![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dr. Bob on April 12, 2000, at 22:28:20
Hi, everyone,
Sorry about the recent disruptions. I'm trying to do what I can about it. Let's just try to put that behind us and not get side-tracked.
How does it go, the price of liberty is eternal vigilance? Something like that.
Bob
Posted by Cam W. on April 12, 2000, at 22:59:08
In reply to disruptions, posted by Dr. Bob on April 12, 2000, at 22:28:20
Dr.Bob - So nice of you to take time out of your busy day to help us keep this board so nice and clean (and useful). I guess things like this happen when word gets out that you have the hottest site going. Keep up the good work. - Cam W.
Posted by forthfore on April 13, 2000, at 1:13:21
In reply to disruptions, posted by Dr. Bob on April 12, 2000, at 22:28:20
There's little anyone can do to silence certain people. It's the nature of the Internet. Dr. Bob could probably block someone's IP address, but they could always switch to a new ISP.
He could make the board moderated - but that's a lot of work for someone. And delays posting, makes everyone feel a bit censored.
The only thing to do is NOT respond to offensive posts - in ANY way. I wouldn't even bother to read them.
But whatever you do DON'T write back - NOT ONE WORD - not patient, not mean, not flaming, not arguing, not condescending - NOTHING.
Some people get off on ANY kind of attention - good or bad.
> Hi, everyone,
>
> Sorry about the recent disruptions. I'm trying to do what I can about it. Let's just try to put that behind us and not get side-tracked.
>
> How does it go, the price of liberty is eternal vigilance? Something like that.
>
> Bob
Posted by Seamus on April 13, 2000, at 5:40:49
In reply to disruptions, posted by Dr. Bob on April 12, 2000, at 22:28:20
> Hi, everyone,
>
> Sorry about the recent disruptions. I'm trying to do what I can about it. Let's just try to put that behind us and not get side-tracked.
>
> How does it go, the price of liberty is eternal vigilance? Something like that.
>
Thanks Daddy. I thought we were old enough to ignore stupidity on our own, but I guess I'm mistaken.Seamus
Posted by Cindy W on April 13, 2000, at 8:42:36
In reply to Re: disruptions - Don't Respond to offensive posts, posted by forthfore on April 13, 2000, at 1:13:21
> There's little anyone can do to silence certain people. It's the nature of the Internet. Dr. Bob could probably block someone's IP address, but they could always switch to a new ISP.
>
> He could make the board moderated - but that's a lot of work for someone. And delays posting, makes everyone feel a bit censored.
>
> The only thing to do is NOT respond to offensive posts - in ANY way. I wouldn't even bother to read them.
>
> But whatever you do DON'T write back - NOT ONE WORD - not patient, not mean, not flaming, not arguing, not condescending - NOTHING.
>
> Some people get off on ANY kind of attention - good or bad.
>
> > Hi, everyone,
> >
> > Sorry about the recent disruptions. I'm trying to do what I can about it. Let's just try to put that behind us and not get side-tracked.
> >
> > How does it go, the price of liberty is eternal vigilance? Something like that.
> >
> > BobDr. Bob, keep up the great work! I agree with Forthfore...let's all just ignore inflammatory posts (then they'll go play somewhere else where people pay attention to them, which we don't need to, here!).
Posted by Dr. Bob on April 13, 2000, at 9:45:31
In reply to Re: disruptions, posted by Seamus on April 13, 2000, at 5:40:49
> Thanks Daddy. I thought we were old enough to ignore stupidity on our own, but I guess I'm mistaken.
You're welcome, sonny. :-)
Sorry if I came across as talking down to anyone...
Bob
Posted by Adam on April 13, 2000, at 10:00:57
In reply to disruptions, posted by Dr. Bob on April 12, 2000, at 22:28:20
I think it is prudent for us to not dignify some statements with a response.However, I also believe that some action is necessary when the content of that message is too corrosive to be tolerated.
It is one thing to be merely offensive. It is quite another to be criminal. I think very, very few forms of expression fall into that catagory, but some do, and it is responsible under certain circumstances to intervene in some way.
Even passive resistance is not no resistance. Each new problem requires a creative way to implement that principle, while preserving essential freedoms. I think a fine job is being done in all respects to work to that end.
Posted by AprilA. on April 13, 2000, at 12:59:43
In reply to Re: disruptions, posted by Adam on April 13, 2000, at 10:00:57
>
> I think it is prudent for us to not dignify some statements with a response.
>
> However, I also believe that some action is necessary when the content of that message is too corrosive to be tolerated.
>
> It is one thing to be merely offensive. It is quite another to be criminal. I think very, very few forms of expression fall into that catagory, but some do, and it is responsible under certain circumstances to intervene in some way.
