Dr. Shades wrote:mentalgymnast wrote:And it's sometimes difficult in an online forum to know how fully invested people were in their faith.
I disagree (read on).And if it is true that those that form and participate in communities/associations after Mormonism are generally those that were fully invested, how would one really know that...other than from what they say?
What else would you need?I suppose it's a matter of trust.
Yep. Just like everything else that's written.Again, how can one factually know whether or not "Mormons who leave" and DO form communities were or weren't "embedded in it"?
By asking them.
They are, after all, the inarguable experts on what went on in their pasts, are they not?
Hi Dr. Shades,
I suppose the frustration...and I might imagine it would be a universal frustration...is that in these online communities we are, by the very nature of the limitations of seeing the 'other' only through the written word, somewhat handicapped in being able to fully understand where another person is coming from. For example, a day or two ago I posted some rather transparent posts...at least I thought they were...and a poster still, paraphrasing here, said, "You're fooling yourself". Conversation over.
If we had been sitting face to face and/or out on a walk together, that would probably not have been the response necessarily. Or if it was, then through further conversation, eye contact, body language, etc., we might come to a better feel or understanding of each other.
An online fora is not conducive to getting to know the other except for that which they want you to 'see'...but even then we're not seeing each other. It's just words. I know it might have sounded in my post that you responded to that I may have been a bit too distrustful and/or dissing the experience of others. It's not that as much as just not knowing the real person behind the computer on the other side. There are times when I wish it was possible, without seeming creepy, to actually do a face to face chat over Skype/Facetime/Duo within the Discussions browser window. A little 'pop up' where I we could see the human being on the other side of the screen. I know that's not realistic and most folks don't want to be seen in their pajamas or without their hair combed.
But I think you know what I mean.
Back in the ZLMB days and the mormon-l days (way back there) I would often wonder the same thing..."Who are these folks REALLY?" And truth be told, we never really know or KNEW each other. I suppose that's what was on my mind as I made my previous post.
But it is what it is, and we are left to trust/understand other people based on a very limited medium/means of communication.
Everyone should post their family pictures! Just kidding, of course...
And to the point of Mormonism and how fully invested people were/are (and all that may include), that's very difficult to determine in an online medium. As a result we are left to give each other the benefit of a doubt. And that's not always easy to do...going both ways. Folks on both sides of the tracks tend to have preconceived notions of the 'other'. "They're fooling themselves." Or, " They didn't give it enough time and study." Or, "They became unworthy and lazy." Or, "If they could see the world the way I do, then..."
Etc.,etc.
We are prone to judging and condemnation. It would be less likely to happen if we were neighbors and were chatting across the fence or sitting on the front porch.
But, again, it is what it is.
Regards,
MG