Posted by Dinah on June 28, 2010, at 13:01:39
In reply to Being Linguistically Correct, posted by violette on June 28, 2010, at 12:05:12
The generalization rule was put into effect to address those situations that have come up again just recently.
For myself, I don't really think generalizations ought to be addressed.
But since people feel disrespected by vehement anti-medication posts, vehement anti-psychiatrist posts, vehement anti long therm therapy (or short term therapy, or therapy altogether) posts, Dr. Bob put the generalizations rule into play. Not that generalizations are per se uncivil, but that they can be insensitive to those who take medications (or a particular medication), see (or are) psychiatrists, or participate in a particular type of therapy.
I don't really like the rule. But I think it's only fair to Dr. Bob to recognize it as an attempt to address the concerns of posters.
Dr. Bob didn't start the site with a bunch of rules. Rules developed in response to real life situations that came up. What you can in all honesty say about Dr. Bob is that he prefers to create a general rule to address problems rather than just address a particular situation. This is a reflection of his style and values, and if a posters doesn't like it that's fair enough. A site does reflect the priorities and values of an administrator.
He's not a petty dictator so much as an administrator trying to balance the concerns of a diverse group of posters in the highly structured way he seems to prefer.
(Usually anyway. Sometimes I totally don't understand what's going on and get confused and angry myself. I've been known to be as angry with Dr. Bob as anyone.)
With the usual caveat that this is my observations only and if Dr. Bob wishes to correct any assumptions I have made, I invite him to do so.
poster:Dinah
thread:951974
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20100321/msgs/952524.html