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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 74 to 98 of 255. Go back in thread:
Posted by Minnie-Haha on May 24, 2005, at 16:58:32
In reply to Re: Dr Bob: question about being blocked or PBC'd? » gardenergirl, posted by Gabbi-x-2 on May 23, 2005, at 18:31:36
> ... Minnie was also wondering why she got a block after only one P.B.C, one which had been on a completely different topic. From what I've seen here that is unusual, usually you get at least 3 p.b.c's before you get blocked.
That was my original question here, though the discussion has kinda meandered. (I'd also wanted to know if one block usually follows another -- which is what I experienced -- or whether or not there are usually one or more PBCs between one block and the next.)
Anyway, thanks for noticing.
Minnie
Posted by Minnie-Haha on May 24, 2005, at 17:08:06
In reply to Re: Dr Bob: question about being blocked or PBC'd? » Minnie-Haha, posted by alexandra_k on May 24, 2005, at 16:49:15
> > I thought civility on this site was exactly about being careful with what you say. It would be pretty hard to manage this site if you had to weigh also what people think – unless they say what they think – or you are psychic. (I’d wager we'd be blocked here much more often if Dr. Bob could read minds.)
>
> Yeah.
> It is just that for the most part people do indeed use language to express their thoughts.
> Sometimes we aren't really aware of just how much so.Dang. This could turn into another one of those "made me feel" vs "chose to feel" discussions, and I'm just about spent, so I won't respond to that.
> I hope you got my apology above.
Yes, and thank you.
Posted by Minnie-Haha on May 24, 2005, at 17:19:32
In reply to Re: Dr Bob: question about being blocked or PBC'd? » Minnie-Haha, posted by gardenergirl on May 24, 2005, at 16:52:59
> > My statement wasn't an either/or...
>
> You're right, this statement only suggests two of possibly others.Thanks gg. Yer a peach.
> > As for how to handle discussing a behavior that only one person is known to exhibit...
>
> Although since it has been brought up before, and the behavior has not been deemed to fall outside the civility guidelines, I think the answer to your question was evident before the posts (if I understood your question correctly). Of course Dr. Bob is free to change his mind. But I thought this issue had been settled previously. I could be wrong, though. I haven't checked for a post saying so, and my memory has been known to fail me.Since hitting 40, my memory's -- What was I talking about? Oh yeah, the last thing I remember Dr. Bob saying is that he doesn't want to label the behavior we were talking about.
I figured I was defending a losing case from the start, but I also felt compelled to address a behavior that makes me and others feel offended. I wanted my view on the subject for the record. I think I made some good points, and I am pretty sure that this will come up again, even if not through me. There just seem to be some topics here that do that.
Posted by Dinah on May 24, 2005, at 17:20:33
In reply to Re: Dr Bob: question about being blocked or PBC'd?, posted by Minnie-Haha on May 24, 2005, at 16:58:32
You can't be blocked before being PBC'd. Not even in the case of gross incivility.
After you've been PBC'd you can be blocked on the next offense. Dr. Bob doesn't have to do it, but he always has the option. He often chooses to exercise his discretion to give another PBC. A lot depends on context, time elapsed, etc.
After you've been blocked you can be blocked for increasing amounts of time (2x for technical infractions, 3x for personal infractions) for each violation thereafter, no matter how long thereafter. Dr. Bob doesn't have to do it, he can choose to PBC again, or block for lesser amounts of time, but he always has the option. Dr. Bob often shows discretion, depending a lot on context, time elapsed, etc.
I don't recall the time elapsed, the difference between violations, or anything else about this particular case, but that's the general rule.
Many people find it useful to have an off board civility buddy. Sometimes for running posts past them for possible civility infractions. Sometimes for venting. I make liberal use of Babble civility buddies. And on occasion, I email Dr. Bob. He's never blocked me for an email to him, so that's always an option.
Posted by Minnie-Haha on May 24, 2005, at 17:54:03
In reply to Re: Dr Bob: question about being blocked or PBC'd? » Minnie-Haha, posted by Dinah on May 24, 2005, at 17:20:33
> I don't recall the time elapsed, the difference between violations, or anything else about this particular case, but that's the general rule.
I got my first and only PBC in February on a Medication board thread (the infamous grain-of-salt post). My first block was April 14, on one thread, and my second block was on April 30, on a different, though similar thread. The first one was admittedly personal, but the second was not, IMO, as we've debated here. (Don't want to start it up again. I acknowledge that others have a right to their opinions too.)
