On Fri, Feb 6, 2009 at 10:58 AM, Marc Riddell
<michaeldavid86(a)comcast.net>wrote;wrote:
> [snip]
> With that in mind, I am proposing the following:
>
> A guideline (or "rule" if you want) stating, Do not make any statement in
a
> discussion that does not contribute constructively towards the advancement
> of that discussion. And that, any statement found in a discussion by
> another
> reader of that discussion that does not contribute constructively towards
> the advancement of that discussion be challenged immediately, openly and
> directly.
>
> This will take time, patience, and probably involve a bit of controversy.
> But with this very clear, direct approach a culture will be created. A
> culture of fairness and civility that will be the signature culture of the
> Wikipedia Project.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Marc Riddell
>
on 2/6/09 11:33 AM, Chad at innocentkiller(a)gmail.com wrote:
It will never work. What's constructive? Who decides what's constructive?
Is calling someone a troll constructive? What if they really are trolling?
Is it constructive when I repeat a point I've already made? What if you just
disagree with me, could you then challenge my points as being non-
constructive since they aren't right?
Such a system requires common sense. We wouldn't be in this mess if
people had common sense to begin with.
"It will never work." ? That's a pretty solid wall you've put
up, Chad.
The key phrase in your message is "common sense". And I don't believe the
term "constructive" needs to be endlessly defined here. This is a
collaboration and not a court of law. I believe the majority of editors in
the Project possess enough of a sense to be able to determine whether a
statement is constructive, i.e., helps build upon what's been said toward a
reasonable conclusion and one that serves only to be an obstacle, a
distraction to that construction. I am asking reasonable, intelligent
persons to make reasonably intelligent judgments here. I believe we are
capable of that.
As for "calling someone a troll"; we shouldn't be calling anyone anything.
Marc