Anonymously Yours,

If you know me through this blog or other blogs I frequent, you probably already know how I feel about anonymous comments. I’m not a fan.

Actually, I should clarify my previous statement. I don’t have a problem with Anonymous if that person is sharing something very personal or if they just don’t happen to have an account from which to comment from. Really – no biggie. What I do take issue with are snarky, rude anonymous comments. Based upon some of the things I write about on this blog, I’m actually quite surprised that I have only ever had one truly snarky anonymous comment. But I did get one when I wrote a guest post on Stuff Christians Like about church planting.:

Anonymous said:
Don’t constantly check your email and/or your blog: IMRELEVANTFAUXSHO.COM if you’re sitting next to me at the conference like you did last year. And no, I don’t want to see all the cool new apps on your i-touch. Go bother your lead pastor and leave me alone. I’m trying to hear Dr. Keller!

Fail. If you’re 43 and don’t understand the relevance of new media that’s your problem, but don’t hate on people who are utilizing it to reach people who are otherwise immune to your traditional means of outreach. Furthermore if someone on their “iTouch” (it is actually iPod Touch and not iTouch) bothers you then maybe you should consider taking the time to develop multi-tasking skills, so that people who already have them won’t distract you.

To which I courteously replied:

Ah, yes…the bold yet mysterious “Anonymous”.

For the record, I don’t have a problem with people “multi-tasking” at a conference. Many were taking notes and/or updating their blogs live from the conference. I get that. I will most likely do the same this year. What I do have a problem with is some punk sitting next to me who thinks he knows all he ever needs to know about planting a church and chooses to text message snarky remarks about the worship team and the speakers to his equally snarky friend sitting 2 seats over. (Yeah, I looked. I’m nosy like that.)

And I know what they’re called — I have one.

Now if you’ll excuse me, the lace collar on my full length, wool dress is beginning to chafe.

To which Anonymous replied:

That was such an incredible response that I renege my entire comment. I completely understand what you’re saying now. I apologize.

Love, Anonymous

Clearly, I don’t care for Mr. or Ms. Snarky Anonymous. Had that person left a comment under their profile, I would have contacted them personally, would have most likely been quite a bit nicer, and would not have publicly b**ch slapped them on SCL. But if you don’t have the guts to leave your name when you’re being nasty, don’t expect me to bend over backward to be kind and understanding. (That goes quadruple if you do that to one of my friends.)

So why am I bringing any of this up? Because on tomorrow’s post, and every other Sunday post for the foreseeable future, I am going to ask you to comment anonymously. Wha-huh?

Okay, here’s a hint:

Matthew 6: 1-4