Threading the Needle (Thoughts on Staying on Topic and Not Ticking Anyone Off )
but it was a little long
I'll step carefully here because it seems the topic is a particularly sensitive one to some. I'm trying to understand the recent spate of locked and moved threads.
I'm offering this in the spirit of open dialogue and constructive criticism. Please accept it as such and respond in kind.
For those of you who may have seen my earlier posts you may think I am argumentative and difficult. I'm not really. My mom likes me and I usually play well with others. It's just that I grew up in a large Irish Catholic family and we just love to argue.
ok, that said, here goes...
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"Letting", "allowed" and "discouraged" are among the words I've seen associated with locking or moving threads. The words are not very well defined so the reason for administrative action are sometimes vague and difficult to understand.
My observation is that what is "allowed" and not "allowed" is as well defined as it is with the FCC. (and NO Howard Stern is not the only one with issues, just ask CBS, NBC, ClearChannel and other broadcast corporations). One significant difference is that LG15 can't (not that they wouldn't) fine you millions of dollars for a misstep.
If you were just using numbers your first guess would be that the higher the number of posts the more likely it is the thread will be moved, locked or "snipped".
That can't possibly be the reason. It is in fact, only the result.
What I think is really happening is - and this is kind of cool - the longer a thread is active the more likely it is that the conversation will evolve and in that evolution the contributors discover that the original thesis has seeded deeper thoughts.
In philosophy this is known as the dialectic. Wikipedia offers a fair deinition of the word/conversational method.
In classical philosophy, dialectic (Greek: διαλεκτική) is an exchange of propositions (theses) and counter-propositions (antitheses) resulting in a synthesis of the opposing assertions, or at least a qualitative transformation in the direction of the dialogue. It is one of the three original liberal arts or trivium (the other members are rhetoric and grammar) in Western culture. In ancient and medieval times, both rhetoric and dialectic were understood to aim at being persuasive (through dialogue). The aim of the dialectical method, often known as dialectic or dialectics, is to try to resolve the disagreement through rational discussion. One way — the Socratic method — is to show that a given hypothesis (with other admissions) leads to a contradiction; thus, forcing the withdrawal of the hypothesis as a candidate for truth. Another way of trying to resolve a disagreement is by denying some presupposition of the contending thesis and antithesis; thereby moving to a third (syn)thesis.[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialectic
What's the point?
The point is that there is a lot to be gained from these threads that stray from the original thought. Often, inane theories and comments spur some very interesting debates nd come to soem great conclusions. More often, the threads in question create some great entertainment.
Some times peoples feelings get hurt or soemone is offended. C'mon.... An open forum is a bad place for the sensitive and easily offended. I've been offended a few times and I've had my feelings hurt a lot more than that (for instance...I've got some physical issues and my hands cramp up so bad sometimes I can hardly type, there is no spell checker here, and composing, checking, copying and pasting really wrecks my train of thought and sponteneity). With the exception of deliberate slander and liable it's mighty hard to know what is going to hurt or offend who and at what level. I dare say there are some administrative staff whose feelings have been hurt.
Sometimes people get angry. Lucky thing no one is close enough to get hit with a hammer.
It is likely that some are hurt or offended or angry when there thread is locked or their opinions dismissed.
Again, what's the point?
The point is that even though things can get a little rowdy and passionate one chances to loose a lot more than one can hope to gain by stifling any dialogue. As far as trying to protect people versus benefiting form open debate the profit/loss statement skews widely toward letting things go.
Ok...I am so late for work right now. I just had to say my say. I probably got sloppy along the way becasue I'm in such a hurry but "train of thought" and all that
For the record. I really, really, really, really, reallly (is that trite or is it still cute?) like hanging out around here. It's not unlike ata large Irish Catholic family's dinner table. It's better becasue nmo one can throw the potatoes at you! (mashed are a lot easier to take than baked)
Cheers every one.
Slainte Mhath!
(to your Health and Happiness)
P.S. To the person whom I have had some PM words with. I have finally slept on it. My hatchette is buried if you have one for me go ahead and throw it, throw it as hard and straight as you feel you must, and let's be done.
Pax
). Some of these off topic converstations do mutate into very insightful and intelligent threads, but the majority do not. Especially at times like this, when the OpHeads are getting restless (I'm an Op, by the way 
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