Following rules (was Re: [PLUG-TALK] Reading, Ragheads, Assholes, and Viruses)

[gepr at tempusdictum.com]

Chuck Mize writes:
 > I don't disagree with you but he insists on posting his opinions on
 > religion, politics and pornography on the main PLUG list after asked
 > several times to post those topics to PLUG-TALK. He has never once
 > indicated that he understood that request and his actions show that he has
 > not heeded the advice. If he would just do that I think a lot of the ichor
 > and acid would disappear...

Yeah, I know.  The interesting thing is how much chaos this community
will tolerate.  Obviously, this group tolerates alot.  And I, for one,
will try not to abuse that because it is _very_ rare to find such a
tolerant community.  The more PLUG is abused, the more it will be
forced to clamp down on rule enforcement, thereby making it less
interesting (in my opinion).

So, I can't stand it when people continue to post to OT threads on 
the main list.  But, my only recourse is:

a) I prevent myself from participating in OT threads on the main list,
   which includes contributing to the thread by posting "stop this 
   thread" messages [grin], and

b) allow others to use their own judgement about what OT threads
   can/should persist on the main list.

Beyond that, any extra electronic ink and many people's time is
just wasted.

A friend of mine got his PhD studying on-line communities, what they
tolerate, what they don't, etc.  I don't actually think very highly of
anthropology as a science (no offense); but, one insight he pointed
out is extremely poignant: Most online clashes seem to just disappear
if the people involved actually meet face-to-face periodically.

I immediately recognized this fact after he'd said it, even though I'd
been a member of mailing lists and newsgroups (some of which met 
in the flesh periodically and some of which didn't) and saw the same
pattern.  It's still a mystery to me why the same words and concepts
are received so differently between the two media.

Yeah, yeah, I understand about non-verbal communication and body
language and, even, neuro-linguistic programming.  But, it's really a
deep and fascinating phenomenon.  The same rules just don't apply and
it's not at all a matter of scaling (more channels in face-to-face
versus fewer channels in email).  It's enough to make one believe in 
ESP or pheromones. [grin]

-- 
glen e. p. ropella              =><=                           Hail Eris!
H: 503.630.4505                              http://www.ropella.net/~gepr
M: 971.219.3846                               http://www.tempusdictum.com