(It’s guest post Friday! Here’s one by the Like Ninja. The Like Ninja wants to be anonymous, so there’s no link to their their blog or Tweets here. If you want to write a guest post for SCL, here’s how!)
The Like-Ninja
I get way too excited when you click “Like” on one of my comments. I may even use the word “giddy.” Your small gesture of approval totally makes my day. If I hit a certain number of “Likes” on my comment, I even feel compelled to tell my wife about my success. “Look, honey! Your father was wrong about me! Let’s print this out and stick it on the refrigerator!”
About a year ago, I heard a sermon about encouragement. The pastor said those who encourage others are more likely to feel encouraged themselves. In true “opportunistic Christian” fashion, I realized that I should start leveraging the “Like” function to encourage as many people as possible.
And like any rational guy, I figured out how this mission makes me a ninja. It’s pretty obvious when you think about it.
Every time I read an SCL post, I sweep through the comments section clicking “Like” on every single comment, no matter what it says. If you read Stuff Christians Like with any regularity, then you are already one of my victims.
You never saw me coming. You didn’t know I was there, lurking, just waiting for the right moment. To you, it was just Tuesday and you were telling us all how one of Jon’s posts about booty or something touched your life.
Then suddenly, you looked down and there was a tiny throwing knife of love stuck in your comment.
Soon, I realized that I had become the sole and founding member of the Secret Order of the Like-Ninjas. And like any good secret order, I decided that I needed a code.
The Following is The Way of the Like-Ninja:
1.) The Like-Ninja does not discriminate. The mission of the Like Ninja is simple: to use their lethal Like-Jitsu to offer encouragement to everyone, no matter who they are or what they’re saying. The Like-Ninja does not choose sides in comment thread debates. It doesn’t matter if the Like Ninja disagrees with your position. They will still nail you with a jump-spinning-encouragement-kick to the face. “BAM! You are worth loving!”
2.) The Like-Ninja remains anonymous. The objective of the Like-Ninja is not to say “Hey, great comment! You should also check out my comment/ blog/ Facebook/ Twitter!” That type of click-looting is what Like-Pirates are notorious for. Instead, the Like-Ninja’s most important weapon is the anonymity provided by liking as the mysterious “Guest.” The Like-Ninja has no interest in gaining recognition for themselves and their efforts. The Like-Ninja knows they are merely a face(book)less vessel for a greater cause.
3.) The Like-Ninja makes it look easy. Or at least, it would look easy if you could see them. The Like-Ninja moves swiftly, leveraging the ease of the “Like” function to deftly sweep undetected through masses of unsuspecting commenters. Encouragement comes easily to the Like-Ninja, and they dole it out like throwing stars.
Like any ninja, the like-ninjas are hard to spot. But maybe these traits will help you spot one the next time your comment gets one or two mysterious likes.
Question: How are you encouraging other people online?
