Posted by greywolf on April 18, 2006, at 10:58:49
In reply to Re: Blocks should be a private administrative matter » greywolf, posted by special_k on April 18, 2006, at 9:18:32
> > I suggest that the debate about blocking policies is unresolvable, as has been emphatically demonstrated recently.
>
> The point that it has not been solved yet... Doesn't show that it is unresolvable.
> Life wasn't explained for a number of years...
> Reproduction...
> The nature of mind...
> We can of course give up. But that is what it is. Giving up. And progress could be made... But it never will be if people give up.
>
> > I recommend that this site follow the same blocking procedure adopted by other posting sites: if you're blocked, that's between you and the site admin. You can appeal all you want, and you can have others weigh in with their support, but it is a PRIVATE matter not open to debate on the boards.
>
> And if people insist on posting about it then they shall be blocked or their posts shall be moved to the trash? I would leave if this site turned into that. IMHO that is the tactic of someone who can't justify their decisions. I would leave.
>
> > While it is admirable that blocking policies may be debated ad nauseum on the Admin Board...
>
> Now this is an issue that I would be careful to observe the three posts limit on... If people stop posting to the topic then I shall stop. If people keep talking about it... Then so shall I. People do tend to drop issues (legitimate issues) like hotcakes after someone gets a blocking. Like how people disperse after the cops show up. People can be fickle like that (not a criticism just an observation).
>
> >I think that the number, length, and intensity of these debates may be undermining the point of the civility policy. From what I see, these recent debates have started to create bad feelings, both interpersonally and regarding certain boards.
>
> I think there have been bad feelings re this issue for a while now. And not just in me. This is a recurrent issue. I've just decided to bring it back on the agenda. But of course I didn't do that all by myself. There has been a lot of input from others as well. And IMHO that is a good thing.
>
> If you are finding the discussion unpleasant you can of course choose to stop reading and return to pleasantries over on social or wherever... I can't make you read. And I don't intend to make you read. It is up to you.
>
> > I recommend that the best policy is wholly private handling of blocking disputes.
>
> I have seen that work (rather badly IMHO at other boards).
>
> And it hasn't always been able to be observed.
>
> ie sometimes everyone / most people seem to go off and issues do need to be addressed publicly. This way saves sending similar responses to everyone. Also keeps everything above board re consistency etc.
>
>
Special K,I agree with many of your points, I disagree with some, and I am occasionally uncomfortable with the way some of those points are made. However, it's never a big deal, and I generally enjoy reading what you write.
The main difference I see between your view of blocking and mine is that I lean toward accepting errors and/or arbitrariness by admins and mods simply because, after posting on boards for about 6 years now, I am not aware of a common ground that makes everyone happy. The best system I can conceive is one that allows the person blocked a full and fair opportunity to appeal that block, and to have others offer their opinions for or against the discipline.
Personally, I think that such a system works best when it is administered essentially privately (meaning, the block and the reasons for it are not kept secret, but any resolution of it is done behind closed doors). Public discussions of blocks can become contentious at times and, if you're a person like me who sometimes can't help frequently scanning the boards you're interested in (hello OCD!), constantly running into unhappiness created by blocking controversies can create an unhappy atmosphere within the site as a whole.
I know, I know--I should be able to just avoid these threads if they bring me down. Yeah, just like I should be able to turn the light off without flicking the switch 5 times.
Those are just my general thoughts. I hope I've expressed them inoffensively.
Greywolf
poster:greywolf
thread:634229
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20060412/msgs/634438.html