>
> Even passive resistance is not no resistance. Each new problem requires a creative way to implement that principle, while preserving essential freedoms. I think a fine job is being done in all respects to work to that end.
---------------------------------------------------------------
I think people that call names should be sent to the cyber quiet room for a while (at least).
Posted by Greg on April 13, 2000, at 13:19:25
In reply to Re: disruptions, posted by AprilA. on April 13, 2000, at 12:59:43
> >
> > I think it is prudent for us to not dignify some statements with a response.
> >
> > However, I also believe that some action is necessary when the content of that message is too corrosive to be tolerated.
> >
> > It is one thing to be merely offensive. It is quite another to be criminal. I think very, very few forms of expression fall into that catagory, but some do, and it is responsible under certain circumstances to intervene in some way.
> >
> > Even passive resistance is not no resistance. Each new problem requires a creative way to implement that principle, while preserving essential freedoms. I think a fine job is being done in all respects to work to that end.
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> I think people that call names should be sent to the cyber quiet room for a while (at least).Is that the same as a Cyber Time-Out? :-)
Posted by Adam on April 13, 2000, at 15:50:48
In reply to Re: disruptions, posted by Greg on April 13, 2000, at 13:19:25
> > I think people that call names should be sent to the cyber quiet room for a while (at least).
>
> Is that the same as a Cyber Time-Out? :-)One could be shunted to a separate board called "The Penalty Box".
Background music: Randomly selected midis from "Frampton Goes to Hollywood".
Posts generate a thank you message and launch a Java script that crashes your system.
Hapless offender might not even realise he/she is being disciplined.
Posted by Dr. Bob on April 13, 2000, at 16:06:45
In reply to Re: disruptions, posted by Adam on April 13, 2000, at 15:50:48
> > > I think people that call names should be sent to the cyber quiet room for a while (at least).
I agree, but it can be bad form then to play right outside the door...
Bob
Posted by allisonm on April 13, 2000, at 17:49:18
In reply to Re: disruptions, posted by Adam on April 13, 2000, at 15:50:48
> > > I think people that call names should be sent to the cyber quiet room for a while (at least).
> >
> > Is that the same as a Cyber Time-Out? :-)
>
> One could be shunted to a separate board called "The Penalty Box".
>
> Background music: Randomly selected midis from "Frampton Goes to Hollywood".
>
> Posts generate a thank you message and launch a Java script that crashes your system.
>
And midis of Boy George's greatest hits. Or maybe the Bay City Rollers. And how about a big smiley face to go with the thank you message, except that the smiley face won't go away for about 5 minutes...THEN it crashes your system...
Posted by boB on April 13, 2000, at 18:24:51
In reply to Re: disruptions, posted by allisonm on April 13, 2000, at 17:49:18
I appreciate the willingness of board users here to respond to intolerable behaviour, and the apparent cautious differentiation between critical, unpopular opinions and intolerable insults.
The difficulty in dealing with this problem is that Dr. Bob and company want to protect "our" board (of which I considered myself a dubious and testy guest) while maintianing a public discussion.
Well, my only point is, lostboy and the hitler youth are not likely to just go away. Youth angst is as pervasive and deadly as ever and pscyopharmacology probably does not hold the best answer, at least in as much as ppharm offers medications. To the extent ppharm can explain the etiology of angst, its causes and promising social remedies, then the study of neurochemistry might contribute.
I don't want to post here some of the remedial techiques I know. At least not while those frustrated kids are watching. I would rather they not know what I and others are going to be doing about it. And I don't want to encourage them to take steps to find out. For the most part, these are some very concerned people who act out. Often it is their inability to have their concerns heard that leads to them acting out. That says something to all of us.
I can, however, offer a link to a study released this week by National Association of Attorneys General.
It is all over the web by now, but I found a PDF copy at:http://www.ink.org/public/ksag/contents/children/bruisedinside.pdf
Posted by Scott L. Schofield on April 13, 2000, at 21:40:26
In reply to Re: disruptions, posted by Dr. Bob on April 13, 2000, at 9:45:31
> > > Hi, everyone,
> > >
> > > Sorry about the recent disruptions. I'm trying to do what I can about it. Let's just try to put that behind us and not get side-tracked.
> > >
> > > How does it go, the price of liberty is eternal vigilance? Something like that.
> > >
> > > Bob
> > Thanks Daddy. I thought we were old enough to ignore stupidity on our own, but I guess I'm mistaken.
> >
> > Seamus
> You're welcome, sonny. :-)
>
> Sorry if I came across as talking down to anyone...
>
> Bob
You didn't.One must suffer ignorance and smile. :-)
Thanks for everything, Dr. Bob. Cyberspace is a better place because of you. We are healthier people because of you.
