Actually, I think the only newbies who do not risk being mobbed on Babble are those who are mainstream non-Dipper left.
Though I would agree it is most likely to happen to those who are noticably more left [or right] than the mainstream of Babble opinion.
A lot of the 'right of Babble mainstream' types get quite roughed up too. They dont get roughed up less than you. I think its more that you think they deserve it [and really shouldnt be tolerated here at all], and you dont deserve the rough treatment.
To be fair though, we do have a clear babble policy on what is tolerated on this forum. If someone significantly right of the babble mainstream comes on, it would be difficult for that person to be in agreement with our basis of unity laid out in the policy. For example, if someone posts sexist stuff in violation of the policy, I would hope for and expect there to be a reaction. On the other hand, people to the left of babble mainstream are roughed up just for espousing more critical viewpoints on issues like the role of the NDP - and often, ironically enough, accused of being paid agents of the Conservative (and/or Liberal) Party.
It's funny, before I earned the badge, I was on the receiving end of those kind of accusations genstrike is talking about--I wear my Liberal Shill label with pride. At any rate, it's a struggle to protect those kind of radical opinions, and Rebecca and I will endeavor to give those voices space to develop and speak.
To be fair though, we do have a clear babble policy on what is tolerated on this forum.
A policy, yes. Clear, no.
Unless you think that, for example, a law against "unpatriotic behaviour" would be a "clear" law. I would argue that such a law would be vague -- perhaps even intentionally so -- and open to all manner of interpretation and opportunism.
That's a criticism of the Policy, by the way, not a criticism of the mods' enforcement of it.
A lot of the 'right of Babble mainstream' types get quite roughed up too. They dont get roughed up less than you. I think its more that you think they deserve it [and really shouldnt be tolerated here at all], and you dont deserve the rough treatment.
To be fair though, we do have a clear babble policy on what is tolerated on this forum. If someone significantly right of the babble mainstream comes on, it would be difficult for that person to be in agreement with our basis of unity laid out in the policy. For example, if someone posts sexist stuff in violation of the policy, I would hope for and expect there to be a reaction. On the other hand, people to the left of babble mainstream are roughed up just for espousing more critical viewpoints on issues like the role of the NDP - and often, ironically enough, accused of being paid agents of the Conservative (and/or Liberal) Party.
There are a numbere of the 'right of Babble mainstream' posters who clear all the policy standards- so their getting roughed up more is not for that. So I think my point stands: which is that any member of a smaller gang- be that right, or more left than most Babblers- comes in for an extra share of the hazing that is endemic to Babble share. So you do get more, but otherwise, not unique.
There is no continuum of 'more left / more hazing'. Dippers also come in for a lot of hazing, we're just numerous enough and dish it out too.
I stand by my general point that the degree of hazing is driven by the relative size of the de facto intellectual gang you belong to.
Again: its the Babble hazing that is the problem.
And being part of a smaller 'tendency' accentuates how much one gets. Which I do not like, for what that is worth.
