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All is Vanity
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Title: One Possible Solution to 4um's Bozo Controversy
Source: [None]
URL Source: [None]
Published: May 10, 2008
Author: Me
Post Date: 2008-05-10 17:58:01 by Arator
Keywords: Bozos, Controversy, Solution
Views: 5937
Comments: 136

I have recently become aware of a recent 4um controversy that has apparently caused a schism in the forum and I would like to offer one possible solution to the problem for the forum to consider.

On the one hand, bozoing inhibits exchanges between posters (and might be abused via registration of fake ID's just to run up the bozo count on targeted posters and make them think that they are more generally disliked than they really are).

On the other hand, bozoing allow users to disassociate themselves from posters who they would rather not be associated with (for whatever reason).

Christine recently opted to balance these two goods by lowering the per-poster bozo count to 10 (believing that this would encourage more interaction and discourage bozo abuses via fake IDs, while still allowing a reasonable freedom to disassociate). Unfortunately, posters who had had more than 10 posters bozo'ed could no long disassociate with the number of posters that they wished to as a result and opted instead to disassociate themselves from the forum entirely.

So, the basic problem is this: can the forum allow users to disassociate themselves from other posters as they like while, at the same time, serve its purpose, which is to foster free and open exchanges between posters who do not necessarily agree politically?

I think the answer might be yes, if, that is, the forum's poster-to-poster interactions were more like real life.

As it stands now, the forums' interactions are not like real life because bozoing is cheap for the bozoer and of weak effect on the bozoed. This is so because, unlike real life, the persons being bozoed do not know who is bozoing them. This fact greatly diminishes the social repercussions of bozoing and being bozoed.

In real life, on the other hand, if someone choose to not speak to (or associate with) someone else, both parties know it. Hence, for the bozoer, there are social consequences (or costs) to disassociating that must be considered (as well as the benefits). And for the bozoed, the costs of being disassociated from are fully known and weighed against the benefits of continuing their present mode of social interaction, allowing them to adjust their behavior accordingly (or not).

If 4um operated more like a real life, posters would know exactly who was bozoing them. This would eliminate the incentive for some to inflate bozo-counts via the registration of fake IDs, since the bozoed would then know that they were being falsely bozoed. This would also result in an optimal level of disassociation (and forum interaction) because:

1) the bozoers would bear the full social costs (as well as receive the benefits) of disassociation, and

2) the bozoed would know the full social costs (as well as the benefits) of their own posting behavior, and could moderate their behavior accordingly.

In sum, I suggest that the number of bozos be unlimited but that the bozo'd know not just the bozo count but also exactly who has bozoed them. I would also keep PM communications open between the bozoer and the bozoed, because, in real life, even those who have disassociated have the possibility of changing their mode of relating and reassociating later on a better basis. These changes I believe would lead to an optimal level of forum interaction (and disassociation).


Poster Comment:

What do ya think?

Post Comment   Private Reply   Ignore Thread  


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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 52.

#1. To: christine, Jethro Tull, aristeides, Robin, Red Jones (#0)

For your consideration.

Arator  posted on  2008-05-10   17:58:52 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#9. To: Arator (#1)

Yes, that's a solid answer, as was Vast's (rolling them off after time). The problem was that some here used the bozo as a rating system, similar to LFs dopey rating system. Let the cowards and sock puppets ID themselves if they choose to avoid conflict. Of course, I still choose to toss the bloody thing in the can all together, but god forbid some here don't get the "pleasant experience" they pay for :)

Jethro Tull  posted on  2008-05-10   18:14:41 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#11. To: Jethro Tull (#9)

Social behavior becomes null and void once a person can hide.

Do away with the bozo, learn to ignore or look for a forum that meets ones taste..

The "NEW" forum is already throwing people out, thrown by the worst bozoers of all. Hypocrites.

Cynicom  posted on  2008-05-10   18:19:59 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#17. To: Cynicom (#11)

The "NEW" forum is already throwing people out, thrown by the worst bozoers of all. Hypocrites.

This 4UM is just right the way it is ... I don't care who bozoes me ...

noone222  posted on  2008-05-10   18:25:39 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#21. To: noone222 (#17) (Edited)

This 4UM is just right the way it is ... I don't care who bozoes me ...

I agree. My count has always hovered around two and I couldn't care less. At least in the sense that it makes me mad. A hight count would indicate that I'm doing something wrong. I think one guy who has me is a dead guy who has been there years. Not sure who the other is and I don't care.

...  posted on  2008-05-10   18:27:39 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#24. To: ... (#21)

Same thing. Last time I checked, I had 3 who didn't want to hear from me. It does not anger me and I don't feel like I should know who they are.

If I saw that 15 or 20 or 10 found me unworthy, I would give it some thought and begin thinking that maybe there is something uncool about my online presence.

a vast rightwing conspirator  posted on  2008-05-10   18:30:27 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#35. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#24)

If I saw that 15 or 20 or 10 found me unworthy, I would give it some thought and begin thinking that maybe there is something uncool about my online presence.

That's why I like the function. I pay attention to it. If you are here to reach people then it is the best feedback you have.

If your count shoots up, then you should take a long, hard look at what you're doing here. A high count indicates: (1) You piss people off, (2) You're probably hurting your cause, and (3) You're wasting your time.

People like FOH consider a record high bozo count to be a badge of honor. He actually posted this today. But that is simply stupid beyond belief. He's got an objective record that says he's failing and he crows about it on the board.

And recall that until a couple of weeks ago, the 4um view mirrored the larger national view very closely. This has changed with some of the LP newcomers such as FOH and Mud, but it is still close enough to say that if it doesn't work here, it doesn't work in real life.

...  posted on  2008-05-10   18:37:03 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#38. To: ... (#35)

If your count shoots up, then you should take a long, hard look at what you're doing here. A high count indicates: (1) You piss people off, (2) You're probably hurting your cause, and (3) You're wasting your time.

You might be telling the very painful truth .... maybe !

noone222  posted on  2008-05-10   18:39:11 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#45. To: noone222 (#38)

If your count shoots up, then you should take a long, hard look at what you're doing here. A high count indicates: (1) You piss people off, (2) You're probably hurting your cause, and (3) You're wasting your time.

You might be telling the very painful truth .... maybe !

Actually, it works equally well in reverse.

Peppa  posted on  2008-05-10   18:43:02 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#46. To: Peppa (#45) (Edited)

(Edit: I like the idea of knowing exactly which commies and other flakes have bozoed me, but I have a pretty good idea without such functionality)

I'm right this moment on 15 filters and I'm LOVIN it...;)

FOH  posted on  2008-05-10   18:44:17 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#48. To: FOH (#46)

I'm right this moment on 15 filters and I'm LOVIN it...;)

Yes, but the 15 who filtered you out don't know it and, possibly, couldn't care less.

a vast rightwing conspirator  posted on  2008-05-10   18:45:16 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#52. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#48)

Yes, but the 15 who filtered you out don't know it and, possibly, couldn't care less.

And...so ?

FOH  posted on  2008-05-10   18:46:33 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


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