Twitter Trolls

A friend who is new to Twitter came to me with a problem. I wanted to share my response, in case my readers face similar.

Twitter trolls will happen, no matter what you do. It's sad, but some insist on trolling as a way to get their kicks. Don't let them irk you.

I usually investigate to discover why the person attacks a tweet that is not addressed ("@") them.

For this particular troll, he is a frustrated Atheist / former-Christian, who is mad at God because God didn't turn out to be the way he wanted. He also suffers from poor health, which only adds to his frustrations and beliefs that if God really was there and really CARED for him, none of this would happen.

Because he now believes that God doesn't exist, he can no longer take his anger/frustrations out on God - so he targets others (particularly Christians) to troll instead.

So you have a choice:

(1) You can try to get into a theological debate, which will only increase his animosity and attacks. He will continue to "dis" you (is that still a term?) and bring in reinforcements by including other Atheists. They will join in trolling you until they drive you in tears from Twitter. You will not get them to listen that way as the ego can only listen to another ego. And egos love fighting with one another.

(2) You can block him, so you don't see any of his tweets, which helps buffer you from his attacks. This, however, gives his ego a boost. Trolls count "blocks" as "points" in their game. It depends on how much your ego wants to let them "win" that stupid game.

(3) You can ignore him; pretend that his tweets do not exist. Shunning does work. Eventually he gives up and goes away.

(4) You can continue to treat him with kindness, love and respect. He will continue to belittle what you say, but at the same time you are teaching through example, rather than through words alone.

On social media sites, you show others - even those you don't realize - what it is to walk in Christ's steps. What it means to forgive and turn the other cheek.

The lyrical Blessing that came to mind: "May good health return; may you wear a gentle smile. May laughter and Love fill your heart all the while." Feel free to use it. I can't claim full credit anyway, as the Spirit helps me.

May your days of trolls be few

May the Spirit guide what to do

~ ESA

Burying Hatred

In past two days, my ears caught a news story that a fellow Nutmegger offered a family plot gratis to bury the body of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, as the funeral home tending the body cannot find a place that would accept it for decent burial.

The one condition Paul Keane requested is that it be done in memory of his mother, who taught Sunday school. Among her teachings was Christ's message: Love your enemies.

There has been much outcry and protest about this particular burial. Tamerlan can no longer do us any harm; he has already met his Maker and faced the only true Judgement there is.

Why do people still attack the corpse like a pack of feral dogs? Have we become like the terrorists we abhor?

The funeral home has come under attack, and Keane has also since his noble offer. I wonder, have the acts of terror instilled such hatred and fear into our hearts? This Nation was founded on Christian values.

When Christ came into this world, there was no room for Him. He was born where they kept the animals.

When Christ died as a criminal, there was no tomb for him. But Joseph of Aramathea, whose heart was touched by Yeshua / Jesus, offered his own unused plot to bury the body.

Would these same protesters hurl insults at the innkeeper and Joseph, and insist that no one should do business with them again because of the Compassionate acts?

I am not saying Tamerlan is anything like Christ. But I am saying that Keane's offer and the funeral home's efforts are based on Love and Compassion that Christ inspires.

Both are following in the steps of Joseph of Aramethea, helping a distraught mother to see her son's body decently buried.

The King will reply, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."                      (Matthew 25:40)

"I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me." (Matthew 25:45)

Which to follow

Love or hate?

This is choice

We all must make

~ ESA

Everyday Heros

On the news this evening they convered the continuing story about the sea captain who was captured by pirates off the coast of Somolia. The spokesperson added: when that captain left home to go on this job, he was just an ordinary guy, but he came home a national hero - showing us that anybody ordinary has the potential to become extraordinary.

While it's very true that each and everyone of us has the potential to do something or be someone extraordinary, being a hero doesn't require being extraordinary, doing great deeds or showing uncommon valor.

Being a hero means simply placing someone else's needs above your own. It can can be for a whole crew, a nation, your town, or simply a child or animal who is in need of something you can provide.

Every day there are thousands of unsung heros, ones that take the time and initiative to brighten someone else's day. They volunteer their time to some cause, or simply help an elderly neighbor with the shopping or snow removal. They take time to help a child with homework or learn a new hobby. They take extra time to play a game of fetch or chase the string with a pet.

Everyday heros are sometimes part of a larger movement, but often they work in small, simple ways, often unnoticed by the people around them, let alone the media or the world.

It can even be something as simple as passing on a smile to a stranger on the street.

Each of us should strive to be everyday hero. When our life is through and we look back upon what we have done, very likely we'll see that at least one of those times we only did "a little something" that what we did mattered a lot to someone who needed our help. And it's these "little something" efforts that makes this world a much better place to live.

- ESA