Banned for Defending the Faith...

Christians are as bad as radical Islamic ter*rorists of today..." Post on Home Shopping Network

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This ban was not for the above comment (nor from me)... Read on...

The local newspaper I read online has comments from readers, and about 75% of all comments eventually spin around to say something disparaging about Christians. Whatever is in the news, it's the Christian's fault. But it isn't just the newspapers, its also Internet forums.

When I became a Christian I didn't realize there was also a virtual CROSS in cyberspace! One could have a ministry online trying to defend the faith. What's interesting about this phenomena is how accepted it is to disparage Christians.

Anyways, someone got into my cross-hairs about Christianity on an HSN forum.

It's true, I blew a fuse and called her a paranoid schizophrenic and asked her if she was Nero. I then suggested she look up Nero, and that I'd write an article about her ignorance. Of course, it would not have been about HSN, or her, in particular, but about the general Christian ignorance I've encountered on Internet forums. Perhaps this wasn't clear enough for someone who would willfully post that all Christians were responsible for the world's ills, and then cry like a baby to HSN customer service when she didn't like my response?

At this point she told me I "had a serious problem," apparently HSN listened to her complaint and I'm banned from their forums (they did tell me nicely I could still buy their products), but the clincher was they banned me from reviewing the products I purchased. Said poster, on the other hand was not banned and she's free to continue to provoke Christians.  She's sanctioned to write what she wants about Christians (along with other posters of which there is no limit!), but because I'm a Christian (who defends her faith) I'm supposed to be Suzy Nice Christian and sit down and shut up, or get banned for my views. The poster had the audacity to tell me I wasn't very "Christian." Well, maybe I wasn't, maybe I'm a human being fraught will all kinds of human issues and maybe my character has a crack in it, but that's what the Bible is all about!

Proverbs 18 comes to mind.

An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends he defies all sound judgment

A fool finds no pleasure in understanding

But delights in airing his own opinions

I certainly don't recommend we run around calling people paranoid schizophrenics on Internet forums, and for that a warning would have been expected, but a total ban even on reviews? I gave good reviews (spent $$$) and who wants to buy if they can't review? It was over kill by people who don't know how to handle conflict resolution. They allow "talk" on forums over cash. This makes no business since to me. What prompted this "outing" on the Internet isn't innocent victim song, since I did get hot under the collar (but not without provocation), but HSN's generic letters of "tough luck" we are not interested in what you've got to say about it, we have the right to ban you and we did, so, basically take your money someplace else.

I gave them the benefit of the doubt. via phone I was told they would "check into it," and when I said I might write an article about this, was told, "do whatever you have to do." Via email, generic letters as I said, and then a nasty email that shut me down with, send a letter to, with a PO Box, because they couldn't help me anymore. Management had made their decision. I shot off a few terse emails, then felt like I was spinning around  like a 4 year old on a bank floor. I was furious for the Christian bashing allowed, the temporary nastiness of my own response, and the loss of products I really enjoy.

I guess I'm still trying to understand Home Shopping Network business sense when they've had financial problems recently. In this current economy, and all the options to shop online and on TV, why would they take a chance of losing anyone, especially a writer with a means to vent her frustrations? Again, I am not innocent here, I did explode in an unseemly way. But if groveling doesn't resolve the issue, what can?

Finally, why would I bother to write them, to call, and to compose this letter? First, I truly believe Christians should defend the faith, and I hope other Christians notify HSN that they'll not put up with anti-Christian comments on their boards. I also hope HSN reviews their policies and provides some in-services to their front lines who represent their company. HSN was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it, and it just ticked me off that they wouldn't at the least slap my wrist, and be fair.

I wonder if their investors know that they threw a paying customer under the bus and that she's verbal about it? Hummm. Especially since they're laying people off.

(This is a reprint from 3/2009)
As of 2/2010 I remain banned.