Gentleman's Agreement--the see-saw
Posted: March 17th, 2009, 1:36 pm
Yes, I have a creative complaint.
I think that is low-yo-yo for people to make a post on a thread and then go back and delete it. It destroys the continuity of the thread. It renders other comments meaningless. It also borders on the sneaky and dishonest.
The see-saw is the cleanest metaphor on the playground. It's the physical expression of things like trust and cooperation. When someone deletes their comments in a conversation, it's the moral equivalent of getting off the see-saw when your partner is on the high end. If you've ever had this happen to you, you'll know what I mean.
But a complaint is worthless (or simply annoying) unless there is a solution offered.
I propose that there be a ceasefire on deletions. A gentlman's agreement. We won't destroy the continuity of a thread simply because we are embarrassed by something that we said. If it's going to embarrass you, just don't say it. It's such a Monday morning quarterback thing to do when you go back and change or delete something that you have said. The solution is to continue the conversation until there is resolution, which might be a clarification of what you said or an apology or retraction. But to delete the post (or a whole series of posts) just renders the whole purpose of 'discussion' farcical.
I think that is low-yo-yo for people to make a post on a thread and then go back and delete it. It destroys the continuity of the thread. It renders other comments meaningless. It also borders on the sneaky and dishonest.
The see-saw is the cleanest metaphor on the playground. It's the physical expression of things like trust and cooperation. When someone deletes their comments in a conversation, it's the moral equivalent of getting off the see-saw when your partner is on the high end. If you've ever had this happen to you, you'll know what I mean.
But a complaint is worthless (or simply annoying) unless there is a solution offered.
I propose that there be a ceasefire on deletions. A gentlman's agreement. We won't destroy the continuity of a thread simply because we are embarrassed by something that we said. If it's going to embarrass you, just don't say it. It's such a Monday morning quarterback thing to do when you go back and change or delete something that you have said. The solution is to continue the conversation until there is resolution, which might be a clarification of what you said or an apology or retraction. But to delete the post (or a whole series of posts) just renders the whole purpose of 'discussion' farcical.
