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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Deputy Dinah on June 11, 2009, at 19:52:20
Since Dr. Bob has been active himself on the Admin board recently, the deputies have been letting him handle issues on this board, since we are *deputies* to Dr. Bob.
He will be here as soon as he can to handle things as he sees fit. I ask that everyone remember the civility guidelines during his absence.
Dinah, acting as deputy to Dr. Bob
Posted by Phillipa on June 11, 2009, at 23:58:15
In reply to To all, posted by Deputy Dinah on June 11, 2009, at 19:52:20
Dinah didn't know he'd been here????? Phillipa
Posted by Deputy 10derHeart on June 12, 2009, at 1:31:29
In reply to Re: To all » Deputy Dinah, posted by Phillipa on June 11, 2009, at 23:58:15
Dinah is, for example, referring to posts of his in this thread:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20090529/msgs/899650.html
That was a week ago today. Considering his schedule, 1 week ago is definitely "recent" for Dr. Bob. I'd like it to be more recent, and so would he, I do believe. But I'd also like to lose 70 pounds overnight and perhaps, find a million bucks beside the road.....not likely, either one. I struggle to accept this as a reality, but sometimes Dr. Bob just can't get here as often as I, at least, want and need him to. I'm working on it.
We do the best we can, all of us, deputies, posters, Dr. Bob. It's hard sometimes, to fully appreciate the demands other people have on their time.
It's just hard.
Thank you, Dinah - for everything :-)
Posted by Phillipa on June 12, 2009, at 12:21:29
In reply to Re: To all » Phillipa, posted by Deputy 10derHeart on June 12, 2009, at 1:31:29
10derHeart you couldn't have 70lbs to lose. No that's the pic in my head of you. And you and Dinah are always here giving of yourselves pat on the back to you both. Seems like a deserted website today and with all the bad weather you'd think people would be on their computers. Love Phillipa
Posted by twinleaf on June 13, 2009, at 11:57:12
In reply to To all, posted by Deputy Dinah on June 11, 2009, at 19:52:20
I think we are all aware that Bob has many time-consuming responsibilities besides Babble, and that his interactions here are necessarily brief and sporadic- no problem there at all.
But I don't know if anyone else has noticed that there is a sort of rhythm to Bob's presence and absence. Right now, he is facing quite a few challenges from posters: he is being asked to apologize for blocks widely considered inappropriate or excessive, to change his blocking policy so that the blocks are not escalating or excessively long, and generally, to adopt a more empathic, responsive stance towards everyone here.
At times when he is more clearly in control, he is often here for several consecutive days. At those times, his posts generally are about the importance of the rules, about how there is a natural power imbalance here, with him having far more-and rightly so, in his opinion. In his interactions with posters, questions are not answered; they are responded to with additional, slightly off-point questions. There is a notable absence of empathy or interest in the concerns that posters bring up.
Right now, I feel that we are in a crisis which has been slowly building for a long time. I think that what we would like from Bob is reasonable, and even necessary for Babble to avoid losing more and more posters, or more basically, to lose its reason for existing. We are asking for either no blocks, or very short ones, where there is a clear opportunity for the poster to apologize/make amends for hurtful or inappropriate comments. This is so much more in keeping with our personal goals of becoming increasingly more responsible for our feelings and actions. And no more blocks when the poster does not understand why it's given! We are also asking Bob to apologize when his reasons and manner of blocking have traumatized a poster. I consider this to be extremely important in a mental health forum such as this. Lastly, we are asking him, when he does have time to interact with a poster, to make sure that he does so with flexibility and empathy. It is no longer acceptable for him to turn these exchanges into personal exhibitions of power and control by means of his rules and how he administers them. or into an exasperating series of clever, but frustrating and unhelpful questions of his own.
These requests all seem reasonable. I have no particular reason to think that he will consider doing any of them; I do believe, though, that both Bob and this site would benefit if he gave them careful consideration. It is no fun for an administrator to be the object of such intense anger- it's horrible- but there are real reasons for it that need to be understood and addressed. It's not a normal state of affairs,
Posted by SLS on June 13, 2009, at 13:11:18
In reply to there seems to be a pattern..., posted by twinleaf on June 13, 2009, at 11:57:12
Hi Twinleaf.
First of all, I don't know when "I" became a part of "we" in your plea. I am not.
> We are asking for either no blocks, or very short ones, where there is a clear opportunity for the poster to apologize/make amends for hurtful or inappropriate comments.
I disagree here. I think people should be sanctioned in some way for what they post, and not for what they intended to do or convey.
How do you judge inappropriate? Is there a global paradigm for defining such a thing?
I do not like being coerced into apologizing or making amends when I do not feel them to be consistent with my beliefs at the time.
I don't think that a sanction should be based on the emotional reaction of the reader. For the sake of community, I find it to be desirable, but not necessary, that people respect and attend to such reactions and perhaps apologize for the act, despite the best of intentions. Even here, I don't think it is fair to judge the behavior of an individual based upon how willing they are to apologize for anything. Can an apology be used as a mitigative to the length of blocks? I don't think that is very fair. Some people are very dedicated to their beliefs and/or without understanding of their infraction. Should these people be doubly punished for the community's inability to control their excusatory behavior?
