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I Hereby Declare the Peter (Robinson) Principle
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Friends, this election season has seemed …. interminable. The highs, the lows, the lower lows … a lot has happened, and it’s only just beginning. I realize that a situation like this arouses passions and you’ll find no more argumentative or stubborn person on Ricochet than myself.
Lately there have been more fissures within our little community here at Ricochet than usual. And that’s fine. It’s more than fine, it’s a good thing. I happen to think that Ricochet is boring when we all agree with each other.
However, a problem comes when these fissures are accompanied by acrimony. And there’s been lots of acrimony lately. Despite all our differences, it’s important to remember that we’re all on the same team. Not the Republican team, or the conservative team, or even the center-right team. We’re all on the Ricochet team. We’re all members of the same community. (And to anyone who doesn’t know yet, yes, this is most certainly a community.)
So we’re clear: I’m not telling anyone to not express their unpopular opinions. I welcome controversial posts (it’s a lot more interesting than Hillary Outrage #4069). But it’s important that when we disagree with each other, we do so respectfully.
To wit, I’d like to offer a useful guideline.
Our beloved founder Peter Robinson is a gentle and decent person. The English language has many colorful synonyms for the human posterior, but if were you to use anything stronger than the word “hiney” in his presence, there is a non-zero probability that the man would plotz. (And I don’t mean to ridicule the man. He is a light of decency in an indecent world. Would that I were able to be so.)
My suggestion is this: When you’re arguing with someone, it helps if you pretend the person you’re arguing with is Peter Robinson. (And the bigger the disagreement, the more inflamed the passions, the more you should apply this rule.) It’s not just about not cursing someone else, it’s about assuming good faith on their part.
And it’s entirely possible Peter Robinson is reading what you say. Do you want him to read you saying something unpleasant to someone else? And it’s not just Peter, lots of impressive people read Ricochet. (Trust me, I know!) Do you want to have said certain things in front of them?
And know that, if you seek to persuade, your target audience isn’t just the person you’re disagreeing with, it’s everyone else who is reading what you say. Before commenting, ask if you want to represent your side the way you’re about to.
If you, individually, maintain that level of civility and dignity, in both your argument and your prose, then nobody will be able to flag anything you say. And if we all did that, then … wow.
Now, I realize that 99% of Ricochet members never get flagged for violating the Code of Conduct. But many of us have been tempted, from time to time, to say things we shouldn’t. The Peter Principle isn’t meant as a condemnation or a scold, just as an entirely voluntary guideline to help make things even more civil around here.
And while we don’t always agree, we should at least be friends. And barring that, we should at least be civil to one another. Because that’s the whole point, right? That’s why we’re here. This isn’t supposed to be a sewer. Let everywhere else be the sewer, this is Ricochet. We’re better than that.
Published in General
There’s a generational gap? Between who and who?
Millennials and Boomers. Duh.
Not many millennials, much to the despair of Ricochet Long Range Marketing. Plenty of Boomers, yes, but plenty of X-ers, probably a plurality. Like Rob.
See, I’m not either of those. In fact, there’s a whole cohort of us who aren’t Boomers or Millennials.
I’d be interested in knowing the age and gender breakdown of members. Just for fun.
Max??
I’m curious about the generational gap you perceive and the differences you see between Boomers and others.
You first.
And which is the group that enjoys extensive acrimony?
Hipsters. Always Hipsters.
I don’t see any generational gap.
I do. I’m a Boomer and you must self-identify before I cross swords. I always like to know with whom I’m dealing.
I am Gen X. I have not noticed a generational gap, but that may be because I do not know the generation of many of the people here.
Actually, I’m curious to hear your observations without you know. Your observations should be independent of how old you think I am.
Recovering hipster jackasses. Guilty as charged.
No. Way.
I have just posted a method of resolving these disputes outside of the flagging mechanism. No need to thank me.
It’s true. I do read Ricochet.
Often even before commenting.
I’ll do my part if those pointy-headed twits will.
I thought the meaning was clear.
Now, I realize that 99% of Ricochet members never get flagged for violating the Code of Conduct.
That’s because some of us belong to Spectre.
The fall of man would be reversed and all thing would be made new.
Yay! Free Fresh Apples!
[DELETED EMBEDDED YO MAMMA VIDEO CLIP WHICH MESSES UP FORMATTING]
Oh, I am having a really hard time with this thread. First, I got “acrimony” and “agrimony” all mixed up, then I saw these comments, and couldn’t understand why I didn’t think they were at all funny.
Eventually, I realized it was because you weren’t talking about a world-renowned cellist.
Ooh, playing the dozens on Ricochet. That’s intriguing.
If you were going to use an old monochrome picture of Peter to illustrate this post you should have chosen the one on Wikipedia.
I guess if you’re going to be remembered for what you did in the Reagan White House, the world should see you in the Reagan White House.
He is also, by Google’s reckoning, a real person.
But Fred, I pretend the people I am arguing with are you. Wearing a sun dress.
Lovely yellow print, by the way. Really sets off your eyes.
You are so wrong. “most of us” may well be a smaller minority than you would like to imagine. Even Peggy Noonan has woken up.
My excuse for this, my latest outrage, is that I’ve been at the beach for four days and have lost all perspective.
Ugh, you and the yellow dress again!