Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the News

[myboynoah]

I understand some possible reasons why Elder Gong would ask not to post the picture. I'm trying to be charitable, but I can't think of any reasons that aren't pretty condemning of him. Can you?

I can think of a lot.

[falafel]

he's got to keep those donations coming in so he can afford his salary.

Bad decisions on both sides in this one but I think the biggest bad decision is on Elder Gong for asking him to not post the picture. He made a mistake and I'm sure he's not happy about his mistake. Knowing his character, I'm sure he'll learn from it and be better.

Elder Gong doesn't look good here.

No really, its a bad picture. He's got food in his mouth, he's not smiling. Looks like he didn't know the picture was being taken. I wouldn't want that on fb either!

[jay santos]

I can think of a lot.

Please share a couple of the most obvious to you.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Ugh...

I don't understand why Elder Gong was worried about the photo. I think he was wrong to tell his son that.

That being said, why would his son make that post and attack his own father publicly like that? That is ugly. Yes your parents should have compassion and empathy, but maybe show a little compassion and empathy the other way.

John Dehlin jumping in to leverage the family dysfunction is classic Dehlin. I can't stand that guy.

I agree with each point you make here. This is sad all around.

It is things like this though why I'm still skeptical that any of the church leaderships love gay people stuff is nothing more than lip service.

[bluegoose]

How do we know that Matt gave the picture and story to Dehlin? I found the story on twitter as a Medium article. No mention of Dehlin until I saw the FB link here. I agree that Dehlin is a POS, but I've felt that way for a long time and this story has nothing to do with my viewpoint of him. I assumed he just amplified it, being the opportunist that he is.

[Non Sequitur]

My kids know, and my wife knows that I don't want any pictures they take with me in them to be posted on social media unless I tell them it's okay. I seldom tell them it's okay. It's entirely possible that some people simply like their privacy and don't choose to participate in other people's internet experience. I don't see anything terribly nefarious going on here..

[Omaha 680]

My kids know, and my wife knows that I don't want any pictures they take with me in them to be posted on social media unless I tell them it's okay. I seldom tell them it's okay. It's entirely possible that some people simply like their privacy and don't choose to participate in other people's internet experience. I don't see anything terribly nefarious going on here..

Agreed, but it all depends on how the conversation went. If E. Gong really said "we don't want people to get the wrong idea" (twice) and that was his only response, then it is at best cold and probably cruel. But we can't know what was actually said. Gong the Younger could be projecting his experiences and frustration with how he has been treated generally in the church onto a conversation that didn't deserve it.

[clackamascoug]

Personally - If you're willing to be in a picture with other people - you concede your right of editorial. The intellectual property is with the picture taker.

[Non Sequitur]

Personally - If you're willing to be in a picture with other people - you concede your right of editorial. The intellectual property is with the picture taker.

Here's what I think of your intellectual property.

[Applejack]

Personally - If you're willing to be in a picture with other people - you concede your right of editorial. The intellectual property is with the picture taker.

That legal argument is incomplete.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Personally - If you're willing to be in a picture with other people - you concede your right of editorial. The intellectual property is with the picture taker.

That’s cute.

[All-American]

One other thing, as I read the guy's actual blog. This whole story is a little snippet in a stream-of-consciousness flow of self-expression. To me it does not read like someone trying to sling mud at his father, so much as someone who was understandably hurt by the interaction and posted it on a blog that he treats as his personal journal, maybe not giving real thought to what might happen if he put it on a public forum. (He even refers to people who have responded to him and tried to use his story for their own personal agenda. No names named, as though he needed to do that.)

All in all I see a little more naivety than malice.

[Northwestcoug]

One other thing, as I read the guy's actual blog. This whole story is a little snippet in a stream-of-consciousness flow of self-expression. To me it does not read like someone trying to sling mud at his father, so much as someone who was understandably hurt by the interaction and posted it on a blog that he treats as his personal journal, maybe not giving real thought to what might happen if he put it on a public forum. (He even refers to people who have responded to him and tried to use his story for their own personal agenda. No names named, as though he needed to do that.)

All in all I see a little more naivety than malice.

Absolutely. I think anyone in his shoes would feel similarly. I really don't think there's malice in his assholery.

[originalsocal]

Not sure where I see the levels of assholery for each of the participants, but I love seeing the consensus that John Dehlin has turned up the assholery on this to 11.

What a dick.

[BigPiney]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-60051524