I've been on this site nearly 6 years. It has been like this the entire time. Many people make suggestions on how to deal with it. But admins give the same answer over and over, 'we're leaving it like this'. Really to take any serious action to change this would cause a sizeable drop in the sites popularity and traffic. Or, if the BDF was shut down, many would just spread to the rest of the site and take their vitriol their. The past year some of them have already been branching out and the overall vibe of the site has tanked as a result. To keep the site active, and minimize ruining the rest of the site, the BDF is a necessary evil.
I agree with most of this post.
It must be my classic liberalism (not today's liberalism), but I'm a HUGE free speech guy. Yes I understand this is basically a private site and although people have a right to speak and NOT be heard, I think this site does a fantastic job to allow the free flow of thoughts and opinions. We have become so soft, and such babies, that we can't tolerate someone else's opinions? IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT SOMEONE IS SAYING, OR THEIR REPEATED NASTINESS, THEN THE SITE GIVES YOU AN IGNORE FEATURE!!!!
Aside from that, I would like those asking for more bans and even dissolution of the BDF to please describe the gunmen forcing them to not only view, but respond to a post or poster.
Don't you see the value, in even nasty posts? This place can be used as testing and proving grounds for real life situations. It can hone our skills in reacting with love to the World. If we can't react with love to supposed brothers and sisters in Christ with love and respect, how on earth are we going to show the world that we have been changed and that they TOO can be changed through Jesus Christ.
I look at the work the Holy Spirit has done to some here, myself included, who have seen something not right with their Christian walk, and used CC to soften.
If I may be so bold to use Depleted as an example. Here is a woman who obviously has a beautiful, caring, yet down to earth heart, that recognized that maybe her brusqueness could be counter productive to the mission of love that Christ has called us to, and has actively searched to change.
The same for myself. I have said many possible "bannable" posts through pride. But there were patient, loving, MATURE, Christians that gave time for the Lord to work more in my heart. And all this spills into other parts of our lives.Now giving others patience and love, instead of judgement in pride.
So my take is to let the BDF be. The trolls will be exposed. The legalists will be exposed. The body will learn how to relate to different people in different circumstances, and we will ALL be better for it. And when you need to take a break from it, just do it.
May peace, love and Grace fill all your hearts and minds. In Jesus sweet Name!