Sharing your beliefs and being shut down

[Moonglow]

Hello,

Just some thoughts this discussion brings.

In this form of communication it seems often times what is presented is left to interpretation and this at times can lead to misunderstandings, IMO.

Sometimes what may be someone just expressing his/her feelings on the matter can be construed as perhaps giving "advice" or telling how it should be. When the intention may not be such.

This, to me, is where discernment may play into it and there are times to walk away from the matter and allow the other to either figure it out or have his/her say and move on. Just expressing my view point on this.

Mainly, for myself, it is not taking everything to heart. Some things are just another opinion and he/she has a right to express it.

What I am reminded to do is be gentle on myself. Some things are mine to take care of, while other things are not.

[Shivani Devi]

Originally Posted by Moonglow

Hello,

Just some thoughts this discussion brings.

In this form of communication it seems often times what is presented is left to interpretation and this at times can lead to misunderstandings, IMO.

Sometimes what may be someone just expressing his/her feelings on the matter can be construed as perhaps giving "advice" or telling how it should be. When the intention may not be such.

This, to me, is where discernment may play into it and there are times to walk away from the matter and allow the other to either figure it out or have his/her say and move on. Just expressing my view point on this.

Mainly, for myself, it is not taking everything to heart. Some things are just another opinion and he/she has a right to express it.

What I am reminded to do is be gentle on myself. Some things are mine to take care of, while other things are not.

Wise words and so true.

This is why I said previously, on the internet, or anywhere else, but on the internet especially it's always a good idea to ask for clarification when in any kind of doubt as to intent or meaning and ask as many times as you need to.

If I cannot understand something, I ask the poster to please be patient with me and explain themselves another way, so that I may try and understand what they are thinking.

Concepts like non-verbal communication, body language, sarcasm, nuance and emotion are totally lost in cyberspace.

Then there are those 'keyboard warriors' who wouldn't dream of saying to a person in real life, what they say to others online.

I've been through hell on spiritual forums, paranormal forums, religious forums that aren't as strict as SF is in imposing rules in regard to conduct and as a result, such forums were overrun with sceptics and atheists.....I ended up leaving them (or getting banned), but had I known back then what I know now, almost a year later, I would have stayed and had some fun....until it bored me and I went back to my meditation, prayers and being in full God-awareness when my ego had quite enough mucking around.

[Phoenix Rising]

Thank you Moonglow for expressing how you feel and you too Necro. You are so right about how quick people are to jump on the bandwagon of telling someone that they are wrong with what they have posted. I am like Necro in understanding how things can get misunderstood because of lack of visual and audio aid. We have posters from around the world so sometimes it's merely a matter of miscommunication because of their English is not being good. We also have so many different religions to deal with as well. Some of them, we don't have a clue about why they say or do what they do which is why we have so many conflicts in the first place, lack of understanding and fear of the unknown.

Personally I try to learn as much about different cultures and religions as I can. To me, there is truth in every religion if you are lucky enough to find it.

To truly be enlightened you need to learn and never stop learning on all matters of humanity. The planet you live on, the animals and insects that help you run it. All things have a purpose and an opinion. I am sure that ant or animal has an opinion not to be stepped on or to be killed while going about their daily business. Just like us.

[Shivani Devi]

Originally Posted by Sundancer

OOps, wrong place, that'll teach me to have to many windows open at once without my morning coffee. LOL

LOL...make it a strong one.

In addition to what I posted above:

I speak from years of experience with these kinds of forums all over the web...I also join a lot of online gaming forums too...and you know how brutal and competitive those guys can get, right?

It's all just words online...it's all just show...you can't post a 'genuine photo' without it being 'photoshopped'...you can't post a poem or original work without 'where d'ya copypasta that from?' you can't quote the New York Times as a 'source of information'....yeah, that's why I take this whole approach.

[Shivani Devi]

Then, you also get the 'forum ninjas' who will change their posts right after you just quoted them and leave you feeling like a total idiot. :p :p :p

However, this also illustrates FULLY what we both have been saying here. *hugs*

[Jyotir]

Originally Posted by cc_nami

So I'm on this other message board and I shared my beliefs and what helped me with my depression and anxiety and someone took offense to it. They basically called me demeaning and that wasn't my intention at all. Then I try to give my advice to someone else to help them and turns out they don't believe in anything I said because they were abused in a cult and this sort of thing is what those people used on her/him to brainwash them. I feel like every time I try to help, I am shut down. I feel like every time I try to help or share my experience, I am just hurting someone unintentionally.

The lady who I get reiki from told me twice that I carry the weight of the world on my shoulders. Now I think I know what she meant by that. I want to help people. I want to help everyone and I want everyone to be happy, but their not and knowing I offended someone when I really meant to help them or knowing the person I am triggered someone because the people who abused her used tarot cards and such to hurt her/him bothers me. I'm crying right now and I never cry. I don't even know why I'm so emotional.

Hi cc_nami,

If you attempt to consistently and sincerely hold the attitude
that you are serving the Divine in others,
and then offer all results to the Divine (with gratitude),
that will begin to orient, discriminate, protect and fulfill your life,
and increasingly so.

~ J

[Phoenix Rising]

Necro, a gamer myself you had better believe I know how brutal this can get! LOL

[keokutah]

I sometimes make the mistake of sharing my beliefs with ignorant people who just really don't care about anything other than themselves, and I forget how they will react despite knowing they aren't going to believe in it, let alone care.

But that's one reason why I prefer to be a hermit.

[knightofalbion]

Kindness and good intentions are not always appreciated, but God knows your heart ...

Hold true to what you know to be right.

[Phoenix Rising]

Keo, sharing your beliefs should never be thought of as being a mistake because it is what you believe in. As I stated, there is truth in ever religion. I also mentioned how I enjoy learning about other faiths as long the person telling does not try to convert me just because I am interested. In fact sharing can help with your own religion. Because sometimes it will show you something you don't quite understand in your own religion, but hearing it presented their way you get it, now that you have seen it in a different perspective.

And yes being a hermit is good for the soul from time to time, but it also diminishes your light for others you encounter along the way to get to meet you.