RussellMc wrote:
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Violence is not our aim here.
Belittling questioners IS of concern and is unacceptable.
Purposeful humiliation as a means of education is unacceptable here.
Seeking to drive people away from the list, or being satisfied that it
is a good outcome if it occurs is not how we seek to do things here.

How say you, gentlemen?
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

In the Soviet Union, there was an institutionalized practice of public=20
shaming ("community pressure", they called it). If you had some character=20
flaw, say you were a drunkard or a hooligan or you didn't want to volunteer=
=20
to harvest potatos for the benefit of the state, you would be brought in=20
front of a community meeting where your neighbors would take turns to try t=
o=20
guilt you into changing your behavior. This took place everywhere, from=20
elementary schools to factories. If you misbehaved in some way, you could=20
also expect to see your face on a poster titled "Shame on Russell McMahon!"=
=20
followed by a short paragraph describing your misconduct. The practice=20
enjoyed limited success, but there were always those stubborn people who=20
continued to be alcoholics, hooligans, and materialists.

Many people agree that Olin can be a jerk sometimes. Most people agree that=
=20
being a jerk is not an acceptable form of behavior. Everyone knows that Oli=
n=20
will never change his views or his behavior in response to community=20
pressure. Yet time and time again we attempt the same thing, expecting a=20
different result.

There are only two solutions that will work, without turning the PICList=20
into a police state.

1. "Sticks and stones may break my bones (but words will never hurt me)."=20
Let Olin be a jerk, and let Rolf explain to the victim that Olin is being a=
=20
jerk. Let the victim tell Olin that he's a jerk. If you don't like Olin, se=
t=20
up a mail filter. Don't like a thread, don't read it.

2. Simple & well defined rules, with consistent and transparent enforcement=
..=20
If someone breaks a rule, ban them for a time, and make the fact public.

Back to work...

Vitaliy=20

--=20
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist
.