Using the Internet is a wonderful thing. We can talk with people we'd never meet in our real lives from places far from our homes. Whether those people live in another country or just another part of the country where we live, they are still available on the Internet.
It is wonderful to be able to exchange ideas with others. It is also very difficult. We don't have the luxury of reading body language when we are just seeing words on a computer screen. We can't hear the vocal inflections to know which words are accented so we know exactly what the writer is trying to imply. We can't hear the emotion behind the words either.
For some sentences, the emotion behind the words can totally change how one "hears" the sentence. It is easy to hear a sentence as one is writing it and assume that everyone is going to hear it the same way you did as you wrote it. But no one else is in your head listening and we don't have the capability to hear each other's thoughts.
It is also difficult to be the one reading another's words. If I'm in a good mood, then I'll "hear" the words in a positive way. If I'm in a bad mood, then I may "hear" the words in a different way. It is a normal part of being human to hear things that I agree with in a positive way and the things I disagree with in a negative way. It's part of being a human being.
After having been on the Internet for a very long time I've learned that what is posted on the boards can be taken many different ways. Sometimes I mis-read the author's intentions without realizing it. It is easy to react to a post without clarifying exactly what the author means by the words they've used. While I'm often guilty of not clarifying, I have learned that I learn more by asking for a clarification than if I just react.
On the ECA boards, we have people from around the world, from different cultures, and from different theological and political backgrounds. We all agree on Biblical equality, but beyond that, we have widely divergent opinions on almost everything! It is important for us all to remember that we are all siblings in the Lord and treat one another with the love and forbearance that God expects. To tolerate out-right sin is one thing. But we can tolerate another's *opinion* that differs from ours.
There are times when I don't read all of the posts. When I know I'm going to have difficulty refraining from arguing, instead of discussing, a topic I'll choose not to even read the thread. I know that I am fully capable of getting very angry about some things that are posted so I choose not to become involved in those discussions.
That is one of the best parts of Internet discussions. We can choose what we do and do not read and respond to. It is like walking away from a discussion taking place in real-time only without appearing rude. All of us have buttons that can be pushed. Let's allow those who can peacefully discuss those topics discuss in peace and choose not to read, or at least refrain from posting, those that we cannot peacefully discuss.
We also need to be careful what language we use in our posts. Everyone who posts here is a brother or sister in the Lord. Let's treat our family with respect and consideration. We don't have to agree with each other, but eternity is a long time to spend together in heaven regretting poor behavior toward one of our siblings. We all need to watch our tongues/typing fingers as we post.