[WikiEN-l] Civility poll results

[Ken Arromdee]

I'll pick one small quote from this:

    Why not update the page to reflect that civility isn't a rule you can
    bust someone for breaking, but rather a strategy for dispute resolution
    that you'll eventually be blocked for not applying?

And the answer is: Because it *is* a rule you can bust someone for breaking.  

It's a problem that happens in lots of places.  The rules are stupid if
literally followed, and they're easily abused.  But the system is set up to
give rules that power.  Being stupid works; abusing rules works.  As long as
it works, it will continue to happen.  Think of it as a form of natural
selection: the rules environment selects for users best able to use the rules
to their own benefit.

And saying "it's not for this, it's just for the exact same thing stated
in a nicer way" is just denial.  There's no difference between "it's
something you can bust people for" and "it's something you can block people
for if they don't follow", except that the latter means you're doing it with
a smile on your face.  They have the exact same effect as far as a user is
concerned.