[deepnet]

Good point !

“professional environments” have flaws - and can be as you assert dehumanisating - more so when orgs are large, and rules enforced blindly or with ‘zero tolerance’.

I meant it as a proxy for a forum where mutual respect and civility are theoretically expected.

Although in the real world not always present.

I agree that rules can potentially be overbearing and curtail free expression but also protect and nurture expression where it is suppressed by an unruly culture.

As in most things, it is difficult to find a good balance and a healthy community is self-regulating.