it doesn't matter who wrote:an area designed to show examples of inappropriate posting.
My opinion follows. May not be politically correct or even appropriate, but oh well.
"Appropriate" and "inappropriate" are judgments that have very different meanings in every possible context. I can't even imagine having a written-down set of rules of what is "appropriate," nor do I see it as being useful except by people who have a huge need to control how things are said, when and by whom. Isn't the playa a place of inclusion, not exclusion?
Think of eplaya forums as little conference rooms filled with talking people. Sure, someone could come in and start screaming about something off-topic with obnoxious cursing or whatever it is that makes his/her words "inappropriate" for that room.
Should the management of the conference room center be summoned to discipline the person? Should everyone be forced to read, initial and sign a document saying they knew the rules before they came here? Or could the community just say "Hey, we're talking in here, take that over to the FUCK thread!" or "It might make more sense to take that rant over to the thread on xxyyzz because they can actually help you with it."
Or even: "Boy, you sound really upset about something that doesn't have anything to do with what's going on here. Can I help you in some way? Send me a PM!" Or you could say: "That posting was inappropriate and off topic. Get out of here." One would be the playa way, one would not -- right?
And what if someone brutalizes another in writing? Really hurts that person? Then the brutalizer should probably be chastised, but more importantly the person hurt could be supported and enveloped in love that makes the brute irrelevant.
I think the best enforcement of someone being inappropriate would be to ignore that person's posting, just go on with the day.
I've heard disparaging remarks about people who go to Burning Man for the "wrong reasons," like just to party and dance and whoop it up. But maybe that's the reason they went, what they wanted, what they asked for, what they got -- or didn't get.
It isn't the community's responsibility to make sure everyone gets the "right things" out of BM. Maybe someone doesn't WANT the same experience as you. So what? You can invite, cajole, beg people to participate in ways you find "correct" or "appropriate" but you can't force it, nor can I envision a fair way to enforce rules like that! Do I only get punished if someone complains that I'm being inappropriate? What if I am inappropriate in my own tent, am I obliged to go tell you that I was?
Sure, the group can charge an entry fee and insist on cleanup, insist that no one abuse another, touch them without permission, destroy property or certain other black/white rules. But everything else is gray!
The same is true online. Since the first days of BBSs, folks have been concerned, upset and provoked by flame wars. Communities falter and dissolve over online arguments sometimes. People come and go from groups because of it. But the strength of an online community remains with the people who post in it, not the people who set up the software to run the darn thing.
You might define this as an "inappropriate" post because I disagree about setting down rules of appropriateness. I just think that idea is laudable in its desire to keep things neat and clean. But in reality, that's not life, it's not the way things work and it comes down to being silly and uneforcable. I mean, what happens if I'm inappropriate? I guess I'll find out ...
Kristine
