I've lived a life in the rough and tumble of work, and in other forums where absolutely nothing I've ever read at B-T would be considered overly rude--especially among friends, work-equals, and musical partners (don't get me started on musical partners
) I'm also inclined, since most of my life has consisted of communicating over distance, to communicate forcefully and at least attempt to be persuasive.
But I understand that 'we' here are dragged from so many different 'places' in life, and that the work God is doing in 'us' in perfecting us is primarily individual and not so much collective. So while it's pretty easy for me to live and let live and allow people opinions that I don't share, I don't hold all opinions in equal value, and I don't give all viewpoints equal access to
my 'soul'. That's not going to change any time soon.
I know there are times when I've crossed the line in forcefulness and 'persuasion'. I am certain there have been times when I was flat out wrong. I can't tell you how many times I've typed out a message and declined to click 'post', or edited my thoughts before or after I'd decided to speak. However many times that has happened, I know it is not often enough.
I've always thought, since reading the forum before joining, that some people seemed to need to soften up, and others needed to toughen up. I still think that's true, and scriptural as well. If it is, then I'm one of those who mostly needs to soften up. I don't know why its so hard to change, but that may be why it is so easy to be 'rude'. Every time I try, I eventually fail. We don't get to be sons and daughters without a scourging. Maybe we can learn to excercise patience with each other...to neither give nor take offense.