> Many people find it useful to have an off board civility buddy. Sometimes for running posts past them for possible civility infractions. Sometimes for venting. I make liberal use of Babble civility buddies. And on occasion, I email Dr. Bob. He's never blocked me for an email to him, so that's always an option.
Yes, I may use a buddy in the future. I actually have emailed the doctor on something that bothered me once before.
Thanks again.
Posted by Dinah on May 24, 2005, at 18:10:55
In reply to Re: Thank you » Dinah, posted by Minnie-Haha on May 24, 2005, at 17:54:03
Posted by alexandra_k on May 24, 2005, at 20:38:09
In reply to Re: Dr Bob: question about being blocked or PBC'd? » gardenergirl, posted by Minnie-Haha on May 24, 2005, at 17:19:32
> ...but I also felt compelled to address a behavior that makes me and others feel offended.
'makes me'
There it is again...It is hard NOT to express ones thoughts when one speaks...
Posted by Minnie-Haha on May 25, 2005, at 13:40:30
In reply to Re: Dr Bob: question about being blocked or PBC'd? » Minnie-Haha, posted by alexandra_k on May 24, 2005, at 20:38:09
> > ...but I also felt compelled to address a behavior that makes me and others feel offended.
>
> 'makes me'
> There it is again...You are responding to a post I directed to gardengirl. This seems like a matter of semantics to me. If you prefer the choose-to-feel form of expressing yourself, that’s fine, but I hope you won’t insist that I do.
If it’s OK for some to feel offended by one sort of behavior, why must I choose to feel offended by another?
> It is hard NOT to express ones thoughts when one speaks...
Yes, I’d say a big part of our speaking and writing is to express our thoughts – or feelings. My thought processes are rather messy, but I usually don’t try to speak (or write) until I’ve come to what seems *to me* a reasoned conclusion. If I speak or talk before then, I might need to correct myself or apologize later. I might yet have to do so if I express my reasoned conclusion poorly (not carefully). For instance, you yourself apologized for some hurried posts you made to Gabbi and me because you had 5 minutes to get to class. It matters not to me whether the problem was that you regretted your thoughts / conclusion, or simply regretted the way you expressed it. If you can apologize for making a careless post, can’t I? You weren’t careful with what you said (or thought or however you want to put it), and neither was I on the paragraph in question when this saying vs. thinking thing came up.
Posted by Dr. Bob on May 26, 2005, at 1:07:13
In reply to Re: Dr Bob: question about being blocked or PBC'd? » Minnie-Haha, posted by Gabbi-x-2 on May 23, 2005, at 14:24:41
Posted by Dr. Bob on May 26, 2005, at 1:07:17
In reply to Re: I'm afraid I really really can't, posted by Dinah on May 22, 2005, at 21:33:53
> I won't object if they aren't publicly viewable.
Because then others won't be envious? If you'd rather not get into this again, that's OK, too...
Bob
Posted by Dinah on May 26, 2005, at 5:10:24
In reply to Re: publicly viewable, posted by Dr. Bob on May 26, 2005, at 1:07:17
Thank you for being sensitive to the intensity of my feelings on this matter, especially right before a scary trip to Chicago where it would be incredibly inconvenient for me to be head-ready-to-explode angry with you.
To me it really is a question of right and wrong, polite and impolite. It's that simple. And I just don't understand how you can't understand because so many professionals that I know and have read *do* understand.
And the reasons my feelings are so intense is something I really can't say under the civility guidelines as I understand them. But I've emailed them to you before and will again if you understandably can't remember and if you are for any reason interested.
For reasons I've stated before and stated again on Alexandra's thread, which I think you merged into the small board thread. I don't really have any better words than these, but I'll repeat them.
It isn't about feelings of envy. It's about feelings of exclusion. Those are two different things entirely.
It's about the philosophy outlined in "You Can't Say You Can't Play", as on page 99.
["It's a private time with you and your dad," I suggest.
"Right. And sometimes you have times like that with your friends."
"No one would argue about the privacy of those occasions," I say. "But does the the classroom qualify as private or public?"
A boy answers. "If he or she is your good friend, you can always invite them to your house. So, no, this isn't a private place."]
And from a post to Alexandra...
