In Internet Veritas

There is an old Latin saying which most everyone has experienced either by absorption or abuse: in vino veritas, loosely translated into English as "there is truth in wine." Humans have long discovered that alcohol is very much a truth serum: when people are inebriated, the truth from the depths of their hearts tends to surface. Some become abusive. Others become silly. Some begin to cling tightly to those around them, revealing a desperate search for self-purpose and security, even if it comes in the arms (and beds) of total strangers. Others run their mouths and tell you what they really think.

In Vino Veritas.

Anonymity does the same thing. I'm sure it always has. Hate mail rarely has a return address on the envelope. Talk radio, so full of vitriolic puffery, is made possible by callers who are known only by their first name and hometown. The anonymous nature of such media is what makes them possible. But like with so many other facets of life, technology takes something very old and raises the stakes. I've noticed lately that if you really want a peak into the heart of humanity, take a moment to peruse the user comments section of a website. Be prepared to be shocked. Yikes.

My theory is that these comments are not being made by the outliers of society alone, as much as I want to believe it. I want to envision tin-foil-hat-wearing losers wearing mustard-stained shirts and sitting in their mom's basement...angered by their failures, resentful because of too many misunderstandings and social embarrassments, armed with opinions based on the manipulative teachings of some cracked up philosophy professor they took to earn their useless and aging degree. You remember Comic Book Guy from "The Simpsons"?

But I don't think that's who these people are, or at least not most of them. Our society is now an electronic society. The major newspapers in our state are all now 3 days a week operations. If you want the news anywhere close to as it unfolds, you go to the conglomerate's website. And there is all the news, weather, sports, obituaries, and classified listings your heart desires. And at the bottom of each article is the comments section, filled with typically madness, vulgarity, and spite. Three subjects tend to elicit the biggest responses: national politics, college football, and religion. But it is the final category which always, without fail, engenders the most hateful remarks.

Case in point: not long ago a local church was holding a crusade. The newspaper did an article on the crusade, interviewing the pastor and a couple of members. Immediately, the user comments were the typical fare we've come to expect: "This would be news if the minister said they weren't going to pass the basket and ask for money." "Cool. I hope they do some of those fake 'healings.'" "Fake healings and speaking in tongues. And don't forget to pass the plate!" And truthfully, those were downright nice comments compared to other discussions which erupt on this website.

So what causes this? Anonymity. There is little doubt in my mind that most of these folks would never say such demeaning or outright disrespectful things to strangers that they assail over the internet, but with the bubble of anonymity...well...let 'er rip. Emily Post has no place here. Which means that this is the reality of how many of our neighbors think and feel about any number of significant subjects, most importantly matters of faith. This is the truth of what we're up against as we seek to lead folks to Jesus.

Jesus said that all kinds of evil which we see and experience doesn't come from external sources, but "from out of the heart." And sometimes hearts are naked for all to see, even when we think we're anonymous. In Internet Veritas.