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Guidelines are there so moderators and posters alike don't feel threatened.
All right, I misspoke. Guidelines are broadly applicable generalisations which save you from having to consider the power-relationships and personal dynamics of the board every time you post, because they represent the codification of an analysis of those considerations. People use them and apply them so that, amongst other things, they know what hierarchies and conventions are in place and therefore they know what is an is not appropriate behaviour. From this they know what to expect and how to act.
The point is that I believe we should consider our posts in the light of power dynamics and the board in general.
If there's no trust on this board it's because people aren't certain of their own roles.
I'd say it was partly because one group (A) believes that a second group (B) tacitly polices views and opinions, and will exert social pressure to stigmatise competing and opposed viewpoints, while group (B) believes that (A) members are misinformed, misguided, or ill-intentioned. In fact, you might say people are all too certain of their own roles.
Yes but nothing's clearly defined- what's abuse, how far do you listen to someone and how gentle do we have to be?
That's always going to depend on circumstances and individual judgements. And yes, that means there will be mis-judgements, but that's okay, too. These are questions which are absolutely fundamental to social organisation, by the way.
Look at the threads in music at the moment... where's the abuse? Yes people are disagreeing and few agree with Radiator but it's hardly an attack. [...] The first thing that happens that really strikes a weird chord in me is the fact that Flux and Flyboy are accused of being in some mega war against a less prominent poster in The Strokes thread.
In the context of that discussion, I tend to agree. I don't think either of them was being particularly mean. No guideline could have caught that one, Anna. It's possible that the combination of the two looks like more than it is.
But even when Radiator says things that seem ridiculous to me because to a small extent I agree with him, do I have to tread lightly because I'm also a moderator and post a lot instead of saying 'look this is just wrong'?
It depends. What do you think will work? I'm not a big fan of "this is ridiculous". A clear in-thread statement from Fluz and Flyboy individually saying "this is not what I intended" might help. Is that potentially humiliating and annoying for them? Yes, of course it is. But sooner or later, someone has to be the grown-up, take the bullet, and make it all better.
My suggestion remains: if in doubt, be generous. You can afford to make it clear that you mean no harm. In a serious thread, take the time to make a reasonable, well-referenced post. In a more casual one, try to avoid the appearance of ganging up on someone. I've been the class punchbag on and off-board. It doesn't inspire you to come back. |
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