I did a stupid thing once again. And the same thing happened once again. With the same familiar pattern.
I'm a slow learner I guess.

I was at the "other" BB and someone was making a case for why they wished the South had won the Civil War. Like an idiot, I E-mailed this individual and asked "Are you crazy?" I didn't want to post concerning it because I thought it was more of a private matter. Saying "are you crazy?" wasn't the choicest of words to use, but they seemed to fit at the time. I then made some statements anti to this person's position. Lo and Behold my E-mail was posted and critiqued point by point(my name was not mentioned though).

This critique of course prompted another response from me(part of the "pattern" I mentioned) where I tried to critique the critique in another E-mail. This again was posted and critiqued line by line at which point I was exhausted by this person's sarcasm and condescending attitude. But, glutton for punishment that I am I sent one more E-mail after perusing the Internet and seeing several articles on the Civil War that stated that slavery indeed was the central issue of the war(This individual had said that slavery and the North's desire for it's abolition actually only played a small part in the South's secession.).

Then the inevitable happened(I say inevitable because it has happened at least 4 times before). In a post dealing with an entirely different issue this individual felt drawn to bring me into the conversation as a person he "felt sorry for" who comes to the BB as a "crutch". The pattern had followed it's course as before, from argument to "put down" on a bulletin board. A couple of times this was done by name, this time by inference, they knowing that I would know they were talking about me. And again, I felt I had been "baited" and then caught, and then thrown down. I had been told several times, by several people, that it was a waste of time to even try to argue with this person. I have to say that after 4 serious attempts at it I have to agree.

I had sent one last E-mail to this individual trying to defend myself coming to this bulletin board. Saying they "felt sorry for me" and this place was in a sense a "crutch" for me pissed me off, and I'll be honest. But when I re-read what I sent him a light went on. When I first came to the BB I would have said "I come here for healing"(this individual mocked me incessantly for saying that at the time by the way). But I told this individual "I go to the BB to have some fun. I consider everyone there my friends. Most of the time I go for maybe ten minutes twice a day and post some humor or reply seriously if I feel I can add anything to the conversation(paraphrase). The Bulletin Board is not my life."

I realized after sending this E-mail that I really have healed tremendously in the last year--far more than I had in many years previously. My first posts on the board were all about how hurt I had been, how devastated I had been, etc.--but I realized that now I come to have some fun and fellowship. Occasionally I might share a testimony to the past, but my main topic is no longer my pain and my suffering. This Bulletin Board and all of the people here has truly helped me in a tremendous way. And I want to thank everyone who shares here for all of your thoughts, and opinions, and feelings and testimony. Anyone who wants to make posts to put me down, or state what a loser I am is not someone I should seek fellowship with anyway. Someone like that is "full of it" for sure.

So why do I post? Because I realize through this how much I have been "built up" here by honest, sincere people. The only people who have ever tried to "tear me down" are not on this BB. I have truly learned my lesson today. I will never go to the other BB again---and they will be able to tell, because they can see my IP address. And it's simply because I want to be around brothers and sisters who are sincere, are free enough to see through deception, and who are able to joke around a little too. Who can read a hilarious story such as Scott's, about "giving the finger" when he was a little kid, and not get all uptight and "holier than thou" about it, and ask him if he's "walking with the Lord". I've been like a moth flying around a candle by even visiting over there. I circled the candle about 4 times seriously, and I got singed----don't want to get burnt. Thanks again to those who post regularly, and to those more infrequently. And Mark, thanks so much for the "Wounded Pilgrims" thread--it's benefited so many. It's been a little over a year since this BB started. Several people have come and gone. But there are many who read and never contribute to the board. I know this because I have been E-mailed by them when a particular post moved them, or another was particularly funny to them in some way.

Despite what statistics might say, and they truly are golden , many, many people have been helped by the conversation that takes place here. Maybe one day the Lord will show us all what he accomplished through the Geftakys Website and this offshoot bulletin board. I think it's probably vastly more than we think it is. As I said before, I'm a slow learner, and sometimes I needlessly learn things the "hard way".
So, I will stay away from the other BB, but I will pray for the individuals there. They've got some unraveling to do, and some eyes that need to be opened, but they are the Lord's precious sheep just the same. Sheep shouldn't be on pedestals though, it's dangerous up  there. So I'll pray that they'll rejoin the flock out in the pasture where they can truly be fed.

--Joe

What other BB, pray tell?  

A good book to read about the politics of the Civil War is
Forced into Glory. Lucas is right about one thing- the commonly presented perspective is hardly supported by the facts of history.
Verne

Yep.  I'm not expert on the Civil War, but it was a serious blow the idea of State's rights.  

I honestly don't think the seagull is a racist, just less than wonderful to debate with.

Slavery is horrible.  Those who would say the Bible condones slavery are usually cut from the same cloth as a Geftakys.  The type of slavery we had in this country is the biblical equivalent of man-stealing.  

I don't know enough about the war to comment further, but it does seem as if it would have been better to not have fought over it, except in a diplomatic sense.  I look forward to getting an education on this.

Brent

Dialogue and debate are one thing..........which is done I think here.

Conducting oneself in the manner of the Seagulls BB is downright unfair.  One particular Seagull participant would have risen in the assembly ranks to become a LB, I think, rather quickly.  He adeptly uses the assembly type tactics of subterfuge (something designed to deceive: a plan, action, or device designed to hide a real objective, or the process of hiding a real objective.)  

While we participate with honesty in our interactions with these individuals, they conduct themselves in the above mentioned manner, which makes one crazy.  That is why I will no longer have any correspondence with these individuals.  I no longer want to feel crazy.

Come to think of it.........that is why in the last few weeks I have made the decision to not try and pursue repairing former relationships (the disfunctional ones) in the assembly.  I no longer want to be made to feel crazy.  I have gotten out from under the fog and interacting in this manner......and I won't go back there!

Joe,

The mystery has been solved. I was curious as to whose email was been picked apart. It is unfortunate that a discussion on the 'civil war' war turned into an opportunity to jab-at-Joe for his participation on this BB. Joe, I am glad that you are a regular participant on this BB. I wish you'd post more often. I love your sense of humour, and, for the most part, I agree with your prespective. We now need to convince Brent to vote for GW.

Lord bless,
Marcia

     There is no doubt about it, Joe, you are everyone's favorite pinata!

     Now I have two honest questions:

(1.)  Having been gone from the assembly atmosphere for so long, I have either forgotten or left before it was born:  What is this "Selfer's Prayer" everybody is always bringing up?

(2.)  Why do so many people keep visiting the Roaring Seagulls BB, but hardly anyone posts on the friendly Rest For the Weary BB anymore?

RSVP, al

I do believe you're onto something!
It is my thesis that at least one of the people over there never quite accepted the fact, that, sycophantic fawning on the Geftakys' notwithstanding, entrance was never granted into the coveted (by some) inner ring...how remarkably pitiful!!  
Verne

Joe,

General Beauregard is the fellow that started the shooting.  He was the commander of the bombardment of Fort Sumter.

He also took over at Shiloh after Johnston bled to death because he didn't get the wound in his foot treated.

Tom