Posted by Llurpsie_Noodle on January 25, 2007, at 15:38:24
In reply to Re: well said - Li, posted by Dinah on January 25, 2007, at 11:15:50
First of all, I'm impressed that anyone READ my post, much less understood any of it. That means a lot to me.
Second, I am inspired to integrate another piece of psychology into the ongoing discussion of blocks, their effects on the community, and their effect on those involved with the block more directly.
It is well-known that one of the best ways to unite diverse individuals is to invoke their negative feelings towards a common enemy. Adolf Hitler used this principle to unite what was at the time a very diverse German People in the years leading up to, and including WWII.
While it seems to me acceptable for Dr. Bob to use a common mistrust of, and malcontent towards himself to create a sense of common purpose and community on psycho-babble; it also seems that deputies find themselves placed into a category that is a target for mistrust and malcontent. Dr. Bob stresses that his participation on Psycho-babble is not to experience support; however, the deputies are forced to exist in a dual status that seems to me would be extremely stressful for the average human being, much less someone with [a history] of mental health issues.
Take for example a poster whose block (issued by Dr. Bob) is widely condemned after having received a PBC from a deputy. Who is going to be the target of the bad feelings that arise when we perceive that someone is unfairly punished? The deputy has an important choice: Silence- often interpreted by the masses as implicit agreement with the terms of the block; Agreement- and risk the ire and ill-will of those from whom s/he would otherwise enjoy support; Disagreement- and be burdened with having to rationalize a PBC and not a block, and find proof of Dr. Bob's poor judgment.
It strikes me as a tremendous stressor for a deputy to constantly have to justify his or her decisions, in many cases in much more detail than Dr. Bob does. This burden comes because of a deputy's dual status.
Deputies, in case you're curious, I am very fond of you all. I am also very aware of your unique status. It makes me more tempered when I write to you, and more wary when I disagree with you. If I am ever blocked by a deputy, I will find it very hard to understand it at a deeper level, because I view blocks as an extreme punishment. I may never forgive myself for my incivility, and may feel shame, fear, and tiny bit of anger in your presence for a long time. But those are my issues. I'm very sensitive to [the possibility of] punishment by others. If I'm punished I'd much rather be punished by an authority than by a peer.
-Ll
poster:Llurpsie_Noodle
thread:723332
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20070123/msgs/726416.html