The Golden Rule... Online?
/How many times have we heard of the "golden rule"? I know for me, I heard about it a lot growing up in church. It seems like a simple concept doesn't it? But... looking at the world would show us that it is easier said than done.
In this culture of online identity, I see the quality in which we treat others diminishing. We can hide behind our device keyboards and our avatars and post anything we want online. We can say and post things that we would never even consider saying to someone's face.
The internet has given everyone a forum in which they air their opinions. While everyone has a right to their own beliefs and ideas, not every idea should be shared. Just look at the comment section below any popular YouTube video... many of the opinions shared there should never see the light of day.
Words hurt.
Even though we may act like words and comments don’t hurt us, they do. The things people can say to us have a profound impact on us if we allow them to. We already face a tough enough battle in our own minds of dealing with negative thoughts and attitudes about ourselves… we don’t need the outside forces coming against us as well.
I follow Jesus, and I wish everyone would come to know the grace and peace that comes from a relationship with Him. However, I know that not everyone will agree with me on that thought. However, there is a principle found in the Bible that everyone can apply to their lives.
“So encourage each other and build each other up...”
What if we used our online influence to help each other? What if we encourage people with our words? Do you think it might help? The internet is such a toxic place.
I’d like to think that if we commented, posted, and replied to people with the same decency and respect that we would like to receive, things might change.
Maybe the internet could become a place that fosters encouragement, not trolls or haters…
I can only control what I do. So I’m going to treat people with respect in all my online interactions.