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FactionallyDefinedTerm

A factionally defined term is one that two factions (see FactionsAndDemocracy?), cliques (see CliquesAndCommunity?) have failed to reconcile into one definition, but each insists on applying in their own way.

Example

For example, the term “troll” or “trolling”, on the page AssumeGoodFaith, has two different and irreconcilable definitions. In the classical view, held by sysops and dominant cliques everywhere, trolling is “deliberately” or “inherently” disruptive, an assessment of intent that can only be made by the rulers themselves or those they trust already.

In the opposing TrollingIsGood philosophy, held usually by new users with no status at all, advancing a NewTrollPointOfView which is not popular with the dominant clique, it is assumed that no such assessment of intent could ever be fairly made. Accordingly, to them, “trolling” simply means “participating in a way likely to yield a response or provoke thought” which may well simply mean “participating”.

Another example may well be the term “please”. To some it signals an actual request to do something voluntarily. To others, it signals a threat, an intent to actually enforce or sanction someone for not following the “requested” protocol. It usually requires processing side signals and clues to determine in which sense the term “please” is being used. For instance, on the AssumeGoodFaith page, the two irreconcilable opinions are not treated as equals and contrasted in a neutral page, but rather marked “DeletedPage” and the superiority of the sysop or dominant clique view asserted in the “discussion” presumably prefacing the total deletion of the opposing view. This signals that participation is not to be rewarded and especially not if even trivial or unenforceable rules are already being violated and even if these rules have nothing whatsoever to do with the content in debate.

Do you have any examples that do not involve you specifically?

EditNearLinks: PatrickAnderson

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