Posted by SLS on April 8, 2012, at 7:04:22
In reply to Intermittent reinforcement, posted by Twinleaf on April 7, 2012, at 19:45:43
> It has been striking me in recent months that Dr. Bob's. current way of interacting with the board - brief periods of interaction followed by longer periods of absence - amounts to an experience of intermittently reinforcing the message that he is no longer steadily and reliably here. I think this is having the effect of diminishing the amount and frequency of posting. In trauma situations, intermittent, rather than continuous reinforcement, has a much stronger effect on continuing the negative effects of the original trauma. I believe it is the same in this situation; the trauma for us is abandonment by Dr. Bob, , and the effects of this on us are made more severe by brief reappearances.
That's an interesting observation.
I would say that it would be healthier that Dr. Bob have a presence on Psycho-Babble. I would not want to go back to a formulaic treatment of posting blocks, as much as I am convinced that Dr. Bob thought that this would be an objective and just application of regulations. More recently, I see that he is more fluid and flexible in his acting on what he feels are undesirable posting behaviors. I welcome this. I was disappointed, however, that he again tried to place a responsibility upon us to prescribe to others corrective behaviors. I did try doing this once or twice in an effort to give the doctor's method a fair trial. I found that I was very uncomfortable assuming the posture of a learned teacher. It was awkward, dissatisfying, and produced no change in the behavior of others except to either incite in them anger or discourage them from posting at all. I believe that playing such a role can only breed resentment.
I remember when Dr. Bob acted as a source of positive reinforcement rather than interacting with posters solely as a dispassionate enforcer using negative reinforcement. I do want him to encourage civility and protect both the individual and the community as a whole. However, it would be nice if he interacted with us for reasons other than this. He can be very sociable. At least, that is my recollection. It has been so long. I think that he is a nice guy and not at all evil. I find it to be an act ob benevolencer to keep this website running and available to a population in so much need of education and support.
- Scott
Some see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1015142
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20120228/msgs/1015165.html