The Internet Has Made Us Meaner?
A couple of days ago my religion professor commented on using RateMyProfessor.com. He said that he thinks that the internet, and in particular the anonymity that it allows in such was as seen with RateMyProfessor, has made us meaner people. We don't have to worry about how what we have said will affect the person we are talking about. We don't have to worry about hurt feelings that can't be directed back at us because the hurt person doesn't know who said such things.
I think he has a point. My first reaction is that being more straightforward, more honest isn't a bad thing. Nephi even says that he glories in plainness (2 Nephi 31:3, 2 Nephi 33:60). We should be plain and honest in our language. BUT we should use our language to uplift and edify one another, not to hurt them.
In Elder Holland's April 2007 Conference address he said "It is with this realization of the power and sanctity of words that I wish to caution us, if caution is needed, regarding how we speak to each other and how we speak of ourselves." He goes on to say "So, brothers and sisters, in this long eternal quest to be more like our Savior, may we try to be "perfect" men and women in at least this one way now—by offending not in word, or more positively put, by speaking with a new tongue, the tongue of angels. Our words, like our deeds, should be filled with faith and hope and charity, the three great Christian imperatives so desperately needed in the world today. With such words, spoken under the influence of the Spirit, tears can be dried, hearts can be healed, lives can be elevated, hope can return, confidence can prevail." (The Tongue of Angels, http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-690-7,00.html).
The power of language is real, and when we communicate we must do so with care and love, regardless of whether we are anonymous or not. Being plain in language and communication is important, but it must be done in constructive, edifying ways. We must strive to be perfect in word, so that we may be perfect as Christ is someday. Maybe the internet does allow us channels of expression through which we can be mean without noticeable consequence... but we shouldn't let it.
I think he has a point. My first reaction is that being more straightforward, more honest isn't a bad thing. Nephi even says that he glories in plainness (2 Nephi 31:3, 2 Nephi 33:60). We should be plain and honest in our language. BUT we should use our language to uplift and edify one another, not to hurt them.
In Elder Holland's April 2007 Conference address he said "It is with this realization of the power and sanctity of words that I wish to caution us, if caution is needed, regarding how we speak to each other and how we speak of ourselves." He goes on to say "So, brothers and sisters, in this long eternal quest to be more like our Savior, may we try to be "perfect" men and women in at least this one way now—by offending not in word, or more positively put, by speaking with a new tongue, the tongue of angels. Our words, like our deeds, should be filled with faith and hope and charity, the three great Christian imperatives so desperately needed in the world today. With such words, spoken under the influence of the Spirit, tears can be dried, hearts can be healed, lives can be elevated, hope can return, confidence can prevail." (The Tongue of Angels, http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-690-7,00.html).
The power of language is real, and when we communicate we must do so with care and love, regardless of whether we are anonymous or not. Being plain in language and communication is important, but it must be done in constructive, edifying ways. We must strive to be perfect in word, so that we may be perfect as Christ is someday. Maybe the internet does allow us channels of expression through which we can be mean without noticeable consequence... but we shouldn't let it.
posted by Shelby at 11:32 AM
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