Posted by Dr. Bob on August 31, 2013, at 22:36:16
In reply to Re: anxiety about babble, posted by alexandra_k on August 31, 2013, at 20:40:27
> > > Soon it could be Lou's board.
> >
> > Is that one source of anxiety? What would Babble be like if it were Lou's?
>
> From what I have observed, in my brief time back, is that the Administration Board appears to already be Lou's board to express his opinions and "reminders."
>
> > I'm OK with a smaller and more dedicated group. Anybody else?
>
> What I see of the "smaller and dedicated group" currently posting on this board is not supportive, but combative. It's like Posters v.Lou, Lou v. Posters, Posters v. Bob and Bob v. Posters by answering questions with questions.
>
> I always knew posting here was just a written form of a rodent running a maze, but darn it once and awhile the treat at the end of it was mentally nourishing.OK, Lou's board = a board on which only Lou posts. I don't think anybody, not even Lou, wants that.
Admin is an exception here in that it isn't intended to be supportive. In a way, Admin is the Politics of Babble. And politics is about one party v. another, one interest group v. another, one set of values v. another. I wouldn't be surprised if only a small and dedicated group found it mentally nourishing to be in politics.
> I hope you can save Psychology and Social. I miss the support I used to receive and offer to others.
>
> PoetI can enforce the rules, but that isn't what's going to save Psychology and Social. I hope posters can keep Psychology and Social going.
--
> > > one person's negative influence can, like the butterfly effect, move through an entire message board
>
> > All that is necessary for the triumph of negative butterflies is that positive butterflies do nothing.
>
> You mean 'doing nothing' in the sense of refraining from making positive posts. Not in the sense of refraining from posting negative posts about posts they consider to be negative - right?
>
> alexandra_kRight. Posting a negative post about a negative post is still posting a negative post. Two negatives don't make a positive.
--
> > I'm OK with a smaller and more dedicated group. Anybody else?
>
> It is changing the niche, somewhat. Which would have appeal to a perhaps different kind of poster.
>
> I always did like the idea of a small group
>
> I understand the 'tall poppy syndrome' allegation, now, and see how that plays out...
>
> alexandra_kI hadn't heard that term before, so I read a little about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tall_poppy_syndrome
Are you suggesting that Babble could be considered a group of tall poppies?
Bob
a brilliant and reticent Web mastermind -- The New York Times
backpedals well -- PartlyCloudy
poster:Dr. Bob
thread:1049917
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20130702/msgs/1049991.html