Posted by Lou Pilder on March 30, 2003, at 16:04:43
In reply to Re: Lou's response to Bittersweet's post-PT » Lou Pilder, posted by Dinah on March 30, 2003, at 8:53:53
D,
You wrote,[I don't think that those that do not want to clarify what they wrote should be requiered to withdrawal from the discussion...]
Well,{if} I was the moderator of an internet forum, I would state that discussants would be {encouraged} to ask for clarification for many reasons. First, if the clarification does not come forth, then there could be doubt to at least the person that requests clarification, and that could hamper that person in having an opportunity to respond in the discussion, for obfuscation could be seen by the requester, which some people could consider to be just as unfair as your perception that you seem to think it is unfair to have them withdrawal from the thread for not giving the clarification requested. But I would first examine the request to see if it is deserving of an answer. Surely, I hope that you do not think that a request like, [...are you from Nova Scotia?...] should alert the moderator to requier the poster to clarify that!
The type of clarification that I would requier a poster to answer, if I was a moderator of an internet forum, would be if the statement in question could be construed to be defaming or accusitive to {someone}, not necessarily the poster that asks for the clarification, or for other just reasons. This could give the maker of the post in question an opportunity to clarify their remark so that if there is a doubt about the statement's meaning, then that could be cleared up at that point so that there is a better understanding and the discussion could continue,for at least the person that requested the clarification, in a manner that could leave out the question of whether or not the poster was making a statement that was accusatory or defaming to someone. There are other requests for clarification that if I was the modertor I would not step in to requier an answer. But if there was a refusal to my request as a moderator to respond to the other discussant's request for clarification, I would consider them to be in contempt and apply a sanction for such. I would state in my rules that saying that you can not answer the request for clarification [from the moderator], would not be acceptable because if that was accepted, then anyone could, let's say, use profanity and say that they can not stop it.
Lou
poster:Lou Pilder
thread:207945
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20030221/msgs/214493.html