Big Beautiful Dreamer
ridiculously contented
Dear Hyde Park Residents:
I have been impressed with the relative maturity and civility you displayed in the run-up to the 2010 elections, the potentially volatile December holidays, and the new year.
Most unfortunately, in the six days since the horrible events of last Saturday in Tucson, Arizona, I've seen a marked deterioration in our treatment of one another on these boards.
Many members are clearly striving to not only continue civility but increase their embrace of it, and are trying as well to reach across the aisle, so to speak, and to live up to the examples set by the heroes, living and dead, of that day. I am impressed to see this behavior.
The turmoil of feelings following the shootings, however, have brought out less admirable behavior in others of you on the board. In the last week I have noticed a measurable increase in shrieking, name-calling, and clear violations of the rules requiring basic respect, particularly toward one another's political leanings.
I would suggest that we all, each time we're inclined to post, build in thirty or sixty seconds of pause, take deep breaths, and think about whether what we're about to post will genuinley contribute to engaging and helpful discussion. In the spirit, as I've said, of the behavior of Daniel Hernandez, Gabe Zimmerman, and others, let's bear in mind that we all owe one another basic civility.
We've had as much discussion as I think is helpful about what sociopolitical factors might have borne on Jared Loughner's actions. We cannot and will not know any more for some time, until evaluations and trial activities begin. Let's let that topic go.
Meanwhile, I remain heartened by the efforts of most Hyde Parkers to post and respond with an increased generosity of spirit, and I encourage all of you to look for that and emulate it in your own posts.
Thank you.
--Big Beautiful Dreamer
I have been impressed with the relative maturity and civility you displayed in the run-up to the 2010 elections, the potentially volatile December holidays, and the new year.
Most unfortunately, in the six days since the horrible events of last Saturday in Tucson, Arizona, I've seen a marked deterioration in our treatment of one another on these boards.
Many members are clearly striving to not only continue civility but increase their embrace of it, and are trying as well to reach across the aisle, so to speak, and to live up to the examples set by the heroes, living and dead, of that day. I am impressed to see this behavior.
The turmoil of feelings following the shootings, however, have brought out less admirable behavior in others of you on the board. In the last week I have noticed a measurable increase in shrieking, name-calling, and clear violations of the rules requiring basic respect, particularly toward one another's political leanings.
I would suggest that we all, each time we're inclined to post, build in thirty or sixty seconds of pause, take deep breaths, and think about whether what we're about to post will genuinley contribute to engaging and helpful discussion. In the spirit, as I've said, of the behavior of Daniel Hernandez, Gabe Zimmerman, and others, let's bear in mind that we all owe one another basic civility.
We've had as much discussion as I think is helpful about what sociopolitical factors might have borne on Jared Loughner's actions. We cannot and will not know any more for some time, until evaluations and trial activities begin. Let's let that topic go.
Meanwhile, I remain heartened by the efforts of most Hyde Parkers to post and respond with an increased generosity of spirit, and I encourage all of you to look for that and emulate it in your own posts.
Thank you.
--Big Beautiful Dreamer
