Why I delete some negative comments

By Elizabeth Prata

I don’t get a whole lot of comments on the blog. That is OK. People read it, all right, but I don’t think I could keep up with hundreds of comments if they came in. It’s just me here. No staff, nothing fancy.

I approve critical comments as well as positive ones. Some comments are worthy if an instant deletion. The comments I delete are for several reasons.

-comments containing links to false teachers or false doctrines. I do my best to protect my readers from falsity.

-comments with links to hours-long videos and the commenter gave no synopsis of what it’s about. I am not going to spend hours vetting a link if you didn’t spend minutes giving me a summary.

-comments opposing the point of the article with no example, proof, or even a reasoned argument. ESPECIALLY when the person is a coward and doesn’t even use their name to oppose it. Like this one I deleted today, and from a years-old article no less:

Whoever wrote this on this blog is such a spiritual babe with no even discernment. Your whole analysis do not add up

OK, fine to have a negative view of a piece I’ve written. But resorting to ad hominem accusations about my character (“spiritual babe” “no discernment”) without even bothering to explain his or her stance, when the article they’re rebutting is full of links, analysis, and a thorough argument, gets a swift “DELETE” from me.

I’m on Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, and WordPress. I’ve had a blog since 2006. That’s 18 years. For 6 years prior to that I ran a hard copy newspaper with an online version, which accepted comments and Letters to the Editor. So, I’ve had 24 years of dealing with the public’s reactions to things I’ve written.

I’m well versed in how to detect the difference between bull hockey, cowardice, and sincere dialog even if it’s clumsy. I have no problem deleting comments. Just because I operate in the public doesn’t mean I have to accept what I consider comments to derail the dialog, or attempts to incite a confrontation, or just an angry person using the shield of anonymous public discourse to bleed anger all over the place.

I have enjoyed the edifying benefit of some commenters opposing something I’ve stated where I found they had a point. Once in a while someone changed my view. They didn’t accomplish that by accusations and name calling. They did it by a kind and reasoned argument. You know, like the kind the Bible tells us to have:

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge look good, But the mouth of fools pours forth folly. (Proverbs 15:2, LSB).

The heart of the wise gives insight to his mouth And increases learning to his lips. (Proverbs 16:23 LSB)

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil. (Proverbs 15:28 LSB)

And especially:

Let your words always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should answer each person. (Colossians 4:6 LSB)

Mean spirited, thoughtless, unreasoned ad hominem comments only do two things: reveal what is in one’s heart, and tempts the receiver to sinning by rejoining in similar responses.

If you are a person who comments online, please remember the Bible’s standards on the power of our words. Build one another up, even if you have a criticism:

but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and fear, (1 Peter 3:15 LSB)