Posted by concerned on December 11, 2000, at 13:58:54
The recommendation is a reaction to a constantly expanding service, and to the rejection of numerous individuals who some readers might appreciate but whose participation somehow does not meet the standards of the site. The recommendation is not a reaction to particular post, individual or interaction.
The point is that "civility" is an ambiguous assertion, and calling people uncivilized, based on one individual's or group's ambiguous definition might not serve the purpose of defining the boundaries in effect here.
It is apparent, from a review of about two years worth of posts, that there have constantly been individuals who introduce subjects and dialogue styles that are sooner or later prohibited here. The majority style here is a product of repeated prohibitions, and not a product of what would otherwise develop as a cross section of internet users openly relating their various experiences in their own unique styles.
Layers of portal software have been effective at other sites in part because they serve to establish the unique boundaries in effect at that particular site. They protect the site, they protect the preferred users of the site and they protect, in some ways, those excluded from the site. The current headings on these pages tend to imply that whatever is not accepted here is not supportive or educational. By saying "If you don't agree to X,Y and Z, do not enter," net users who would otherwise feel invited to the site as a result of a link, a search-engine connection or information found on shared equipment are forewarned unique rules and information available at the site which they might find offensive.
poster:concerned
thread:106
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20001124/msgs/106.html