One of the dangers of self-publishing is that anyone can do it and that there’s no morality or ethical-barrier of entry for it. In many cases, especially for those that have wide audiences, using one’s blog as a weapon can be a significant danger (and temptation).
I recently had a time last week where I was told that someone was trading my name for services; in other words, someone was claiming work that I’ve done as their own and using it as a leverage point to win clients.
I was upset.
This was someone who I had worked with in the past only once but who was claiming a far-greater collaborative relationship than just that one project.
I instantly thought of ways to “strategically retaliate” and one such idea was to leverage my blog. Thank God I had clarity and some wise counsel beside me; I put it aside, forgave the man, and forgot the incident ever happened.
But I won’t forget that feeling and temptation; it’s one that I’ll remember for a long time.
How have you seen people use their blogs as “weapons?” Is there ever a “good” and “acceptable” time for this?
If you read political blogs as I do, you'll see people using their blogs as weapons all the time. I know I was guilty of it at times and it is very tempting (particularly in light of what you faced!) because even though you may use your real name and people know who you are, the Internet still affords a sense of anonymity and it is very easy to write things about people we might otherwise not say to them directly.
But now here's something important specifically with regard to what happened to you. You say you have forgiven this person and have moved on. That's great. But did you confront the person in any way? Regardless of where you are, I still think you need to let this person know how you felt about the situation and how it hurt. That's not me talking but the word of God in Matthew 18:15. That wouldn't be retaliation which was your first response, but this person does need to know because maybe it will cause them to think next time before doing something like that.
I think that's a tendency, no matter what the medium. We've all seen preachers use their platform as a chance to speak out without the chance for others to respond. Blogs just democratize that so that anyone can have a pulpit now. The real question, though, is: Is anyone listening? If all you do is complain and say vengeful things, you won't have much of an audience listening to you!
So, the moral of the story? Make sure that no more than 10% of your posts are vengeful!
Just kidding…
it's like tithing!
I guess I better stop pretending like I am David Crowder and claiming all of his songs as my own. I could get e-blasted
Been tempted. There are a couple of times where some corporations were being dishonest in their services to my family and I threatened that if things weren't resolved that I would take my dissatisfaction with the company public. This was after many, many attempts to resolve things. I talked to them about posting in community web groups, posting it to Twitter, blog, etc. Things never got to this point, and happy to say that things were resolved. I didn't like the feeling I had when I got to that point…it's bad for both people. The company, and myself. My heart didn't feel right.
My blog used to be primarily a theology/ministry blog for the first 3-4 years. But I grew tired of all the infighting and the bible and theology being used as a weapon, and delivered via a blog. So I try to stay positive now and bring about change. Focus on that..not what everyone else is doing or saying. The weapon blog drives traffic and comments, but I think ultimately it self-implodes in a sea of anger, hurt, resentment, etc.
Stay positive and keep looking forward is what I think is best.
Rhett
I think it is a subjective thing and what the theme of your blog is. If you are calling out someone’s opinion or their views but don’t use ad hominum attacks. When you attack someone for their looks or personality, then you look like an idiot in the end.
Lots of prayer and discernment has to go into blogs if they are going to be a public conflict towards someone. As I begin to write my reasons for distancing myself from the Charismatic church, I have to be careful not to attack people but lay out strong facts.
that's a good point bro. very good point.
I think the same can be said for using social media to get the kind of customer service you think you deserve (whether it's warranted or not).
But when I read the title of your post I initially thought of how I use my blog as a "weapon" for good. An "instrument" is probably a better word, but the idea of putting your blog (or Twitter feed) to work for worthy causes. I did that back in June when I raised money for charity: water (and shaved my head).
i could never pass as you…
I think every blog is used as a weapon in some form or other. Even this post is being used as a weapon to battle against revenge and self-gratifying anger.
We just tend to use nicer words like 'tool' or 'implement' or 'leveraging' when we're speaking of battling something that we feel deserves it.
The real issue comes with what it is that we are battling, and how we are handling our ability to be self published.
We can use our platform as a way to serve our self, to seek revenge, to enhance our pride in our own abilities, to beat down subjective differing opinions, to be divisive, dangerous or destructive.
We can use our platform as a way to serve God, to serve the Church, to serve our community (local and global). To helpfully instruct others, as you do here, about ways to enhance their ministries. As others do to try to serve as warning for ways we get tripped up. To be on our guard against anger, revenge, pride, and all other kinds of malice. To engage others in respectful conversation as we explore differing opinions, to be unifying and loving.
Either way, it's a powerful weapon. And indeed a significant temptation that I'm sure grows with the audience.
thanks for your thoughts here!
Blog's have always scared me. No matter how 'safe' you try to play it someone always gets offended. As a student/tech pastor I want to use technology to assist me in reaching those who God has brought…but I have an awesome wife and a good group of friends who look over my shoulder in my 'virtual' world. This accountability has been my 'sounding' board for many sticky situations…I have not always done the right thing but this post does high light a very real issue with bloggers and online communicators.
I have been tempted to use my blog as a weapon before, but the closest I ever got was a complaint about my laptop that was caught by the company who made my laptop. This company promptly handled the issue and sent me a brand new one. It was a great experience of being able to challenge a large company to do the right thing. But there is a flipside too, suddenly knowing the impact you can have is a cumbersome burden and makes you that much more careful about what you do post. The key is discernment. Try all other avenues before you go public. In some cases justice is needed. In others, grace is required. I tend to use the gauge that if it goes beyond only hurting me to hurting others, then I should do what I can.
thanks for your thoughts. discernment is crucial…!
I've never done it on my blog, but I've done it on Twitter to call out companies
I was about 15 seconds from sending an across the bow tweet today towards my auto insurance company. My smarter wife told me to wait. I kid you not, within 5 minutes, I had a call from the agent that I'd been dealing with settling the entire matter that had been frustrating me for 2 weeks.
The idea of using a blog for a weapon does not necessary carry negative connotation. Most religious blogs are all about getting you to buy "Our" point of view and if you do not agree with us, move-along, move-along. I started a blog called "United Methodist Church Unofficial Layman's Open Forum," (http://umc-unofficiallaymanopenforum.ning.com/for... Whether or not its "a weapon" depends the attitude behind the wielder of the words. There are not very many members, about 20 including one minister. Our topics include stuff we could never openly discuss on any official Methodist website…. hence we are unofficial. Sampling of issues include:
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John: No weapon formed against you shall prosper. We should never use blogs as weapons against people. Let God handle the matter. He will expose that other person for who he is and hopefully bring him into repentance. God is in the recocilliation business. In His Love and care, Mary
A thought came to mind recently— which at my age is an encouraging sign in and of itself.
“When the occidental and the oriental mind can view this video on Sufi-Islam: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9Z2MVp6vqg) and understand through knowing; then shall we find peace with Islam, and then shall the Muslim find peace among his brothers.”