Posted by Dinah on February 8, 2007, at 10:41:31
In reply to For ..Dr Bob please clarify...pbc issues, posted by Fallen4MyT on February 7, 2007, at 17:50:56
You know, I can and have explained the rationale for my deputorial thought processes many times over the years. Unfortunately, I don't always find that I possess the ability to answer in a way that is helpful, but I'll give it another shot.
I rarely use the Please Rephrase, and when I do it's because someone's new or someone is obviously struggling to stay within the civility guidelines and has missed the mark a bit. It has nothing to do with favoritism. It is because I consider that in this circumstance, the Please Rephrase is more appropriate.
IMHO, it actually is a more taxing "Please" than "Please be civil." It often requires a lot of back and forthing to get at what Dr. Bob is asking for, and it often requires someone compromising what a poster wishes to say in a way they'd rather not do.
I guess I understand PBC's from both angles. As a poster, I'm terrified of getting one myself, and would see them as punitive. As a deputy, I don't usually see them as punitive at all. I see them more as reminders that a thread has gotten heated and people need to step back a bit or as education as to what's allowable under the site civility rules if that's applicable in any given situation.
Perhaps this isn't a helpful explanation, but I tried.
Dinah, acting as both deputy and as poster
poster:Dinah
thread:730896
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20070123/msgs/731090.html