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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jai Narayan on August 31, 2004, at 21:28:16
Amy Goodman? She is in your town.
I saw her recently in Vermont and she was excellent. I would love to see her more often.
I contributed money to her effort. It was money that my mothers death had bestowed on me. What do you think?Jai Narayan the woman who is always wondering about everything always....
Posted by Atticus on August 31, 2004, at 22:20:25
In reply to Hey Atticus what do you think of....., posted by Jai Narayan on August 31, 2004, at 21:28:16
Hi Jai,
Let me get back to you on this in a few days when I've cooled off. After having a PBC slapped in tandem on me and JenStar today on Social and seeing so many well-intentioned people on Social get blocked by Dr. B today, I'm feeling pretty sour about this page right now, and about the Psycho-Babble Web site in general. I think I need a break to think about this whole thing. Ta. ;) Atticus
Posted by Jai Narayan on September 1, 2004, at 8:06:44
In reply to Re: Hey Atticus what do you think of..... » Jai Narayan, posted by Atticus on August 31, 2004, at 22:20:25
Sorry to hear how you feel.
I got into a rather intense tangle when I started and only recently did it untangle.
PBC's happen. It's a learning curve.
The full moon is a very difficult time on PB. You can look back and see all the full moons take a toll in blocks, PBC, and lot's of worried folks.
I hope you will continue to post on Writing.Jai Narayan the woman who howls at the pale round face of the moon
Posted by Atticus on September 1, 2004, at 10:54:55
In reply to Re: Hey Atticus what do you think of....., posted by Jai Narayan on September 1, 2004, at 8:06:44
Jai,
I think that when coming to Babble (and this page in particular) leaves me feeling a whole lot worse than when I logged on, it's time for me to back off. Today I feel the worst I have since before my hospitalization. For whatever reasons, this whole business has acted as some kind of trigger and put my brain into a depressive spiral. I feel that "ready-to-cry-over-anything" sensation, that weight on my heart again. (I may need a med adjustment -- hard to tell, but it's unpleasant to feel this way again. I sure didn't miss it.) And it isn't so much my PBC that set me off; that's annoying but ultimately small potatoes. It's the notion that some people have been blocked for as long as 32 weeks for trying to do a good deed that upsets me. Yes, there are rules here. There were also rules when Jean Valjean stole that loaf of bread to feed his family in "Les Miserables". He knew he was breaking a rule, but thought the greater good demanded it. The inflexible enforcement of rules, when unleavened by sufficient compassion and the consideraton of mitigating factors, wherever it occurs, is just something I can't abide. Under such circumstances, even the best of us may come across as Victor Hugo's unyielding Inspector Javert. Atticus
Posted by partlycloudy on September 1, 2004, at 12:25:52
In reply to Re: Hey Atticus what do you think of..... » Jai Narayan, posted by Atticus on September 1, 2004, at 10:54:55
(Sorry to leap in here, but) Atticus I have felt the same when situations appear lop-sided here. Some of it has been due to my super-sensitivity (hey, everyone's got to be good at something!), some of it has been due to not ever reading the FAQ's (that's like buying a computer and reading the manual - for wimps), and a large part, I think, is going to be the history of the poster. From what I can gather, once you have been blocked, each successive offense results in a longer block - so you get people banned for 32 weeks or more.
I have done my share of staying away, but Babble is the chocolate bar stashed in my fridge for an emergency - I can almost always think of an emergency!
take care and promise to come back,
pc
Posted by Jai Narayan on September 1, 2004, at 20:14:07
In reply to Re: Hey Atticus what do you think of..... » Jai Narayan, posted by Atticus on September 1, 2004, at 10:54:55
Dear Sweet Atticus, I am so sorry you find yourself on the down side of up.
I have an email address:
jainarayan918@yahoo.com
please if you can email me.
I hope to hear from you.
