Posted by Dinah on December 10, 2013, at 18:35:48
In reply to Re: How a refuge board would work, posted by Dr. Bob on December 10, 2013, at 17:42:35
Ok, I can see one situation where it might work. If it were completely separate from Babble.
For the most part, anyone could join as part of joining Babble. But if anyone is uncivil to anyone who posts on Civility Babble on Incivility Babble, they lose their citizenship on Civility Babble as well as if they are repeatedly uncivil on Civility Babble. There would be no blocks, no lengths, they would be laterally moved. And they could apply for reinstatement to Civility Babble after proving that they want to be on a site moderated for civility and understand what that entails.
Naturally, those who wished to hold dual citizenship, and could operate in both environments, could do so. In fact, that would be the default.
And the loss of citizenship, or request to terminate citizenship, needn't be all one way. I wouldn't want posting privileges in Uncivil Babble. I would treat it like I treat any site that I wouldn't want to be part of.
Because it wouldn't work if people on Civil Babble had to politely get along with people who are being highly uncivil towards them on Incivility Babble.
So for example, a poster who routinely posts uncivilly on Uncivil Babble, for example by repeated accusations of antisemitism or towards parents for harming their children through the use of psychiatric medications, they would not be allowed at all on Civil Babble. Just as an example and certainly not the only example.
Although all sorts of posts could be on Civil Babble (medications, psychology, social) the way it used to be on Babble before the split, there would have to be a separate Admin board even though reporting would be off board for the most part. That Admin board could be erased or at least archived as soon as a topic is resolved. That way the separate-board-operating-as-a-separate-site would be self contained, and posters would be able to post as if Incivility Babble were a separate site like Psych Central.
Civil Babble posters who wouldn't mind entering Uncivil Babble could suggest to those on Uncivil Babble who are upset at, for example, being accused of various things, that they join them on the board where those things won't happen.
Because the reason a Refuge Board won't work as a part of Babble is that just because people are polite there, it doesn't mean they aren't being very impolite about Civility Board posters elsewhere on the site. And I prefer the term Civility Board to Refuge Board, because we wouldn't necessarily have to walk on tippytoes. Just be reasonably respectful of each other.
Of course the names could be tweaked. Moderated Babble as opposed to.... Well, exactly what are you doing now? Group Facilitation Babble?
What would be even better would be if you made original Babble Moderated Babble, and enforce at least some of the old rules, and direct those who wish to post under the new paradigm to the alternate board. That would have the additional benefit of allowing you to be an ersatz therapist to people on the Group Facilitation board, because it would be made clear that that would be the way things were moderated there. You could conduct all your experiments in board management there, and people could grow as strong as you can make them.
Ooooh, and Moderated Babble wouldn't have Tweet or Facebook buttons. Maybe with greater assurances of privacy, some who were driven away might feel comfortable dropping in. You could be respectful of group feelings about such innovations, while still being able to experiment as much as you like on Group Facilitation Babble.
Best of all, you need never block anyone. You can just suggest to those who are having trouble remaining civil that Moderated Babble isn't the best fit for them, but that Group Facilitation Babble might be just the right place.
Actually I'm rather excited at the possibilities. Moderated Babble could even have the "Please cut that out" that would always have been desirable for behaviors that were uncivil in intent, but not form. Time outs or cooling off periods would last until the person is willing to abide by site rules, not for any set length of time. Politics and Religion could be part of Group Facilitation Babble, although respectful sharing of personal experiences would be allowed on the Moderated board. If it got less respectful, it would be redirected from the first unrespectful post to Group Facilitation Babble.
But without that wall between boards, the idea is unworkable.
poster:Dinah
thread:1046456
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20130903/msgs/1055935.html