Marc Riddell wrote:
The very idea of reforming people, whether through personal command in a small community or elaborate policies in a large one is what makes that community impersonal.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by this one, but to reform (or, better, re form) anyone into something someone else thinks they ought to be - is to engage in robotics.
I'm glad to clarify what I meant. In a small community there remains a tactical practicality in addressing people individually when you want to boss them into doing what you want, and thus to "reform" them. In a large community the tactic shifts to policy writing, but the effect is the same.
Doc appears to see the difference as substantive, while I see it as tactical.
Ec