Hmmmm....????
I made a decision tonight -it is not one that I am happy at all about but it is one I feel called upon to enact. Since I began blogging I have allowed Open Comments. At times there have been comments I have disagreed with and that is fine. There were two that were very harsh toward me directly -and while they hurt (sorry my skin still isn't that thick) I allowed them without comment. But today someone posted some thing that I believe were not necessary, that I do not believe to be totally true and that cast (in my opinion) the church in a bad light. And I don't take lightly to people criticizing the Lord's Bride or my Family whom I love.
The problem is that it is anonymous and that I do not know who or how to contact the person who said those things. I would like a chance to interact with them (and still would - they know my contact info -I don't know theirs). I like for anyone to be able to post but I see no way to respond when someone won't post their name and own up to their comments. See, one could say anything, claim anything, stretch truth or outright lie under the anonymity of the Internet.
I just don't believe there is good that comes from anonymous letters or postings. It leaves you wondering, it makes everyone a suspect and they usually hurt. I like the way a dear friend puts it - "I don't read anonymous letters unless they have money in them." To say it very frankly - they dishearten, discourage and take the wind out of my sails! They leave me with a sick feeling in my stomach for days and I become preoccupied with how to "fix" whatever it is but feel useless in trying to do so.
So, while I hate to do it, for now I'll go to where you have to log in to post - but any and all can still e-mail me. I know it takes a moment, but please register - and post - it's free and I want to hear from people who read these blogs.
I love open talk, even if it is sometimes critical - I've learned some of my most valued lessons from open criticism I do think people need to own up to their comments. So let me ask: Should I allow anonymous comments and leave them all? Should I delete the ones I think are inappropriate? Or should I just not allow them at all? TAKE THE POLL NEXT DOOR...