Posted by Klavot on June 29, 2007, at 14:37:01
I propose a block length formula of the following form:
for a first offence,
B = S,
while for a repeat offence,
B = S(exp(-P/D) + k),
where exp(x) refers to the exponential function, B is the block length to be determined, S is the severity of the current incivility, P is the time passed since the previous block ended, D is the duration of the previous block, and k >= 1 is a constant to be fixed. All times are measured in weeks, and rounding only happens after the entire term has been calculated.
In nature, growth and decay happen exponentially. It seems to me that the extent to which previous incivility can be used against a poster should diminish exponentially, hence the term exp(-P/D). This means that after a long period of good behaviour, the poster will essentially have a clean slate again. Serious prior incivility will be reflected through larger values for D and will thus still factor adversely.
In criminal justice systems, previous crimes committed can always be used in aggrevation of sentencing. Hence adding the term k. Thus, as exp(-P/D) tends to 0, previous incivility can still be factored. The precise value of k can be determined by running some hypothetical cases and finding a value that works nicely.
I feel that the severity of the *present* incivility should be the main factor in determining block length, hence the multiplication with S. S can be any numerical value that Dr Bob feels fits the severity of the offence, and this allows for a certain amount of subjectivity. Greater values of S correspond with more serious incivility.
Klavot
poster:Klavot
thread:766717
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20070605/msgs/766717.html