Posted by seldomseen on December 16, 2008, at 5:50:42
In reply to Re: I don't think that's ever been the claim here » Racer, posted by fayeroe on December 15, 2008, at 11:07:45
No, babble is not the place to just say whatever you feel like saying.
Actually, I think that I will take that back. I think you can express just about about anything you want, you just can't express it in an uncivil manner.
I think the thing I like best about babble is that we can't mount ad hominem attacks if we disagree with something.
One of the best books I ever read about communication is called "Getting to Yes" by Roger Fisher. ALthough it is a method book on the art of negotiation, it really is about communication.
One of the tenets of the book is "be hard on the problem, soft on the people" and I think that pretty much summarizes the civility rules here. Reasonable people can disagree and still be repectful of each other.
Although there is a whiff of "you must conform" to these civility rules, overall, I find it very refreshing to visit an internet message board with rules that are actually enforced.
poster:seldomseen
thread:868896
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20081003/msgs/869066.html