Kirk here looking back on things that happened on this page in 2021 with some thoughts about how to move forward in 2022.
As those of you who read the page regularly have surely noticed, there was a good deal of friction about editorial policy in 2021. I was sorry to see things become acrimonious at times and to see editors leave the page but I felt that everyone involved was motivated by a sincere interest in making the page better. In other words, even when I saw people at loggerheads, I felt that those involved were trying to do what was right or appropriate but that they just had different ideas about what that would mean in practice.
One suggestion I have for 2022 is to assume goodwill. Even if someone (me, another editor, or a commenter) has written something that you find to be irritating, inappropriate, or just plain wrong in in some way, assuming that the person meant well might make it easier to respond kindly, even when you need to point out a problem or concern.
I should be upfront and say that I haven’t always been able to practice what I preach in this regard. There have been many occasions in the over two-decade history of this forum in which my emotions have gotten the better of me and I’ve responded to situations in ways that I regret. So, what I’ve written here is as much a reminder to myself as it is a suggestion to other participants.
I’ll post a few more thoughts I have about issues that came up in 2021 in the coming days.