Posted by Minnie-Haha on June 11, 2005, at 14:39:15
In reply to Re: 3-complaint rule, posted by Dr. Bob on June 11, 2005, at 12:03:08
> ... One possibility might be to accept complaints that are "upheld", but to limit those that aren't. What if a 3rd (about a particular other poster's posts) that isn't were considered uncivil?
Dinah was right about this rule having unintended (I hope) consequences. To me, the goal is to keep particular posters from habitually (like many times a day/week) asking about the civility of others' posts. But the rule as you've outlined it above would prevent people from trying to change or stop behavior they find offensive, though others might not. (Unless that IS the intended consequence, in which case, I'm agin it. For instance, after the third time I asked you if a particular posters' habitually questioning others' posts was uncivil, and having you say "I think it's acceptable," I could no longer try to change that habit, without getting blocked... Even if that was only my third request in a year and the habitual questioner was questioning others' posts every day! He/she would only have to make sure he/she never questioned a particular person's posts more than twice.)
I see a rule like this as having a more conditions on it, like:
If a particular poster *habitually questions (any) others' posts
And he/she does so without first asking the other to clarify
Or he/she was not even an active poster on that part of the thread
Or he/she is not the subject of the post or thread
Then that poster can be warned and/or blocked.* The meaning of habitually to be decided: More than once a week? More than six times a month? The details aren't super important to me... I trust you on this. (And we need to remember that if the post in question is uncivil, it is most likely going to come to light via the offended parties active in the thread. It's not like the loss of an unofficial deputy or two is going to throw the forum into chaos. And said unofficial deputies would still be able to pick and choose some posts to question.)
BUT, as I stated before, whatever we do, I think the person whose post is being questioned should be notified they're being scrutinized, so that they may defend themselves.
poster:Minnie-Haha
thread:423270
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20050530/msgs/511068.html