The Comment Section

Ah, the comment section. Does it really matter where? It could be on an article on a news website. It could be on a post on social media. It could be anywhere else for that matter.

The comment section is often proof enough for why we can’t have nice things.

It’s often proof enough for why we need to have pride parades and festivals in communities. It’s proof for why we need to stand with both Islamic and Jewish faith communities. It’s proof for why women would choose the bear over a man in the woods. It’s proof for why proclamation of Good News is so very necessary. Because the comment section if often not good news.

I’m not sure who came up with the concept of the comment section. I’m sure they had good intentions. Maybe the idea was similar to how social media began — an attempt to connect people digitally. The idea of the comment section was born from an idealist who thought that adults would act like adults, show respect, contribute something useful, and be kind to others. And sometimes we get folks who are those very things commenting. I am grateful for these people. They give me a bit of hope in humanity.

But more often than not, the other type of commenter pops on and decides that there is far too much positivity for them. That’s when they decide to share their gospel message with everyone else, whether we asked for it or not. And by gospel message, I’m not talking about Jesus. I’m talking about cruelty, racism, Islamophobia, Anti-Semitism, war mongering, hatred, fear, thirst for violence and…