- Scott
Posted by Elizabeth on April 14, 2000, at 2:51:12
In reply to Re: disruptions, posted by boB on April 13, 2000, at 18:24:51
In theory, the idea of not responding to people who are clearly just seeking attention by trying to be provocative seems like a good one. In practice, it doesn't work in an internet forum like this one because you can't always convince *everybody* to do it -- particularly if there are always a lot of new people coming in who aren't familiar with the troll, or if the troll alternates between the disruptive posts and attempts to garner sympathy. (He definitely does the latter as well as the former on Usenet, at least, when he is threatened with the prospect of being ignored or shunned. Invariably it elicits sympathy from newcomers, even though the posts are so exaggerated that they read like caricatures of a sincere cry for help.)
An alternative would be to treat him as one would any severely personality-disordered individual. Dr. Bob, do you have any advice here??? :) My thought is that maybe he needs to be confronted with his behavior, and that limit-setting is no doubt important.
To those who are concerned about censorship:
1. Nobody has the right to harrass others, and I think it's clear that much of the behavior of the poster in question constitutes harrassment.
2. Ordering everybody to give this person the silent treatment (i.e., putting him in the cyber-quiet room, complete with cyber-restraints and maybe 5mg of cyber-Haldol for good measure :) ) is censorship as well. "Censor" isn't a dirty word. We have to self-censor, or there would be chaos. Some people with severe character disruption (or with classic mental illness, for that matter) lack the ability to censor themselves in one way or another, so something external needs to be added. That could be a medication; in this case I think it needs to be behaviorally-based.
I personally would be more than content if Dr. Bob were able to block this person's IP address. The attempt at least should be made -- it might not work, it might take a few tries before he gives up, but it might work too. We really don't have any reason to suppose that this person is at all internet-savvy. As I noted above, it's clear he needs help; do we let him destroy this forum in our efforts to give him that help when he does not *desire* it?
Posted by boB on April 14, 2000, at 21:16:16
In reply to Re: disruptions, posted by Elizabeth on April 14, 2000, at 2:51:12
the trouble with blocking IP addresses is that it blocks everyone from that address. If he subscribes to a big nationwide provider, I suspect that could include a lot of people, giving him all the more glee.
I'm not really an expert at these things, but that has never stopped me. You could try to set up something with cookies that won't let him come back, or require pass words, but that starts to restrict things too. Apparenty he is not here now. Maybe Dr. Bob invented some sort of lostboy blocking agent?
Posted by Cam W. on April 15, 2000, at 3:13:14
In reply to Re: disruptions, posted by boB on April 14, 2000, at 21:16:16
Darn! - It's not a palindrome!
Dr.Bob - You do a fine job. When do you have time to do your real work (or do they pay you to watch us?) ;^) - Cam W.
Posted by Mark H. on April 15, 2000, at 12:58:25
In reply to Re: snoitpursid, posted by Cam W. on April 15, 2000, at 3:13:14
This is the most active and useful forum I have participated in ever. What I have gained here is not only an amazing amount of anecdotal and technical information and wonderful, thoughtful, mature and professional-quality support as a sufferer and fellow seeker, and a chance to share my experiences and tell my story, but also excellent guidance on how to be a better forum community member, which I am still learning about with each passing day. boB, in particular, has helped me tremendously, both on and off-forum. Cam's advice has always been level and compassionate. Cass, April, bob, Dr. Bob and too many more to mention continue to provide feedback that helps me see myself more clearly, helps me to understand what is helpful to post and what is not, and everyone I've interacted with here has helped nudge me lovingly towards greater openness and honesty. Hopefully, over time I'll make fewer mistakes and write more clearly from my heart as well as my experience.
This huge forum is a great service and establishes a community that is otherwise lacking in a lot of our lives. I think we have an obligation to teach as well as to support and share. A few basic rules are essential. I think "be civil or don't post" is reasonable and fair. Perhaps the best response to an objectionable poster would be a stock paragraph on what being civil means in this forum, and what the consequence will be if this basic rule isn't observed. If the poster is willing to attempt this minimal level of conformity, great. If s/he doesn't get it, then they should probably look elsewhere on the web for a place to express their opinions.
You (Dr. Bob) moderate with a very light hand as it is. I appreciate your moderation as well as your sensitivity.
Many thanks,
Mark H.
Posted by Shar on April 15, 2000, at 13:01:25
In reply to disruptions, posted by Dr. Bob on April 12, 2000, at 22:28:20
I'm sort of new here. I missed the disruptions. I think the policy should be to give the citation of the disruption so we can all go back and read it!!! Just kidding (not really). Shar
> Hi, everyone,
>
> Sorry about the recent disruptions. I'm trying to do what I can about it. Let's just try to put that behind us and not get side-tracked.
>
> How does it go, the price of liberty is eternal vigilance? Something like that.
>
> Bob
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.