- Joined
- Mar 31, 2012
- Messages
- 3,367
One of my favorite movies is 12 Angry Men. It is a little ham-fisted and the characters are stock rather than real, but as a morality play on the jury system it doesn't get much more illustrative, concise, and compelling.
The first reaction of any human comes from prejudice. Prejudices are natural defenses against real dangers, but they are often wrongly directed. When you mix in a process that is inherently prejudicial -- voting for a desired object, activity, political candidate, etc. -- then it is even harder for people to curb their prejudicial reactions. Some people try and learn from their mistakes, but whether people try to learn or not, other people, like Juror #8 in 12 Angry Men, have to be there to step in and be willing to take abuse, suffer social scorn, and still stand up for the process of decision-making in a free society.
I think the moderators do a fine job of allowing members to help one another recognize when they've crossed the line until it becomes apparent that the ones interacting have lost their own composure or self-restraint and need an authority to step in.
I realize that the process of creating and buying a forum knife is a minor experience in the grand scheme of things, but it partakes in some of the foundational aspects of a free association of men and women. There are times when I really wish our living social systems operated more like an online forum where people could hash things out face-to-face with experienced moderators keeping the peace.
There is something humanizing about being able to argue passionately for one's own beliefs or viewpoints with another human being and walk away with mutual respect. The online form removes some of the natural inhibitions that face-to-face interaction produces in most people (though it avoids the physical altercations that can sometimes result!), but I have been more surprised and encouraged by the cohesiveness community of the Porch than I have been shocked at some of the overreactions.
Well said.
