Posted by snoozin on February 21, 2005, at 12:06:46
In reply to Civility or censorship?, posted by fires on February 21, 2005, at 11:07:43
I truly empathize with you.
This board is an extraordinarily controlled environment with its own rules, laid down by Dr. Bob. The real world (with its globally-defined ethics and morals and etiquette) does not apply here, even if we would like it to. This disparity can be extraordinarily unnerving at times, and I do think, to a very real degree, very emotionally unhealthy.
I don't know what to tell you, really. There is a lot of fun and emotional support to be found here from fellow posters. But posting within the confines of the board's narrow, sometimes obscure, and often illogical rules of civility can be maddening at best.
Of course, try not to ever hurt another. But that means don't hurt another *human.* Just because a particular post doesn't conform to the civility rules, it does not in fact mean the post has hurt, embarassed, shamed, or otherwise injured another poster. And the opposite is true, too. Some posts can harm others while conforming to the civility rules.
Bottom line, this is not a real-life universe. We can't treat it as such. Even though we are real-life humans.
Is it worth it?
Susan
> I'm coming off my 3rd (?) banning. I find it almost impossible to state my opinions without getting banned. Seems some opinions are by their very nature considered uncivil, no matter how carefully they are stated. I've always been careful to attack ideas only -- not people -- but I still get banned.
>
> Also, It seems to me that some folks get away with uncivil behavior by asking me rhetorical questions -- analagous to : "When did you stop beating your wife?"
>
> Anyone else share my views? All comments welcome.
> Please -- no rhetorical questions. :)
poster:snoozin
thread:461256
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20050219/msgs/461278.html