Posted by Justherself54 on February 23, 2008, at 9:31:19
In reply to Re: allowance for imperfection, posted by SLS on February 23, 2008, at 5:51:44
I'm still not sure if I'm going to stay at Babble.
I'm not as articulate as a lot of posters who have resonded on this thread but this I will say. I would like to see more allowance given to posters who come to the defense of others and who are trying to be civil but got "caught up in the moment".
I think a simple chance to apologize for being "uncivil" would suffice in these instances, instead of being blocked. To me it fits right in with the dictionary description of ostrasize.
Definition of Ostracize
Os´tra`cize
v. t.1.(Gr. Antiq.) To exile by ostracism; to banish by a popular vote, as at Athens.
[imp. & p. p. Ostracized ; p. pr. & vb. n. Ostracizing .]
2.To banish from society, by a general consent; to exclude from social, political, or private favor; to exclude from conversation or friendship; to shun; as, he was ostracized by his former friends. A person may be ostracized by a formal vote or by a widespread but informal agreement.
I was brought up to defend the underdog, so when I see someone being picked on and another poster comes to their defense and gets blocked for it, it gets right up my nose.The only time I ever received a PBC was when someone came on and was rude and antagonistic and I responded "off the hip" and got a PBC which infuriated me at the time. Blocking to me is also discipline. When I see someone get blocked for defending someone I get the feeling of being sent to my room. But here you get sent for a week or three. I would never discipline my own child that harshly.
The PBC's and blocking stifle open discussion. You see it on every thread where people are passionate on a subject. Someone gets blocked for generalizations or breaking one of the dreaded civility rules and the discussion ends up going nowhere because posters are then scared to respond for fear of also getting blocked. I sometimes get uncomfortable knowing that someone is listening over my shoulder and not joining in the conversation but is simply there to ensure I don't break any conversation rules.
I feel guilty for not posting to someone who is asking for help but I'm still angry at the stringent rules of the site..so I feel at a crossroads and don't know which one to take.
That's my ramblings for this morning.
poster:Justherself54
thread:812972
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20080204/msgs/814236.html