I have been trying for a few days to reconcile two views of mine: first, that I don't particularly care about incivility, and second, that I support Markos's active foray into moderation. The discussion in blue jersey mom's recent diary reacting to that new moderation has helped me to clarify my thinking on the subject. Ultimately, the problem is not incivility at all; rather it is the ugly substance that tends to lurk underneath.
Markos has reserved the right to be arbitrary in his new moderation engagement. That is his right, and I respect it. So far as I have seen, I have no particular objection to any of the decisions he has made in the past few days. I see from blue jersey mom's diary that there is some disagreement on this point. In the comments Markos is accused of a particular inconsistency that goes to the heart of the point I wish to make in this diary.
Several weeks ago, Markos announced his reaction to Meteor Blades's leave of absence. This was a sensitive subject for many of us, because Meteor Blades has always been an individual worthy of the highest respect. The overwhelming sentiment of the community was that Meteor Blades was to be respected in his decision to step away, and that he did not owe the community any explanation beyond that he wished to give us. A small subset of individuals disagreed and demanded more information. The notion underlying these demands was, in my view, highly offensive. Several members and staff attempted to communicate just how offensive these demands were in a civil way, but were essentially ignored. Finally brooklynbadboy dropped the civility and, in a "dickish" way, told one individual to "[s]hut the fuck up and mind your fuckin business."
I shared his sentiment in full, and so did Markos. Indeed, I called those objecting to brooklynbadboy's tone the "civility police".
I think Markos's reaction here and in his new moderation can be easily reconciled: the people now supposedly being subject to punishment for "dickish" behavior are actually being punished for ugly underlying behavior (that is, racism or unfounded accusations of racism). Markos's express words about "dickishness" conceal this distinction, but I think it is the operating principle, and I think it is quite right.