB

Are There Cliques on the BB?

Sopranette asks a great question about church cliques. She states: "What if someone wants to join and be of service, but there is already a status quo preventing involvement?"

I too have run head on into cliques within the church. When a "newby" enters an old, well established church there will be well established cliques, and breaking in takes nothing less than a miracle [most of the time].

With that said, I have found that this board has at least one well established group of members [a clique]. And this group is often like a school of hungry piranha feeding on the words of new members. This clique looks to put an early exit mark on new members who may not be like-minded with the members of the clique.

I have personally been confronted by these folks, and their attacks on my posts are nothing less than a spectacular fireworks show, often being shut down by a moderator because the post morphed into nothing more than trash talk. In the past this clique has used name calling and finger-pointing to get me off subject, and out of character by defending my words and firing back at their unfair comments. They were able to get me to buy into their hidden agenda of deceptive input/feedback, and my own words were than spun out of context and used against me.

Sopranette brought up a great question, and I would like to take that thought one step beyond her original question. Let's examine the clique like hostility being used by members of this board, all in the name of "fair" debating practices.

If you've been unfairly singled out by this clique, your response would be appreciated, as well as your response to the poll attached to this post.

The only criteria I have is that anyone posting their thoughts PLEASE refrain from naming names of those they have been unfairly attacked by. A note of candidness: I too have been an "[... Jerk perhaps?]" in an attempt to protect myself from these attacks. I can not, and I am not, proclaiming any form of innocence. My responses have been defensively acrid, and I stand guilty, and repentant as a sinner before all of you on this board. I posted some hateful words all in the name of defending myself. But, as my Mama once said, "two wrongs, don't make a right!"

[Moderator's Note: All BB posters are required to agree to abide by the BB Posting Rules and User Agreement. Therefore, if/when you feel someone has attacked you, this does not mean that you are free to respond in like fashion. The appropriate response is to hit the "Report Bad Post" Icon, explain the nature of your complaint, and wait for a BB Moderator or Administrator to take action. You must not lash out and attack back or you may find yourself facing suspension and/or banning by the BB Administrative Council.]

Hopefully by posting our feelings we can make some changes in this board that will put an end to these cliquish attacks, that all too often drive new members away, with bad feelings about the BB. And this is not how God would want us to treat our brethren.

IMHO, it is truly sad that this board has cliques, and even more sad that these folks gang up on the unsuspecting member, takeover their post, and in some incidences turn their threads into gossip as they run down the individual making light of their comments while they brag about how they were victorious in their hostile takeover of the post.

Shalom,

Pastor Paul :type:

 

Not Trying to Cause Divisions

I wrote this articles to clear the air, not cause division, or dissension. By naming names, I am being judgmental [IMHO], and that is not my intention.

If anyone believes my intention is to cause division, I apologize. My heart is in this question, and I simply want to see the board be more like Christ in their response to one another. I fail to see any harm in this. After all: WWJD????

 

True, But.....

I don't disagree with you brother.....but, this board involves too many people, and I am sure there are people, like myself, who have felt the bite of the clique. I am hoping to open the wounds and let them heal, without getting into a finger-pointing war, and naming names would, IMHO, be counter-productive. This type of question is open-ended, and does not put anyone person on the hot seat with the need to defend their past action.

I pray you understand. Believe me, those that have offended me have received "private" e-mails per their personal profile.

 

I Like Your Description

Being "Flamed" is a good descirption of what happens when you cross these folks. Sorry about the KJV. I have no problem with what version you use, as long as you are using a Bible to live by. Personally, I love the Amplified Bible, and that may get me "flamed."

 

I love the BB too...

Because I love this board, I brought this question up. I realize there are going to differences in opinions, and that is fine. It is the confrontational manner in which some people attack your opinions that is offensive and not Christ like. That is what should be addressed.

I don't see anything wrong with this poll, and the moderators should not fear the opinions of others and knowing what others think. A poll like this can serve to improve the BB overall.

Thanks for your opinion. I am NOT trying to cause problems, just stimulate open debate. Who knows, the poll could show that my opinion is worthless and without merit. That is what this question is all about. I need to know if I wear my feelings on my shoulder too loosely.