Posted by Dr. Bob on July 13, 2013, at 1:12:53
In reply to Lou's warning-gudphoardhakahmunitty » Dr. Bob, posted by Lou PIlder on July 12, 2013, at 15:55:22
> Now we do not know which posts belong in the set of {some} of Lou's notifications. ... what good could it be for this community to leave {any} notification outstanding? ... You see, the argument that it {will be} good for the community as a whole is the same argument to justify infanticide, it is the same argument to justify genocide, it is the same argument to justify slavery, it is the same argument to justify segregation, it is the same argument to justify discrimination. It is nothing new, my friends, it is an old argument, and I can't accept it, for I have seen what two standards can do to people in a community that allows it to be fostered.
One thing infanticide, genocide, slavery, segregation, discrimination -- and bullying -- all have in common is the abuse of power.
Lou has pressed me to use my power on his behalf, and others have pressed me to use my power on their behalf. I understand turning to the use of power when feeling threatened. It's one way to feel safe, to create a refuge. My single standard, at least right now, is that I'm not giving in to pressure from either the rock or the hard place.
Scott said before that a refuge at Babble to protect people from Babble was a paradox. I think it has to do with your perspective. Some members of a community may want a refuge from other members of that community, but if you "zoom out", the big picture may be that that all members of that community feel it's a refuge from the outside world.
I like to think all members of this community, even if they feel unsafe in some way here, feel more safe in some way than in the non-Babble world.
Bob
a brilliant and reticent Web mastermind -- The New York Times
backpedals well -- PartlyCloudy
poster:Dr. Bob
thread:1046456
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20130702/msgs/1047098.html