Posted by Larry Hoover on August 9, 2003, at 8:06:24
In reply to Re: I don't really understand.???? - Dinah, posted by BekkaH on August 9, 2003, at 0:59:45
> > > > So some of us may feel so safe here that we >don't wish to post elsewhere.
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> Many posters refer to PB as "a safe place." I'm interested to know how PB is safe. And what is it safe from?It may not be obvious from here, what is meant by "safe place". Out there, on Usenet, I have been attacked by swarms (organized trolls), I have had numerous postings forged under my name, I have even had "Googled quotes" fabricated in my name. These were taking place without obvious provocation, in some cases. In other instances, misunderstanding arose, but they were used to create massive floods of invective (the classic flaming). For example, I mentioned my past abuse of alcohol, so suddenly I'm made out to be a wife-beating, child-molesting monster in denial.
The most common problem was that simple debate would turn ad hominem in an instant. Who needs that?
Perhaps, being a geek makes me particularly vulnerable to that sort of thing, but who knows.
The rules about civility (remember, that has the same root meaning as civilized), are really about not making ad hominem (at the person) comments.
Recent events here have helped me to refine my interpersonal dialogue. That's a good thing. A life skill. I wouldn't (and didn't) get that kind of learning "out there".
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:248064
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20030808/msgs/249497.html