Posted by twinleaf on June 14, 2009, at 11:34:10
In reply to Rules or No Rules?, posted by SLS on June 14, 2009, at 9:05:10
I would prefer a simple general statement about what is expected of posters here: courtesy and respect towards others, kindness towards everyone, and especially towards persons who appear to be in crisis, respectful tolerance of views that are different from one's own.
When these general guidelines are NOT followed, posters or deputies can take note of that fact. I think it would be ideal if the PROBLEM is stated and clarified, but with the SOLUTION being left up to the poster. Asking posters for specific actions, such as apologizing or changing their language, is a very poor outcome. It doesn't allow the poster in question to think about his actions and then decide what action he thinks will best correct the situation. If we do things this way, everyone should feel respected, even during times of conflict resolution.
I think that if everyone does that, we won't need any blocks. Blocks, even short ones, depart from the model I've been describing in the direction of an authoritarian model, in which Bob and the deputies assume the role of knowing how to solve a given problem better than any of us do. I don't believe they do know how to do that; in fact, they invariably make errors which are hurtful and damaging. If we follow the model of trusting posters to resolve problems themselves, blocks would probably be needed rarely, if ever.
poster:twinleaf
thread:900936
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20090529/msgs/900946.html