It is a difficult job indeed to find a just balance in moderating between the myriad events and personalities that the Psycho-Babble community presents.
Judge, jury, and executioner. Yup. That is, indeed, the deal here.
- Scott
Posted by twinleaf on June 13, 2009, at 13:45:44
In reply to Re: there seems to be a pattern... » twinleaf, posted by SLS on June 13, 2009, at 13:11:18
I was not including you in the word "we". That would have been very inaccurate of me, as we apparently disagree on almost every point which has come up so far. That's OK. I'm not going to change what I believe unless I learn something new or different which leads me to feel that I have been wrong or mistaken. So far, nothing that you have written has given me any reason to re-think what I have been saying.
Posted by SLS on June 13, 2009, at 16:06:21
In reply to Re: there seems to be a pattern... » twinleaf, posted by SLS on June 13, 2009, at 13:11:18
> Can an apology be used as a mitigative to the length of blocks? I don't think that is very fair.
This was haunting me while I was in the shower. In American jurisprudence, there is room for a mitigation of punitive measures based upon the expression of remorse on the part of the offender. It does not make the offender any less responsible for his act, but it does help gauge the judge's reaction to that act.
> Judge, jury, and executioner.
That is an extraordinarily difficult job to perform at Psycho-Babble. I do appreciate the doctor's efforts. We demand so much from him around the clock each and every day.
> Some people are very dedicated to their beliefs and/or without understanding of their infraction. Should these people be doubly punished for the community's inability to control their excusatory behavior?
Oh, no! I am vacillating again...
I might have to take another shower.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on June 13, 2009, at 16:12:56
In reply to Re: there seems to be a pattern..., posted by SLS on June 13, 2009, at 16:06:21
I thought this was relevant:
"Forest fire strategy: Just let it go"
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-11-07-fire-management_x.htm
lol
- Scott
Posted by Zeba on June 14, 2009, at 1:54:38
In reply to there seems to be a pattern..., posted by twinleaf on June 13, 2009, at 11:57:12
twinleaf
I really don't post here anymore and had not even looked at this site for about three months. I realize you are upset with how things happen here, and I am concerned that you could end up blocked again. I do not find this place safe anymore, and this is why I don't post. I doubt I will follow up with this either.
I think you would like this to be a good and safe place. I am sorry Happy got blocked again too. This is so unfortunate, and I wish it had not happened to her. I don't know what everyone refers to with how others talk about them as I have not been here in so long, and it is really sad if this is happening.
I am trying to take care of my brain damage and am going to be doing cognitive rehabilitation. Yes it has been confirmed from testing and neurology that I have ECT cognitive decline thanks to the psychiatry of the University of Chicago. This is confirmed and not something I made up. I have a lot of resentments for the University of Chicago, and that is probably another reason why I do not post here anymore.
Everyone take care.
Zeba (used to be Ozland)
Posted by twinleaf on June 14, 2009, at 8:43:35
In reply to Re: there seems to be a pattern... » twinleaf, posted by Zeba on June 14, 2009, at 1:54:38
Hi Zeba. I'm so sorry that happened to you with the ECT. You are so intelligent and hardworking that I hope your brain will be able to gradually grow new neurons and connections so that you can recover fully. I;m guessing that the key to that is intense cognitive work- thinking hard, solving puzzles and problems of all sorts. Remember that Einstein said. " 99% of genius is hard work."
Having been badly hurt by Bob's blocking actions, I do care a lot that this site change so that the same thing doesn't happen to either me or others in the future. Before the civility rules got so detailed, and the blocking policies so severe and punitive, Babble was a wonderful place which played a real role in providing information, understanding and support. It could be that way again- and that's what I'm fighting for.
I hope you will drop in from time to time and let us know how you are doing, It's always great to hear from you,
Posted by yxibow on June 20, 2009, at 5:01:37
In reply to Re: there seems to be a pattern..., posted by SLS on June 13, 2009, at 16:12:56
> I thought this was relevant:
>
> "Forest fire strategy: Just let it go"
>
> http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-11-07-fire-management_x.htm
>
> lol
>
>
> - ScottFor the board:
Well yeah... sometimes a misdemeanor is just an infraction.....
For the article:Its true though, forest fires have been a part of history without man's intervention. Machinery, electricity, and arson have just sped it up.
If it were merely forest fires that happened, as noted in areas without people, that is natural although it changes the terrain and makes parks unattractive to humans.
But global warming of course has shifted things, fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, rain, heat, etc, into an unpredictable balance, so while I agree that some things have to be let gone because it is beyond man's control, there are also situations (even controlled burning!) that need to be fought.
Off topic totally but a curious article.
-- Jay
Posted by Nadezda on June 20, 2009, at 12:08:46
In reply to Re: there seems to be a pattern... » twinleaf, posted by Zeba on June 14, 2009, at 1:54:38
Hi, Zeba.
I'm so sorry to hear that your cognitive problems have persisted. I hope and expect that further rehabilitation will help you make many gains-- and be aware that whatever your cognitive loses, you have a tremendous amount to contribute-- and have, under these most difficult circumstances.
I think about you often and wish that you did still participate here. I always found your posts to be very thoughtful and meaningful to me.
best,
Nadezda
This is the end of the thread.
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