Posted by Willful on October 16, 2010, at 18:08:55
In reply to Re: Reduced rate of posting, posted by sigismund on October 15, 2010, at 19:25:11
Yet I do find it strange that someone is blocked for a phrase like "kiddie pool," directed really at no one and not a very terrible epithet.
Yes, maybe it's a negative comment--more, as I read it, on the expectations of people at babble, than on the people themselves-- but still, hardly really hurtful, most especially to anyone in particular.
As I recall the thread, ron was expressing frustration with the rules-- not with people. And he was referring to the kiddie pool as an area where adults are are infantilized, by being expected to act rather overly -politely, and not given full respect. So to analyze it as suggesting that we were kiddies is truly not to understand what it means.
Moreover, I do think it's a bit questionable to feel that this is harmful, even if people are momentarily offended by what they think is implied. That some people are momentarily not happy with someone's comment, just seems to me not enough to warrant a block.
I do wonder what's happened here. From what I see, there's been a cyclical upping of the ante in terms of blocks. People are blocked for this or that which may seem a not terrible violation of civility, and then others become harsher and more demanding of etiquette for those of whom they are not fond-- then they complain-- over time ever milder comments are gradually pulled in the orbit of what is no longer civil.
For example, now generalization are not civil-- if they're negative. I just find this beyond my personal understanding. I don't necessarily consider it the reason people overall have left-- although certainly it explains why some have. But it do think it creates an atmosphere of backbiting and induces people subtly to be even more thinskinned than they were last time around.
Doesn't seem particularly helpful or strengthening to us, to me.
Willfulo
poster:Willful
thread:965628
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20101014/msgs/966000.html