Daniel R. Tobias wrote:
On 20 Oct 2007 at 20:48:48 -0700, "Steven Walling" steven.walling@gmail.com wrote:
For a long time, civility and WikiLove have been rhetoric without any force behind them, or at least the force of a block. Perhaps it's time for admins to step up to the plate more when it comes to trolls who dance around the letter of the law to stick around.
Your first impression makes more sense to me. Love isn't something you can gain by force or threat of it. Fear, yes, and maybe compliance, but not love.
Well, that's not precisely true.
I agree you can't force people to be loving. But force is sometimes necessary to create a space where people can build trust, which is a cornerstone of a loving community.
It's tricky, though. People tend to give what they get, so being tough can rebound on you. Especially if you're in a rush. Force misapplied or poorly explained can quickly undermine the trust you're looking to create.
William