Posted by Atticus on December 11, 2004, at 0:56:27
In reply to Re: Coat of Armor, posted by Toph on December 11, 2004, at 0:11:41
Nope. He'd p*ss me off anyway.
Right, now that I've gotten my one-liner out of the way, let me try to hold a straight face and answer as honestly as I can. It's possible that frustration could be transferred from one area of my life to another; I can't rule that out. But then, logically, you'd think I'd be hostile to a lot of people who make me cross on PB at times, and that doesn't happen. (And it's not about that "flight vs. fight" group dynamic business he's always on about over on Admin. Gawwwwd, if he trots that chesnut out one more time ...)
I think it boils down to a hard-wired suspicion and distrust of authority (which probably initially drew me to punk when I was about 15, and then submerged me in a subculture that encouraged it), on the one hand. That was baggage I brought with me to this page.
But it never would have been directed at him in such a vitriolic (or at times snarky) manner if I didn't genuinely have some issues with his administration of this page. I believe absolute power corrupts absolutely, and there is simply no system of checks and balances where Dr. Bob's punitive powers are concerned. I'd also be encouraged if he could more readily admit to being as fallible as other human beings. I don't think that just reducing Susan47's recent block (which a number of us felt was utterly uncalled-for) from two weeks to one was enough. I'd have liked to have seen him say in his post on Admin, "Look, I blew it. I was skimming and made a mistake. I'm overworked trying to oversee this site and slip-ups occur. I'M SORRY, SUSAN." THAT'S what I felt was missing the most: the courtesy of an apology. That isn't the whole ball of wax, but it's a good example of what bothers me. I'd like to see him finally get around to appointing some deputies, with whom he would consult BEFORE handing out PBCs and blocks. If something like this had been in place, I sincerely doubt Susan would have gotten even a PBC; Dr. Bob would have been overruled.
What really intrigues me is the fact that he didn't ask me this question himself, but handed over the task to you. Honestly, I'm not a bogeyman, Dr. Bob. Part of what's going on has to do with my issues (hypomania, punker's mindset), and part of what's going on has to do with what I perceive as your issues about yielding any control over the site.
I guess I'd make a hell of a case study, eh? Peace out, Dr. B! Don't take it all seriously. I don't. I was an editorial cartoonist for a medium-sized newspaper as a sideline for about seven years, and poking a little fun really suited me. Cracking wise is de rigour in NYC. (I thought you Chicagoans were supposed to be wise guys, too.) Maybe you could subcontract to Studs Terkel for responses to my posts (if he's still alive -- I don't remember.) Anyway, it's getting late here on the East Coast. Time to crash. Catch you later, Toph. ;) Atticus, the Dennis the Menace to Dr. Bob's long-suffering Mr. Wilson
poster:Atticus
thread:426247
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/write/20041210/msgs/427614.html