The raw edge of blogging - suing the living, defaming the dead.

Yesterday's Post on Clayton Cramer's decision to end his blog, due to potential legal actions gives all of us the opportunity to see how raw the world of blogging can be.

"Facts are stubborn things", John Adams often stated.

And yet, what about Opinions? Are they equally as stubborn?

They can be. Many would say that their own opinions outweigh supposed facts. Hmm.

In May of this year, I introduced two very solid friends of mine to each other. They knew OF each other, but had never actually met. They're both from CdA, Idaho and are both in the people/fact/opinion business: Tim Remington is in ministry and Dave Oliveria is in newspapering (Spokesman Review)

 

At a Starbucks that morning I said, "Tim meet Dave - and Dave meet Tim." 

Tim's the Senior Pastor at The Altar Church and Dave is the Editor of Huckleberries - the most read Blog in Idaho.

Tim shepherds a church of several hundred people - many of who are ex-addicts and ex-inmates. He has an ex-addict program that touches thousands. He's been my mentor for the years of my working with people coming out of addiction, jail and prison.

He is a prolific writer, though he does not have a Blog.

Dave, on the other hand is THE Blogger...award winning & trend-setting with an audience of over 12,000 plus each day who go to Huckleberries for their daily "read" of events in the pacific northwest.

It was Dave's blog that made me aware of the demise of Clayton's blog.

Tim stood with me throughout the years of addiction recovery attempts with my son, Nate. When my son died, Tim flew down to stand with me during Nater's funeral.

So, when I got up today and reviewed my own Blog for any comments, I read a very long and vitriolic posting by someone who deeply hated my son....obviously from the same addict community, it would appear.

And I had to decide whether to leave it alone or delete the comment. In the end, I chose to edit it down and leave the "feel" rather than the content. 

It was so bitterly written and so difficult to read.

I had to decide whether I'd even cut and paste it for this post.  I decided not to. Instead, I'll call your attention to it in the sidebar - where it will eventually slide from view, as time moves on.

Yet, it ALL begs the question: should the blogosphere be so tightly controlled that opinions are legally crushed and unfavorable comments all too easily eliminated when the content fails to meet your or my approval?

There's a delicate balance, isn't there? On the one hand, facts are stubborn things. On the other hand, a person's opinion is not always equal to the facts.

Tim preaches from a position of absolute truth. Dave's "voice" brings opinion AND facts together. I write with a passion for absolute biblical truth and sprinkle my comments with attempts at humor and social commentary. Films play a big role in my blog...since they are the "parables" of our life, today and can often have JUST as great an impact as the word-stories that Jesus shared with his audiences.

So, what to do?

Nothing. 

Write on...speak on, blog on. Accept comments, be wise with the use of them. Eliminate or edit abusive and defaming comments. Don't bend to threats of lawsuits. Don't respond to hateful insensitive things with anger. 

Write as if the world is breathlessly waiting for words of encouragement, humor and life. Because it is.

Den

Comments

[Jordan 5]

God is the ultimate audience who will ultimately judge our message.

[Grace]

Dennis,

What a beautiful (and humble) last line. You have shown grace, and this is the language which the angels understand, but which we have no words for. It seems these things don't go un-noticed...

I have to tell you, Tim and Cindy Remington were among my Dad's closest friends when we lived in Coeur d'Alene, but I'd kind of lost track of them!!! I sent Tim an e-mail on his church's site. My dad's long been "on the other side..." Perhaps he was among the welcomin committee for Nate :) Thanks for posting, and for inviting me to read along.

[Believer]

Dennis, you did an amazing job of responding to the obvious deep wounding in another person. I don't think I could have shown such grace. His comments were meant to hurt you and your family and I am baffled as to his reasoning for this or what need is being met by doing so.

I know your family and what you all stand for. Your blog helps me keep in touch in my own stand-offish way. Please know that your blog (and many others out there that speak truth with love) is necessary, needed and very much wanted. I'm glad you don't let fear deter you. That speaks volumes louder. And the words of love you spoke to Mr. Sparks were a kind, gentle and everything I would expect from a believer. Thanks, Den. My love to Susan, Colin and Meg (and family.)

[Ken Malgren]

That was a mature way to respond, Den. Hurtful words seem to be far more common than in the era when I grew up. Things that are written and said today, I wouldn't have even allowed myself to think, let alone say. Fortunately, we live in a country where freedom of speech is still allowed (Thank God). That freedom goes both ways and your response choice shows that you respect that freedom. Way to go!

[Dennis Mansfield]

Thank you, Beau. Your words are "life" to me and others. Den

[Beau]

Whether to allow some content to remain and whether to delete others is sometimes a tough call. I used to have a blog of my own and I received plenty of negative comments from what are often referred to as "trolls" (Urban Dictionary: "One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument.") Some comments I allowed to remain and others I deleted. On the one hand there's the issue of allowing someone with a valid argument a "voice" in the forum which you have created. On the other hand there's the issue of the fact that it is YOUR forum, and ultimately YOU have control over the content. I think that you struck a good balance in editing the material and allowing the criticism to remain.

I will say, however, that the type of person who would deliberately berate and defame the dead is less than a person. I try to see past the hate and get to the hurt as much as I can. Maybe there's something underneath all of that. I do know that emptiness is a good place to start, and maybe you can create something from this in the life of the person who insulted you. Jesus persists in his pursuit of us, regardless of our situation and regardless of how much we "kick against the goad." How much less should we persist in bringing Him as the bread of life to others?