Can all friends watch and listen? Yes. Are all friends welcome to join in? No. Only some are welcome to join in those conversations.
What other possible way can 1 & 2 be joined?
(Than that posters would be playing behind a glass wall where all their friends can watch and listen, but only some of their friends are welcome to join in.)The other alternative is that people participate in only restricted boards in which case
1) People who they do not consider friends can watch and listen.
2) People who they do not consider friends are not welcome to join in.
That is at least internally consistent to me, but not really in keeping with what the boards mean to me.The first scenario, where people considered friends are not allowed to join in conversations they are allowed to watch and see, is totally beyond my conception. [However assuming that you, Dr. Bob, consider the second scenario in keeping with your view of Babble, I can see where the *second* scenario would be not impolite.]
How would I feel if Alexandra and Damos (to name two people I enjoy who clearly enjoy each other, and for no other reason) were having a bantering conversation on Social and when I tried to banter with them, were told it was a private conversation and I wasn't welcome. How is a publicly read board where I wasn't allowed to post any different? And I don't just mean me. I wouldn't even read a board I can't post on. Because I would know I wasn't welcome there. But how would people who didn't realize they weren't welcome feel about it?
And Dr. Bob, again that's not "envy" that's feeling excluded.
These are the very best words I have, Dr. Bob. I've stood on my head trying to shake better ways of saying it out, and there's just nothing there. If you think you might be interested in my opinion, please bookmark this post, because I don't think I'll be saying more on the matter. If you don't understand or empathize with what I'm saying, you don't. And all the talking on my side in the world won't change that.
If you want to understand, but can't, you can take this post to someone you think you may be able to interpret it.
Posted by Gabbi-x-2 on May 26, 2005, at 11:28:22
In reply to Re: thanks (nm) » Gabbi-x-2, posted by Dr. Bob on May 26, 2005, at 1:07:13
Well, you know. I *can* admit when I'm ..
wrong-ish
Posted by Dr. Bob on May 28, 2005, at 11:37:39
In reply to Re: publicly viewable » Dr. Bob, posted by Dinah on May 26, 2005, at 5:10:24
> It isn't about feelings of envy. It's about feelings of exclusion. Those are two different things entirely.
Envy of being included? It does sound like "painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage"...
> > > If he or she is your good friend, you can always invite them to your house.
And what if someone else comes to your house uninvited?
> How would I feel if Alexandra and Damos ... were having a bantering conversation on Social and when I tried to banter with them, were told it was a private conversation and I wasn't welcome.
How would you feel if you were told instead they were enjoying the opportunity to connect with each other?
Bob
Posted by Dinah on May 28, 2005, at 11:53:40
In reply to Re: publicly viewable, posted by Dr. Bob on May 28, 2005, at 11:37:39
Posted by Dinah on May 28, 2005, at 12:12:47
In reply to Re: publicly viewable, posted by Dr. Bob on May 28, 2005, at 11:37:39
I refuse to play word games. I have too much respect for myself.
You may not be intending it that way, but that's the way I'm hearing it.
Posted by 10derHeart on May 28, 2005, at 12:16:17
In reply to Never mind, Dr. Bob. I won't do this. (nm), posted by Dinah on May 28, 2005, at 11:53:40
(((Dinah)))
I really believe I am now getting "in my gut," how you feel about this - and why. It's resonating and...well, never mind...but I...
Just wanted you to know.
(((Dinah)))
Posted by Dinah on May 28, 2005, at 12:18:26
In reply to Re: Never mind, Dr. Bob. I won't do this. » Dinah, posted by 10derHeart on May 28, 2005, at 12:16:17
It's nice to know I haven't completely lost my ability to communicate.
Posted by Gabbi-x-2 on May 28, 2005, at 13:18:24
In reply to Re: publicly viewable, posted by Dr. Bob on May 28, 2005, at 11:37:39
.
>
> Envy of being included? It does sound like "painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage"...Absolutely not! It's not the same thing Dr. Bob.
Oy, this is frustrating. I would have no desire at all to go to most places that are prejudice, or promote segregation, but that does not mean it isn't immoral.>
> How would you feel if you were told instead they were enjoying the opportunity to connect with each other?
>
> BobI cannot believe you're even trying to do that. Its insulting and infuriating, and a scary futuristic prediction from several classic books.
White Supremecy : Gives white folks a chance
to connect with one another and feel empoweredDo you feel okay about it now Dr. Bob?
