Addicted to forums

[ATP]

Are forums just another addiction we can add to the big list of addictions.

Some might say forums are controlled by fleshly desires and are not of God, including Christian forums.

Your thoughts.

 

[Fragrant Grace]

Are forums just another addiction we can add to the big list of addictions.
Some might say forums are controlled by fleshly desires and are not of God, including Christian forums.
Your thoughts.

I, the Lord, search the heart
Jeremiah 17:10

Greetings @ATP

Forums can be very addictive.
I've known of people spending long hours of the day and night on forums, neglecting home and family.
Being a 'wonderful Christian' online yet neglecting one's 'real' family is a recipe for potential disaster.

However, forums don't have to be addictive
With much prayer and care a Christian forum like Talk Jesus can be used to minister the Lord's love and His word to others in a very effective way.

Through Talk Jesus I have known of people meeting up and developing beautiful Christian friendships.
A couple have even met and married through the fellowship found on this forum

Seek the Lord before posting, seek to do all for His glory
Commit into His hands the time used on the forum and ask His direction

Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee

Take my voice and let me sing
Always only for my King
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee*



*F Havergal

 

[rizen1]

When looking at addiction the object is merely an outlet, to express the hidden emotions, or problems that already existed. Take away the forum, the person would find another outlet to satisfy or pacify their tendencies.

Are forums just another addiction we can add to the big list of addictions.

A behavior can only be considered an addiction if it interferes/disrupts everyday life or normal functioning. It also has to be progressive.

• John went from visiting forum A, once a week to three times a week
• Usually he gets home from work then after eating dinner , logs in at 7pm logs out 9:30 before bed.
• John now eats dinner infront of the pc, lying to his wife saying its work when he's on forum A. He stays up all night until he can no longer stay awake.
• John has been arriving late at work which is unusual for his character
• He is now using company time on forum A, neglecting his reports and would claim his computer was not working, when confronted by his boss.
• John neglects family time, family outings so he can stay home and be on forum A, crafting all sorts of lies to justify his computer usage.
• John is now missing work, because he must be on forum A, and is afraid going to work would prevent him from being on forum A.

I just made up this story, but this is an idea of how a forum addict may act. I didn't even give John a smartphone with internet access, his behavior would be worse and very inappropriate.

Some might say forums are controlled by fleshly desires and are not of God, including Christian forums.

A forum is no different to a sunday school classroom, there's a head teacher ( owner of forum) assistant teachers (mods) and students( members). You put humans with diverse personalities in any room and the result would differ. A person may enter the site with fleshly desires but it does not erase the good intentions of the majority on board.

The use of forums can develop into a form of addiction, but the keyword words are, " the use," because the forum is not the problem.

To those worried my concern is not the existence of forums, but the elements or causes that would drive a person to use forums as a means to satisfy or pacify.

 

[ATP]

A forum is no different to a sunday school classroom, there's a head teacher ( owner of forum) assistant teachers (mods) and students( members). You put humans with diverse personalities in any room and the result would differ. A person may enter the site with fleshly desires but it does not erase the good intentions of the majority on board.

So what if the owner and mods are against OSAS or against any belief you strongly hold too, do we just submit to their false teaching. In all reality, forums and the internet in general is run by man. No matter how many regulations or rules a forum acquires, it's not gonna stop the devil from squeezing his way in. There's so much fighting on christian forums, proving who's right or wrong. Then there's avatar's, another form of idolatry. At the end of the day, God changes the heart, not forums. What did Christians do before the internet? All this technology gets old after a while. And then you figure, there's like 7 billion people in the world and only 20-30 people sign on every day if that? Makes you wonder. What are the other 6 billion 970 million people doing.

 

[rizen1]

Greetings when I read the initial or original post it came off more as a statement vs an actual question.
I would hate to assume so please let me know if this is the real meat of your discussion.

So what if the owner and mods are against OSAS or against any belief you strongly hold too, do we just submit to their false teaching. In all reality, forums and the internet in general is run by man. No matter how many regulations or rules a forum acquires, it's not gonna stop the devil from squeezing his way in. There's so much fighting on christian forums, proving who's right or wrong. Then there's avatar's, another form of idolatry. At the end of the day, God changes the heart, not forums. What did Christians do before the internet? All this technology gets old after a while. And then you figure, there's like 7 billion people in the world and only 20-30 people sign on every day if that? Makes you wonder. What are the other 6 billion 970 million people doing

Now that you're shared how you truly feel, before we continue;
Is the topic (thread) on addiction or your opinion on christian forums?

This way members will know the direction of the conversation.
A. Sharing their thoughts on mental health issue called addiction,

• if forum addiction should be added to the list

OR,
B. The interaction between christians and forums and it's influences;

• is a submissive spirit a requirement to membership on Christian forums, giving up ones free will ?
• finding alternatives to man run forums
• the effectiveness of rules and regulations
• how to prevent the discourse christians have in churches, streets, schools, in all public places from entering forums
• do avatars represent idols people worship, becoming a form of idolatry ? If yes how does one combat it ? Is this the same as selfies, keeping family pictures in one's wallet or that family vacation photo you use as a desktop screen saver?
• God changes the heart, therefore does human interaction internet or in person have any influence?
• What did Christians do before the internet ?
• All this technology gets old after a while. (I hope it doesn't, currently on the market there's a bible app developed for Christians who are not allowed access to a bible or practice their faith, this app with a special code looks like a calculator but really is a bible).
• 7 billion people in the world and only 20-30 people sign on every day if that? Makes you wonder. What are the other 6 billion 970 million people doing

It does make me wonder, but before we start calculating numbers as of June 2014, the world population is 7,182,406,565, the global internet user is 3,035,749,340, that leaves a total of 4,146,657,225 people who are not internet users. Without much available data to see what each individual is doing I will restrain myself from assuming ( even thought I love a good research challenge) because it would be careless. I can confirm 1.2 million people log on cbn. In addition we would have to make a list of all christian websites and calculate visitors and members, compile a questionnaire for those who do not log in christian sites asking on their activities. Taking into consideration Ethnolinguistics.