The pope said new technologies were creating unprecedented opportunities for establishing relationships and building fellowship but warned against creating false online profiles out of vanity or diluting the Christian message to achieve popularity.
The 83-year-old pontiff, who has little direct personal experience with the Internet and writes with a pen in spidery longhand, issued his guidelines in a document entitled "Truth, proclamation and authenticity of life in the digital age," published to mark the Vatican's 45th World Day of Social Communications.
All in all, a worthy cause, although I'd like to see The Interdict placed on Trolls and Comment Spammers.
Of course, he just could have phoned up Brad Templeton and licensed Emily Postnews:
Q: I cant spell worth a dam. I hope your going too tell me what to do?About right, that.
A: Don't worry about how your articles look. Remember it's the message that counts, not the way it's presented. Ignore the fact that sloppy spelling in a purely written forum sends out the same silent messages that soiled clothing would when addressing an audience.
Q: Another poster can't spell worth a damn. What should I post? A: Post a followup pointing out all the original author's spelling and grammar mistakes. You were almost certainly the only one to notice them, genius that you are, so not only will others be intrigued at your spelling flame, but they'll get to read such fine entertainments rather than any actual addressing of the facts or issues in the message.
...And then go on to hit you for your spelling and grammar mistakes.
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