Comments on: Digital Youth Room Dilemma? http://thedigitalsanctuary.org/2007/06/18/digital-youth-room-delimma/ Church technology news. Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:29:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: crossn81 http://thedigitalsanctuary.org/2007/06/18/digital-youth-room-delimma/#comment-1710 crossn81 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 23:00:33 +0000 http://thedigitalsanctuary.textdriven.com/2007/06/18/digital-youth-room-delimma/#comment-1710 I'm always a little concerned anytime we "Christianize" an idea. Some things it makes sense to make a Christian alternative (such as dating sites and music). But if you look at the purpose of social networking sites such as Facebook/Myspace it is all about staying in touch with and making new friends. There are lots of reasons why it could be better for that to only occur in a "safe" place. But as mentioned in the post, what some define as safe, others won't. Ultimately though I think it comes down to what your intentions are. I got myspace and ultimately facebook to be able to interact with my friends and to some degree to have another avenue for connecting with the kids in the student ministry and work with. We use these "secular" settings to connect and expose the youth's broader network to our interaction and friendship (hopefully bringing them to church and Christ). I may be rambling a bit, but I think this debate is similar to the one between Christian and Public schools. I would also agree that parents need to be a part of a child's Internet experience and that the biggest downfall of myspace is the almost pornographic ads and constant spamming. I’m always a little concerned anytime we “Christianize” an idea. Some things it makes sense to make a Christian alternative (such as dating sites and music). But if you look at the purpose of social networking sites such as Facebook/Myspace it is all about staying in touch with and making new friends. There are lots of reasons why it could be better for that to only occur in a “safe” place. But as mentioned in the post, what some define as safe, others won’t. Ultimately though I think it comes down to what your intentions are. I got myspace and ultimately facebook to be able to interact with my friends and to some degree to have another avenue for connecting with the kids in the student ministry and work with. We use these “secular” settings to connect and expose the youth’s broader network to our interaction and friendship (hopefully bringing them to church and Christ).
I may be rambling a bit, but I think this debate is similar to the one between Christian and Public schools. I would also agree that parents need to be a part of a child’s Internet experience and that the biggest downfall of myspace is the almost pornographic ads and constant spamming.

]]> By: Rob http://thedigitalsanctuary.org/2007/06/18/digital-youth-room-delimma/#comment-1707 Rob Tue, 19 Jun 2007 19:38:07 +0000 http://thedigitalsanctuary.textdriven.com/2007/06/18/digital-youth-room-delimma/#comment-1707 Hey all... Well i would like to put my two cents in. I do like the idea of having a safe haven, but i know that there are ways even unsafe people can bypass these safeguards. I think no matter what the online community, parental monitoring is the only way to ensure that a teen is doing appropriate things online and not getting into things they should not be getting into. I am all for this new community. What a great opportunity for people to express themselves. However, i would not JUST be a part of this community to segregate themselves or an alternative for facebook/myspace. I would want to see students use it for a gathering place some of the time, for encouragement, Christian centered chats, blogs etc. I think any online community needs to reflect that of real life, and this could be a part of that! Hey all…
Well i would like to put my two cents in. I do like the idea of having a safe haven, but i know that there are ways even unsafe people can bypass these safeguards. I think no matter what the online community, parental monitoring is the only way to ensure that a teen is doing appropriate things online and not getting into things they should not be getting into. I am all for this new community. What a great opportunity for people to express themselves. However, i would not JUST be a part of this community to segregate themselves or an alternative for facebook/myspace. I would want to see students use it for a gathering place some of the time, for encouragement, Christian centered chats, blogs etc. I think any online community needs to reflect that of real life, and this could be a part of that!

]]> By: Cynthia http://thedigitalsanctuary.org/2007/06/18/digital-youth-room-delimma/#comment-1705 Cynthia Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:57:51 +0000 http://thedigitalsanctuary.textdriven.com/2007/06/18/digital-youth-room-delimma/#comment-1705 Lucas - I don't think many are thinking of online relationships only, more along the lines of additional or extended relationships. It seems one challenge the Church is facing involves not becoming a "fortified subculture" (Sally Morgenthaler's term <a href="http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:O1WAPscBtZAJ:blog.christianitytoday.com/giftedforleadership/2007/06/the_audacity_of_dreams.html+Audacity+of+Hope+Sally&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=us&client=firefox-a" rel="nofollow">here</a>). Being in the world and not of it is a particular challenge to youth. Lucas – I don’t think many are thinking of online relationships only, more along the lines of additional or extended relationships.

It seems one challenge the Church is facing involves not becoming a “fortified subculture” (Sally Morgenthaler’s term here). Being in the world and not of it is a particular challenge to youth.

]]> By: Lucas Parry http://thedigitalsanctuary.org/2007/06/18/digital-youth-room-delimma/#comment-1704 Lucas Parry Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:21:45 +0000 http://thedigitalsanctuary.textdriven.com/2007/06/18/digital-youth-room-delimma/#comment-1704 Hey Cynthia, Very interesting...... I have mixed opinions on this. I don't believe it is bad that there be an online place where people of faith can get together, in-fact I think thats great. However, yes we do need to be careful that we don't isolate ourselves and become out of touch with the world in which we live. Living missionally needs to be our daily walk....... I ask these questions though, is Myspace or Facebook the place to do that effectively?? Are we loosing the intimacy of relationship when we engage only in online friendships?? Hey Cynthia,
Very interesting…… I have mixed opinions on this. I don’t believe it is bad that there be an online place where people of faith can get together, in-fact I think thats great. However, yes we do need to be careful that we don’t isolate ourselves and become out of touch with the world in which we live. Living missionally needs to be our daily walk……. I ask these questions though, is Myspace or Facebook the place to do that effectively?? Are we loosing the intimacy of relationship when we engage only in online friendships??

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