Posted by Dr. Bob on November 4, 2003, at 17:11:25
In reply to Re: policies and hurt » Dinah, posted by Larry Hoover on November 3, 2003, at 9:25:54
> You think I should report emotional reactions to posters?
I think emotional reactions could count as adverse events...
> Although it has been mentioned many times in recent days, you have yet to tell us of the new criteria for amnesty, or parole, with respect to blocks.
There aren't any new criteria. Not yet, anyway...
> You see, I don't even know which term to apply. In amnesty, a sentence is stricken or formally reduced, whereas with parole, it is conditionally reduced, with the original sentence still on the books. What happens if a poster with amnesty or parole reoffends? Which "prior sentence" is used to determine the new block?
I guess I was thinking the unreduced one, so it would be more like parole?
> In the interest of fairness, it is important that we understand what happened a few months ago, when you reduced Krissy's block. As you say, a precedent was set, but we need to know about the circumstances. I'm not asking for anything confidential, but what exactly transpired?
I think that's already been discussed. Do you have any specific questions?
> Moreover, we need to know just how one goes about applying for a similar sentence reduction.
There's no formal application process.
> you didn't tell us you'd already created a 1.5 block multiplier (the net effect of your block reduction precedent).
Doing something to change the net effect is different than using a new multiplier in the first place...
> I fear that new precedent, that blocks are now conditional, has opened Pandora's Box... here we go into shades of gray.
>
> Clear and simple rules are far easier to apply than those with exceptions.
>
> Rules mean more to certain psychological states than to others. They mean a lot to me. My childhood was not fair. And, I could never figure out the rules. I didn't know it was because there weren't any.
>
> In adulthood, rules mean a lot to me. I don't play the game without first reading the rule book. I know that rules are arbitrary, often contradictory, perhaps even irrational. Doesn't matter to me. I want to know about every one.
>
> We need to take the ambiguity out of our present situation, or this cannot be a safe place for me. I hope I'm not asking for too much.I like things clear and simple, that's why the system was the way it was before. But sometimes ambiguity has advantages that outweigh its disadvantages.
I try to be as fair (and as predictable) as possible, but I can't always anticipate what's going to happen, so I need to be able to be flexible, too. Again, I'm sorry this time I flexed without letting everyone know.
I hope this can be a safe place for you. But I know it does have its limitations and can't be for everyone. Best wishes,
Bob
poster:Dr. Bob
thread:273904
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20031008/msgs/276573.html