Commoderation...

Don't pull out your dictionaries yet, I made that word up.

There have been questions asked regarding how much moderation I actually do to the comments that are published on this blog. I'd like to address them now just so everybody knows how it is done and what my criteria may be for approving comments.

I've turned on comment moderation from the very beginning. It was so that 1. I can exercise due responsibility for what is published, and 2. To keep comments unbecoming of us christians from adding fuel to the smoldering embers in our split community. During the lifetime of this blog, I've exercised moderation on other items too; some of you double post your comments, some post FFL statements that I was planning to cover in future entries, and then there are comments from outsiders who pass judgement on all CfC members that are quite distasteful. These I automatically don't approve.

Someone from the FFL asked why I didn't approve his/her comment, and dared me to post their follow up comment. I did just that. I just don't know what the first comment was since most of you choose to remain anonymous and I can't pinpoint which one it was. Sometimes I won't approve a comment because of an argumentative tone that might incite a further incensed exchange. I promote a healthy exchange of thoughts and ideas in this blog. But blanket statements that judge the entire CfC membership are off-limits. I DO approve FFL biased comments, I don't see a reason why not, we are all curious about how they feel about this whole thing. There are those of us still confused about why the FFL chooses to go in the direction it does and comments from FFL members may shed a little light.

Let me take this opportunity to give some examples of comments I have exercised moderation on. Keep in mind that I cannot edit comments, I can only approve or disapprove them.

jolly green turtle has left a new comment on your post "Of Paid Ads and Texts...": Looks like our favorite FFL apologist, Mr Generic himself is back again.I had to check the dictionary on the meaning of 'to tweak' to understand fully well what my favorite Mr Generic is saying in the following Paragraph which I quote:“By the way, we should tweak Jack's query and appear more sure and definitive in our stand that we share the recognition, equally as the CFC Global, and the other CFCs abroad”Mr. Nonong “non sequitur” Contreras, seems to be a little mad with Jack Burgoyne. Nonong says they should “pinch” Jack’s query…. so we could assume that initially, Jack Burgoyne himself, a founding pillar of FFL & fellow Playboy, did not agree or understand why Mr. Generic says that the Vatican recognition on CFC as an independent lay association could be applied to FFL as well!For once we could get a glimpse that inside the air conditioned FFL board room at the Star Mall there is some dissenting opinion on this matter. In Frank’s presence, there could be no dissenting opinions. When ‘The Boss’ speaks, ‘The Boss” has the final say! [On this no one can argue, except perhaps the lady who shares “The Bosses” bed. Been that way for 25 years, it would not change on the 1st four months of FFL, our favorite renewal group, generic owner of Vatican recognition, and the only renewal group whose mission is to poach members of other renewal communities!!].....

Now, the assumptions and general sarcastic tone of this, while it certainly gave me a moment of mirth, can only give the FFL cause to feel "attacked" if I approved it. It won't help our cause either, I think. Some present FFL members may be a little trigger happy with frivolous litigation, if you all catch my drift. No offense to Jollygreenturtle though, by all means please keep it up. I know how frustrating it can be sometimes to have something repeatedly rehashed shoved in our faces when we're trying to keep our minds on God and Christian activities, but lets exercise a little restraint on the keyboards.

Then you have comments like this, by our YFC brethren from the FFL:

pakipost ung comment ko.. if you are talking about hiding the truth and stuff..
please post my comment.. or else you are a big hypocrite.. -yfc, 16 yrs old..

My young friend, I posted your first comment, but sadly you didn't see the need to come back and respond after firing off all your guns. I'd advise you to look up the term "hypocrite" in the dictionary, take a deep breath, and come on back to interact with us. Jiggs doesn't bite. (just kidding jiggs, hehe)

Comments like those from Julie, an FFL member in Canada, I approve, with the fervent wishes that she send the same comments or emails to her FFL leaders. They are the ones who should be leading by example. For as long as the FFL keeps up its constant accusations, this blog will continue to see people expressing their frustration at their actions. You do understand that don't you? Some question my bias, which is obviously for the CfC, not CfC-GK, not CfC-IC, just plain CfC. You CAN read the title of this blog, right? The last time I checked, it didn't read "Defending FFL". I don't think they need my help in that department anyway, with their well charted offensive plans.

There are close to 1,100 comments so far in this whole blog. Of that, I have a pending 50 or so (minus double posts, queries, and non-cfc comments) that I did not approve. So that's about a 95% rate of comment approval. Not bad, right? I've seen other blogs get their commentary completely obliterated to zilch.

I have tried my best to be fair and post comments from both sides of the line. I exhort both CfC and FFL members to try and gain a dialogue thru this blog and maybe we can actually see eye to eye, or at least see things from each others perspectives. Lets keep things civil, and lets INTERACT. We elect our leaders (well I don't know about the FFL yet) and what we say does have a bearing on their actions. Maybe a united voice from the ground will be heard by the leaders of both groups and a real ceasefire attained.

Lets pray for that.