Now, had I been a peer, and asked you that question in all seriousness, your (likely) reaction, is how I feel (choking, gagging, frustrated, infuriated, disbelief) when it is gently suggested to me that I "reframe" what I find repugnant. Some things are to me, and I hope to he** I never lose the ability to see that, lest I sound like this:
Wife Beating: He was "working out his issues" last night. (that's a real one, from a proffessional. Hard to tell isn't it?"
Posted by alexandra_k on May 28, 2005, at 17:20:38
In reply to Re: publicly viewable, posted by Dr. Bob on May 28, 2005, at 11:37:39
> Envy of being included? It does sound like "painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage"...
I'm not sure that it does...
It seems to be painful
But I'm not seeing it as resentful
And I don't see the 'desire to possess the same advantage'...Not if the 'advantage' is seen as membership of a small board anyway.
If the advantage is the desire to feel included... Well... Perhaps.
Becuase some people who don't feel included on the bigger boards might have more chance of feeling included on the smaller boards.
Hmm.
Exclude:
1 a : to prevent or restrict the entrance of b : to bar from participation, consideration, or inclusionResentment:
a feeling of indignant displeasure or persistent ill will at something regarded as a wrong, insult, or injuryHmm
Posted by alexandra_k on May 28, 2005, at 17:26:14
In reply to Re: publicly viewable » Dr. Bob, posted by Gabbi-x-2 on May 28, 2005, at 13:18:24
I think...
The crucial difference between racism and small boards is the idea that with racism (specism, sexism, whatever...) people discriminate on grounds that are irrelevant to whatever it is that they need to make a choice for.
So, for example, you want to hire someone for a job and you don't seriously consider a female for the job - and really being female is completely irrelevant to whether she is the best candidate for the job or not.
If small board membership were determined by someones race or gender or whatever, then there might be a good analogy there...
Though I think there is some provision allowed for supporting or advocating for minority groups. So if you had a 'womans group', for example, then most people wouldn't consider it discrimination - though it could be argued that it is given that women aren't in the minority and all...
But in the case of small boards membership is solely up to when you try and join up as that determines whether there is a place or not.
As such, I think it is really very different from discrimination...
Posted by Dinah on May 28, 2005, at 17:41:04
In reply to Re: publicly viewable, posted by alexandra_k on May 28, 2005, at 17:26:14
I think if you look at the context of the post, it's clear that the topic wasn't comparing small boards to racism. It was a comment on Dr. Bob's style of reply.
Because if you look at Dr. Bob's reply, you might be able to see why people trying to have a legitimate discussion about something would be discouraged from wanting to continue.
It reminded me forcefully of a reply in a presidential debate.
Posted by Dinah on May 28, 2005, at 17:49:52
In reply to Re: publicly viewable » alexandra_k, posted by Dinah on May 28, 2005, at 17:41:04
I didn't mean to imply that people trying to have a legitimate discussion and people who enjoy what Dr. Bob was doing were a mutually exclusive group.
I meant that I and people who are currently doing what Dr. Bob was doing are a mutually exclusive group.
Or more specifically that I do not try to have a legitimate discussion with any person who during the course of that discussion chooses to employ the debating techniques that Dr. Bob is currently employing, until they choose a different form of communication.
Posted by alexandra_k on May 28, 2005, at 18:32:31
In reply to I mis-spoke, posted by Dinah on May 28, 2005, at 17:49:52
???
I'm lost.
Sorry that I seem to be missing the point...
:-(I was just trying to get clear on some of the words...
I think they have negative connotations that actually aren't part of the meaning of the terms...
Posted by Gabbi-x-2 on May 28, 2005, at 19:28:56
In reply to Re: publicly viewable » alexandra_k, posted by Dinah on May 28, 2005, at 17:41:04
I was not comparng small boards to racism.
I was using the two examples to compare reframing, and how I feel when when someone spin doctors a subject, and then asks me to look at it differently.
Posted by Dr. Bob on May 29, 2005, at 13:51:20
In reply to Thank you Dinah, posted by Gabbi-x-2 on May 28, 2005, at 19:28:56
> I was using the two examples to compare reframing, and how I feel when when someone spin doctors a subject, and then asks me to look at it differently.
OK, at times it can be used to try to justify something immoral, but at other times reframing could be reasonable, couldn't it?
Bob
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