Jai Narayan the woman who is sad about her best friend Atticus
Posted by Jai Narayan on September 1, 2004, at 20:43:53
In reply to Re: Hey Atticus what do you think of....., posted by Jai Narayan on September 1, 2004, at 20:14:07
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 2, 2004, at 2:01:43
In reply to Re: Hey Atticus what do you think of..... » Jai Narayan, posted by Atticus on September 1, 2004, at 10:54:55
> Yes, there are rules here. There were also rules when Jean Valjean stole that loaf of bread to feed his family in "Les Miserables". He knew he was breaking a rule, but thought the greater good demanded it. The inflexible enforcement of rules, when unleavened by sufficient compassion and the consideraton of mitigating factors, wherever it occurs, is just something I can't abide.
I think it's great that people are trying to be supportive. But how does one decide who gets bread and who doesn't?
Inspector Bob
Posted by Atticus on September 2, 2004, at 11:46:29
In reply to Re: Hey Atticus what do you think of....., posted by Dr. Bob on September 2, 2004, at 2:01:43
The real question here is: Are the rules that you've established themselves fair? Are your rules for Psycho-Babble holy dogma that can't be more finely tuned, that can't have caveats built into them that take into account the intentions of the rule-breaker? Is there a doctrine of Dr. Bob infallibility that I missed when I perused the FAQ? In real life courts, of course, these caveats are called mitigating circumstances, and on a case-by-case basis, thousands of judges at every level across the United States incorporate them into their decisions every day court is in session. Would it be possible for you to sit down with your peers at the University of Chicago and rethink your existing rulebook? I look and see a poster who came onto this site hurling insults left and right at Babblers, and he's prevented from posting for one week. And then I turn around and see someone who was trying to do a good deed and help unite two digital lovers, and she's blocked for 32 weeks. It strikes me as reminscent of the "Three strikes, you're out" laws in certain states, where murders may walk in two and a half years, but an addict caught for the third time with illicit drugs may be facing a life sentence. You're a scientist; where's the logic, the common sense in this way of thinking? YOU, Bob, YOU decide if the rules are jiggered in such a way that an honest man who steals bread for his family, a Jean Valjean, may not deserve as harsh a punishment as another thief. It's basically a matter of creating a more complex and flexible rule framework that allows critical thinking and compassion to be applied in such cases. I've seen your CV; surely you're up to this challenge. Babble isn't so riddled with "lawbreakers" that this would be an impossible task. All I can say is that I felt hurt all over again by what I perceived as the flippant tone of your post that preceded this one; you knew when you wrote those words how deeply upset I was by all of this. How could you take the approach you did? Right now, I just feel profoundly depressed and disgusted with the way these two recent situations on Social were handled. If you're going to be the one to lay down the law around here, then I think it's only fair to ask you to consider if the "laws" that govern Babble-World could do with a revamp. And by the way, if you address me in the future, Please Be Civil. Atticus
Posted by Jai Narayan on September 2, 2004, at 12:39:14
In reply to Dr. Bob: Please Be Compassionate » Dr. Bob, posted by Atticus on September 2, 2004, at 11:46:29
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 2, 2004, at 12:46:43
In reply to Dr. Bob: Please Be Compassionate » Dr. Bob, posted by Atticus on September 2, 2004, at 11:46:29
> The real question here is: Are the rules that you've established themselves fair? ...
I've replied over at Psycho-Babble Administration:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20040902/msgs/385696.html
Bob
Posted by JenStar on September 2, 2004, at 13:03:01
In reply to Re: Hey Atticus what do you think of..... » Jai Narayan, posted by Atticus on September 1, 2004, at 10:54:55
hi Atticus,
I'm sorry you're feeling down in a depressive spiral. I hope you feel better soon! :)Please don't let the board rules get to you. You're such an integral part of the board "scene" -- it would suck to see you leave (personal choice or block).
For what it's worth, here's my advice:
Take a deep breath, get yourself a favorite beverage (do you like those bottled caramel flavored Starbucks thingies? They're AWESOME), and repeat after me: "I am Atticus and I am a cool person and lots of people like me and I am NOT going to let this board get to me!"Take care. I know my advice might be silly but honestly I care about you & hope you're feeling well.
JenStar
PS - I know my quote there sounded a bit Stuart Smalley-ish...but I meant it nicely! :)
PPS - if you don't know, SS was a character on SNL and he would say "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people LIKE me!" My family made terrible fun of this, but whenever I was feeling down, my Mom would say it to me and we'd laugh and laugh together and usually I'd end up feeling better...
This is the end of the thread.
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