Posted by SLS on February 22, 2008, at 15:33:15
In reply to Lou's request to Scott for identification-thwywewr » SLS, posted by Lou Pilder on February 22, 2008, at 13:59:03
Sorry... This is more of a spontaneous venting than a well-deliberated treatise. It might not be a perfect use of anyone's time to read it.
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> > ...and it was what it was. I can tell the difference. There is much I do like about Psycho-Babble now, much of which comes from moderation. I doubt I will invest my time anywhere else. Still, I must question the degree of intrusion. The good doctor applies grammar strictly and logically - equally. However, this type of logic and desire for a utopian society can cause an ever-expanding set of sanctionable rules in an effort to make it so.
> >
> > My comments along this thread are meant to be provocative and get people thinking. My personal relationship with PB is complex, and too difficult to verbalize here. It does, however, change over time, as do most relationships. Both I and PB are evolving entities. I have reservations as to where these changes are headed. I feel less comfortable rather than more comfortable as the administration of PB has changed in 1 1/2 years. Perhaps my perspective is rather unique as I had the opportunity to witness a before and after observation of how the environment here has, in my judgment, deteriorated. Perhaps this is melodrama, but I hope my point is made and not necessarily agreed upon. It is what it is, regardless of our personal relationships with Psycho-Babble. These are, because of human nature, quite diverse. I don't like that I see less diversity in the personality of posts. Of course, this is a personal opinion that may have more to do with me than with PB.
> >
> > I don't know.
> >
> > It is what it is.
> >
> > I think I'll hang around a bit longer.
> >
> >
> > - Scott
>
> Scott,
> You wrote,[...administration of PB has changed in 1 1/2 years...it is what it is...].
> Could you identify in more detail what in the administration here has changed from 1 1/2 years ago? If you could, then I could have the opportunity to respond accordingly.
> In any reply to me, could you include in your opinion as to if the 3-consecutive post rule was a good idea or not and had anything to do with it is what it is? And if something is what it is, could that mean that what was is what is not?
> Lou
Hi Lou.
Your requests for specificity always tickle me. They are fraught with pure logic that can be somewhat difficult for me to respond to. In some ways, the purity of your logic is intimidating.Don't worry too much about what I said above. It was meant to be more of a complement than a pejorative.
Let's see...
I think there is a feeling of intrusiveness when threads are peppered with PBCs. The threads are no longer a serial of relevant content as they are more of an exercise in format and diction. I feel like a child having to take a quiz - and get graded on it. There is a fear of retribution should the author not pass the quiz. Better that one not take the quiz at all. It is embarrassing to be punished in front of all of cyberspace.
For me, this is more of a nuisance than a catastrophe. There have been many whom regarded this guided speech to be stifling, and have subsequently left. These were good people. They were people of knowledge and investigation. They were people of passion. They were people of great concern for the needs of others. They brought a great deal of continuity here. It was safe to say things here. I think these people reached a threshold of tolerance for the constant punitive intrusions and just said to themselves, "The heck with it" (or perhaps something more vulgar and expletive). I left here 1 1/2 years ago because of content. I feel as if I might want to leave because of format.
I think the moderator has a good grasp of what constitutes civility as it applies to his own speech. That he judges civility so pervasively is a reflection of his quest for perfection. But people aren't, nor can they be, perfect. I do not question the perfection of Dr. Hsiung's conceptualization of grammar and diction. I do question his heavy-handed intrusions that make people want to post less or leave entirely. While this is a subjective judgment on my part, the flight of people from this site is fact.
I think I know why some people leave and then come back. They need to fill time. Posting on Psycho-Babble can be a great diversion. Sometimes, the need for diversion is stronger than the need to be true to one's convictions. I guess convictions come and go. I just wish that the threat of convictions were not such an overwhelming and never-ending activity of the moderators.
I don't think there is anything wrong with ensuring a sense of safety at Psycho-Babble.
I think there should be less emphasis on the attainment of perfection and more allowance for imperfection. People should be allowed to be the imperfect creatures that they are. Perhaps an imperfect enforcement of the doctor's rules of civility is more desirable than the current zero-tolerance application of them. Perhaps. I would sure like to see punitive actions occur here less frequently. I don't care whether it is due to an embracement of the doctor's rules of speech, or a reduction in the frequency of comment and sanction by the moderators.
Now, I am very much conflicted regarding the enforcement of rules for civil conduct here. It helps prevent this place from becoming an ASD.
(alt.support.depression). This is a good thing. That so many good people left Psycho-Babble upon their declaration of intolerance to the doctor's rules is a bad thing. I guess that's all I really care about.
- Scott
P.S. I still believe that there should be a limit to the numbers of consecutive posts allowed. A limit of 3 seems to be working well.
poster:SLS
thread:812972
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20080204/msgs/814120.html