Ugh and Neurotic

I first began writing a regular column for local newspapers when I pastored in Fairfield, ID. I wrote a weekly column in the Camas Courier for nearly three years. Camas county has a total population of just over 1,000 people, so the reader base was quite small. This was before the day of the internet. If someone wanted to disagree with me they had to write me a letter or talk to me personally.

Today I write a regular column in the Twin Falls Times News with a much larger readership potential. The Magic Valley has a growing population reaching above 100,000 people with Twin Falls, being the largest city. I count this a kindness of God to have this opportunity. I strive to speak boldly on cultural issues with an aim at the gospel always.

Here, if someone disagrees with me they don’t have to write me personally and they can hide behind alias names to say what they think thanks to the advent of the internet. Over the past nine years of writing I feel like I have come to know two people in the community very well. The problem is I would never recognize them in public because they are able to hide their identity. Both reply frequently to my column contributions at various degrees of disagreement and an occasional agreement or defense.

It is my lot in the age of the internet to have a growing affinity with two nebulous acquaintances with people with names more attached to a time like I publish a column to a people before paper was invented.

I’m regularly attacked by a guy named Ugh and occasionally defended by a guy named Neurotic. (I’m not making this up.)

Here is the latest small exchange between Ugh and Neurotic. I chuckle a bit on the inside knowing these are the names of two people I have a regular exchange of intellectual public discourse with. (insert a tone of slight sarcasm at this point.)

 (2) COMMENTS

Ugh Nov 23, 2019 10:18am
“Your message was great until this…’ This week, the nation will stop most everything. It may be true that on the national holiday of Thanksgiving many will observe it as an unholy sabbath as they champion and promote self, but to the ones whom God has turned away his anger, there will be but one thing upon their lips: thanksgiving.’. You’re kind of full of hate for anyone who doesn’t believe the way you do. It’s a shame. “

Neurotic Nov 25, 2019 10:37am
“Crawl back under your rock ugh. “

From the November 23, 2019 column “Give Thanks To God”.