Posted by Dr. Bob on March 25, 2008, at 2:20:18
In reply to Re: Suggestions and solutions » twinleaf, posted by Sigismund on March 20, 2008, at 14:41:41
Hi, everyone,
This is a great idea for a thread. We're not going to be able to do everything that's suggested, but I'm confident that we can put positive energy to good use!
I mentioned in my other post that I think responsibility and dependency are underlying issues. So I'm especially pleased that a number of suggestions address that already. Briefly, I think depending less on me would make the board less affected by my absences. But who else would posters depend on? The deputies, of course -- but also each other. I'm open to suggestions about the deputy system, but though they're here more than I am, there are still only a few of them. So I'm particularly interested in suggestions about how posters might be able to help. And how I and the deputies can facilitate that.
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> How about something where a reader of the post is the one who identifies a post as offensive (though administration has to agree). This through a post or a button.
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> Also, it would be nice if the poster and the offended were given some time (a day or two) to work things out through discussing the incivility, an apology or retraction.
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> A system which involves posters policing themselves is more complicated than rigid rules, but better, IMO. It may also be too idealisic and unmanagable, sadly.
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> TophThis is actually the direction I was moving (prematurely). Why do you think it might be too idealistic and unmanageable? Let's try to come up with a way to make it work. It does depend on posters notifying us of "fouls". Is that a responsibility posters will be reluctant to accept?
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> 1. The question of fairness and equality in giving out PCBs and blocks. ... Possible solutions include not giving PCBs immediately, having posters who feel they have been treated badly use the notification capability, and looking more at the overall picture so as to apply any warnings or blocks evenly.
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> twinleafThis has been a concern since before there were any deputies. IMO, the deputy system has really helped with this, now it's not just me deciding, we have a group that can discuss things. We try to monitor ourselves and each other, and to be guided by the rules and not our emotional reactions. And of course to be open to feedback.
The deputies worry about bias, too. Sometimes they won't take an administrative role in a thread in which they have a poster role.
Toph also mentioned not acting immediately. I'd prefer an apology or a retraction to a PBC or a block, too, but sometimes if we don't act right away, things escalate. So that can be hard to balance.
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> 2. Having the deputies develop some guidelines about their responsibilities that go beyond punitive actions. Specifically, some guidelines could be developed to meet the needs of individual posters during times of high stress. I am thinking of supportive efforts towards posters who begin to feel too anxious or unsafe to post, and calming, reassuring efforts towards posters who are feeling angry, unappreciated or misunderstood here.
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> twinleaf> 3. In a time of crisis, I think it would be really nice to see the deputies and the "older members" lend themselves to calming the members that are obviously very upset.
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> 4.I believe that helping people feel safe is more important than a PBC when the person isn't really very responsible for what's happening in their heart and head. Diffusing a situation shows compassion and the poster knows they have been heard.
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> 7. It would be really cool if by looking at what has happened in the past few days the posters could committ to not "stirring the pot" as that is very upsetting to people who want to see a solution...not more conflict.
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> fayeroe> One thing that could be useful is that if someone is posting in an angry manner, that someone writes to him/her and asks in a friendly way if there is anything wrong because the posts come across as angry.
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> SigismundThose are all great examples of ways in which posters might be able to help (if they're not already). Someone doesn't need to be a deputy -- or even an older poster -- to reach out to, support, calm, or reassure someone else, to diffuse a situation, or just not to stir the pot.
Bob
poster:Dr. Bob
thread:818822
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20080313/msgs/819756.html