Posted by Dinah on July 9, 2008, at 10:33:28
In reply to Re: Proposal regarding the rules of three » Dinah, posted by SLS on July 9, 2008, at 6:27:35
I'm sorry, Scott. I didn't mean to minimize your contribution to the number. I'm sure it was well thought out. (Although Dr. Bob subsequently appeared to develop a strong attraction to the number 3.)
What I meant more was that there is no reason why three is an ok number and posting four is "bad" in the sense of not sharing the boards. It may be less frequent, but I see no reason that it should be outlawed.
For example, higher up on this page is an instance where Dr. Bob asked for ideas. And a poster responded in brainstorming fashion, posting more than three posts in the process. To me, this is a good thing. Other posters could have posted if they wished. It's not like the board registers as "busy" while a post is being made, and a thread is tied up so that others can't post. And in fact if no one else posts to a thread asking for ideas, it seems more likely to me that someone responding might spark ideas in someone else and stimulate a discussion rather than silence one.
On another board, posting frequency was unusually low. Someone started new threads in what to me was a not excessive way. The threads received responses. There was *plenty* of time for other people to post new threads. No one else happened to have anything new to say. But that didn't mean they didn't want to have conversations on the board. But the poster got a notice from Dr. Bob to please share the boards.
I don't understand that thought process at all. It seems to me that it's good for a board to remain active. The posts did get responses, and the board remained healthier and stronger, IMO, for maintaining ongoing dialogues.
It reminds me of my house sometimes. For example, I bought a very small container of ice cream in an unusual flavor that sounded interesting. I ate a small amount, since I don't particularly care for ice cream. I mentioned to my family that it was available. Over the course of the next week or two I noticed now and then it was there, took a small amount, until finally it was gone. (It tasted like freezer by then.) As I scooped out the last bit, my family seemed aggrieved that I hadn't shared. Ummmm... Well, it was there until it went bad. There was an open expressed invitation for them to eat it. How was I not sharing?
Admittedly, I was posting pretty frequently when that rule was enacted. And I felt pretty hurt by both the rule and Dr. Bob's comments on the rule at the time. So that may influence my continued feelings about it.
poster:Dinah
thread:838825
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20080424/msgs/838983.html