C.E.R.B.
THE PROS AND CONS
20 July 2088by Shanon for CVN
As the time draws closer to the full implementation of the Citizens Equity Review Board (C.E.R.B.), questions were asked of citizens of Cybertown: What are the Pros and Cons of the C.E.R.B.? The positives clearly are meeting the goals set forth in creating C.E.R.B.; the negatives are possible abuse of the C.E.R.B. system by unscrupulous citizens.
CVN went to the Colonies and asked individual citizens what they felt were the Pros and Cons of C.E.R.B. Many replied and many were silent. However throughout the Colonies, the theme remained the same: Pros: C.E.R.B. is a good idea, good for many reasons; and, the Cons: in addition to the possibility of being manipulated or abused, it is also time consuming to uphold. Why can C.E.R.B. be time consuming? C.E.R.B. can be time consuming because each case is reviewed on an individual basis: carefully reviewed to ensure that the appeals process is carried though in the most equitable manner.
Below, four of Cybertown’s many citizens speak of the Pros and Cons of C.E.R.B. MauveCat, Colony Deputy of Colony Virtual World, eloquently voices his views, followed by two Neighbourhood Deputies: Mr. Poirot, Senior Neighbourhood Deputy of Metaverse, and TomanCreed, Neighbourhood Deputy and Chief Trainer of Metaverse; and finally StormWulf, Block Leader of Metazania.
MauveCat on the Pros of C.E.R.B. speaks eloquently from a legal standpoint
C.E.R.B. allows situations to be dealt with in civilized manner. Most CLs will be very careful about responding to messages placed on the Message Boards because unsubstantiated posts can be left; anything can be said and no one knows whether or not it is true. For this reason, message boards are not the best way for the truth to be told. C.E.R.B will be better.MauveCat on the Cons of C.E.R.B
C.E.R.B can be misused. Additionally, information unrelated to the matter may be introduced with the express purpose of embarrassing others.CVN’s next citizen contact is SND of Metaverse, Mr. Poirot
Mr. Poirot on the Pros of C.E.R.B.
Well I have not read up on it. It is basically a program to give everyone the same equal rights and a fair go. It is a means of finding out both sides of a story. C.E.R.B. seems something to get to the bottom of the story: to find out both sides and what actually happened.Mr. Poirot on the Cons of C.E.R.B.
Cons? Bad things? Aside from C.E.R.B., needing to take time to review or mediate what could be heated arguments, I don’t see any cons. None that I can see.Additionally, CVN’s spoke with citizen ND and Chief Trainer of Metaverse, TomanCreed
TomanCreed on the Pros of C.E.R.B.
The Mayor, City Council, and Cybertown are trying to make things better.
TomanCreed on the Cons of C.E.R.B.“There is a fine line to walk with all the fluff.” * In other words, it is very hard to be objective on subjective matters. C.E.R.B. will have to be careful not to be manipulated.
* [CVN note: The "There is a fine line to walk with all the fluff' is in reference to a CERB message on the message board. Heaven knows there is lots of fluff and fun on the boards - it is not in reference to the Pros and Cons of CERB. Shanon, CVN would like to apologize to any readers and to ND TomanCreed Chief Trainer who may have thought that it referred to our CVN ongoing important discussion on CERB pros/cons.]
CVN’s fourth and final citizen contact is BL Metazania StormWulf’s views.
StormWulf
Kewl, it’s a great idea! Personally, I do like the idea and what they stand for. I think C.E.R.B. will work for the benefit of CT.
MauveCat said, “there have been several attempts in the past to install an appeals system, and they have fallen short; not on the ideals of the people involved, but on how it was carried out.
It is telling that the Mayor and others who know intimately the other [failed] attempts support this new effort. That's how important they feel it is. They know the problems but still feel it should be tried again.”
MauveCat’s Summary of the Pros and Cons of C.E.R.B.:
C.E.R.B. is a better means of telling the truth but it can lead to divisions if misused. You have to be careful about malicious complaints. In other words complaints not really made to clear up matters but done out of spite because someone dislikes someone else.
MauveCat has made very good points: C.E.R.B. is a better addition to the judicial process. The Con is that as in real life there are frivolous lawsuits, in virtual life, there is a potential for malicious people to use C.E.R.B. to cast doubts on the reputations of others. All complaints must be taken seriously but, if C.E.R.B. is to maintain its credibility, the Board has to be careful not to be used as a harassment tool by others. It is a difficult balancing act.
Mr. Poirot’s Summary
C.E.R.B. is one more thing to make our cyber community closer to real life.
TomanCreed’s Summary of the Pros and Cons of C.E.R.B.:
As I mentioned, it would not be right to make any type of assumptions. As Samuel Clemens said, "It is better to be a quiet man and be thought to be dumb, rather than to open ones mouth and erase all doubt." LOL
ND TomanCreed, Chief Trainer of Metaverse who is in the midst of hiring and training when he took time to respond to questions about the Pros and Cons of C.E.R.B. like many, is hopeful regarding the success of C.E.R.B. TomanCreed is reserved in his replies, because he does not feel he should comment without knowing the full facts of the program.
Thanks to CD MauveCat, SND Mr. Poirot, ND TomanCreed Chief Trainer of Metaverse, and BL StormWulf for speaking up.
These four citizens verbalized the majority of Cybertown Citizens’ thoughts with whom CVN came in contact.
Message to the citizens: Let’s make this appeals system happen. Let’s make it work. It comes down to YOU, the Citizen, to make it work.