Posted by Dr. Bob on July 26, 2010, at 0:47:06
In reply to Re: the system here » Dinah, posted by fayeroe on July 25, 2010, at 22:07:56
> > Not many posters try to help other posters stay civil
>
> That might be because most posters do not think A) that a person has actually been uncivil, or B) that the definition of civility in use at Psychobabble is philosophically empty.
>
> chujoeSure, a poster could think A or B. But because of that they would let their friend be blocked?
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> "civility" at Psychobabble is enforced by a form of coercion that cloaks itself in the language of personal responsibility while denying the possibility of responsibility by enforcing what is really a language code, not an ethics. This system is, also, inherently arbitrary. Finally, limiting discussion of controversial issues to "I statements" that describe one's feelings rather than on'e knowledge (knowledge being infinitely and superficially relative) means that argument in any real sense is impossible.
>
> chujoeI think language is important, and I see people as personally responsible for the language they choose to use. If you'd like to propose an alternative view of civility that you wouldn't consider arbitrary, and a system of enforcement that you wouldn't consider coercive, I'd be interested. It's fine to share many types of knowledge. The goal here is support and education, not argument.
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> it became a place where you could not express a thought if it was the slightest bit negative
> Criticizing someone's choices doesn't work.
Exactly. :-)
> We could not talk about ideas after that.
>
> Suddenly we felt that we were expected to be of one mind.
>
> fayeroeIn fact, the assumption is that everyone won't be of one mind, and the expectation is that you respect those of other minds. Instead of being negative about ideas you want to criticize, just be positive about alternative ideas you support. And see if you get blocked. :-)
The desire to be negative reminds me of the Faceful of Cat Effect.
Bob
a brilliant and reticent Web mastermind -- The New York Times
backpedals well -- PartlyCloudy
poster:Dr. Bob
thread:951844
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20100714/msgs/955930.html