Buffista Voting Proposal

This weekend, there has been a lot of discussion, both here and at the Contingency Board at WXing, over the decisions we make and how we make them. There has been some (but it's not unanimous) dissatisfaction over our usual method of determining consensus. Several people suggested we start voting on the big things. Funny thing is, it's such a hot topic, and there’s no way to determine whether or not we want to vote on things, without taking a vote on it. The lovely jengod has agreed to tally our votes, and so I give you a proposal.

Voting starts Tuesday night (Feb. 25, 2003) at midnight and closes Sunday night (Mar. 2, 2003) at midnight (that's "Board Time", i.e. EST). In other words, the voting period equals 5 full days. The following items are included in this vote:

A yes vote on this item signifies the voter agrees that we should create a voting system for community decisions that do not require immediate action.

Exemptions: Thread naming, disciplinary action against trolls (although the process itself could come up for a vote at some point) and tasks currently performed by Stompy Feet, including but not limited to board maintenance.

A no vote on this item signifies that the voter does not agree to a voting process to determine the community's will as it pertains to community decisions.

A yes vote on this item signifies the voter wants a minimum* number of community members voting on any item in order for the vote to count.

A no vote on this item signifies the voter wants implemented the decision of the majority** of voters who participated, regardless of the number of total votes.

A yes vote on this item signifies the voter agrees that a simple majority vote is sufficient to enact changes for any issue brought up for vote.

If this item passes, we will hold a discussion and vote on how to handle ties. If it doesn't pass, the point is moot.

Regardless, this item does not affect the outcome of Item 2. In other words, if people vote in favor of requiring a quorum on any issue, the quorum requirement will still stand and the smallest majority that would allow an initiative to be voted in would equal [one half + one] of the votes needed for the quorum.

A no vote on this item signifies the voter does not think a simple majority is sufficient to enact change for any initiative brought up for vote, and instead wants a higher majority.

If item is voted down, the size of the higher majority required will be put up for a separate vote.

A yes vote on this item signifies the voter agrees that seven days time is sufficient to discuss the issue. The week would be broken down thusly: Discussion: Days 1, 2, 3, and 4. Voting: Days 5, 6, 7. When there is a conflict for major holidays (to be defined) we will make accommodations (to be defined) as needed. We will vote later on whether discussions end on day 4 or continue during the votes.

A no vote on this item signifies that the voter doesn't agree with this timetable and is requesting that the community continue to discuss timetables.

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* for Item 2: Quorum, yes vote: the minimum number will be a number to be determined by the community in a subsequent vote, if item 2 is voted in.

** for Item 2: Quorum, no vote: "majority" is a percentage to be determined by the community in a subsequent vote.

Please note that discussion and voting on PROCESS will take place AFTER we decide whether or not we want to vote. (This post is courtesy of Cindy)

Voting Instructions are in the following post.

Voting Instructions.

To vote, go to the form

You may vote yes, no or abstain from the vote for each separate item. Obviously, you may only vote once.

If you don't want to use the form or have trouble using it, you can send an email to votes@buffistas.org. PLEASE put your user name at the top of the message and write your votes one on each line with the questions labelled. Here is an example:

username: Jon B

1.) VOTING: yes

2.) QUORUMS: no

3.) SIMPLE MAJORITY: abstain

4.) DISCUSSION AND VOTING PERIOD TIME LIMITS: yes

Cross Post w/Bureaucracy

Some folks wanted more specific clarification between the quorum item on the ballot and the simple majority item on the ballot. What follows is that request, and my silly explanation.

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I have to admit that after reading items 2 & 3 regarding quorum, majority and simple majority, I am a little confused as to the synergy of these two items. But maybe that's just me.

Okay two things -- simple majority thing first. This is decides whether you think an item needs only one half + 1 of the votes to win, or if you'd think any proposal ought to win a higher percentage of the votes before we put it in. So, if we held a vote to add a politics thread, and we have 900 voters (who do vote), if 451 voters vote in favor of it, if you're in favor of simple majority winning, you'd agree the politics thread should go in.

If you want a higher percentage than simple majority (and if most people feel this way, we'll have to have a discussion and vote on the appropriate percentage, i.e. is it 60%, 66.67%, 75%, etc), then even if 451 vote yes on the politics thread, and 449 vote no on the politics thread, you'd think the politics thread should NOT be added.

Now, as to the quorum thingie. A quorum is a minimum required number of members showing up in order to conduct business. Usually, it's used in terms of assessing the crowd to see if business should even be conducted. However, because we're a cyber community, there's no real way to do that, other than to just take the vote. So what the votes on the quorum item signify is if you are in favor of a quorum, you want X (to be defined) number of people voting for the vote to even count. If you are not in favor of the quorum, you think the vote should count, no matter how many people vote.

examples:

If we have both a vote-quorum and a simple majority wins rule:

Say we've set a 10 person vote-quorum. In other words, if 10 people don't vote, the results of the vote election don't count. I request a Viggo Mortensen Should Belong to Cindy thread. Only 3 people vote, and two vote in favor of the thread. Even though we have a simple majority wins the day, because only 3 Buffistas could be arsed to vote, I don't get my thread.

If we have no vote-quorum and also have a simple majority wins rule:

If only 3 people vote and two vote in favor of the Viggo Mortensen Should Belong to Cindy thread, then Joss is in SoCal, all's right with the world, and I get my thread.

If we have a vote-quorum and a higher percentage rule (hypothetical numbers):

If the quorum is 100 people must show up to vote and the higher percentage is set at 66.67%, and we hold a vote to see if we can have a Viggo Mortensen Should Belong to Cindy thread. We have two conditions affecting how we implement the will of the people, based on the ballot results. In other words, we need 100 people (at least) total to vote, and 67 of them must vote yes, in order for me to get my thread.

If we have no quorum - but do have the higher percentage wins rule:

If we held the Viggo Mortensen Should Belong to Cindy election, and only 4 of us voted, but three of us voted in favor of the thread, I'd get the thread.

Does this help?

We should so totally have that thread!!!!!

Cindy-N-Viggo4evah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Calling all peaceniks: MARCH 5 - National Moratorium to Stop the War on Iraq.

Voting Notice

If you do not use the voting form please use the subject line Buffista Ballot when submitting your vote to votes@buffistas.org. This subject line is build into the mailto link if your machine is set up to use it.

Thank you all!

Buffy episode episode 715 is up.

Joss confirms end of Buffy (annoying casting spoiler (new to me) in final paragraph)

With star Sarah Michelle Gellar this week confirming her exit, Whedon Wednesday told Daily Variety the 20th Century Fox TV-produced show wouldn't go without her or him.

"We're shuffling off to Buffalo," Whedon said. "Sarah's decision was wrapped up in mine. We weren't interested in doing it without the other."

Attention LAistas:

The tea at the Huntington Garden has been set for Saturday March 15th, but I had to change the time until 2:30 instead of 2:00.

I also made a larger reservation that I had RSVPs for, so if you didn't get a chance to respond and want to go, please let me know at my profile address. I'll probably call the tearoom to firm up the reservation a couple of days before the 15th.

Voting Announcement

I have sent to replies to all voters from whom I currently have ballots. I just replied to the message and put VOTE COUNTED in the subject line. If you do not receive such a reply within six hours of this message (Board Standard Time), please send a message to votes@buffistas.org and we'll figure out what's going on.

Hi all of you SoCal folks! Laura will be in town this weekend to walk the LA Marthon (GO TEAM HER!) To help her prepare, we're going to have an early pasta dinner on Saturday in Santa Monica. Buca di Beppo is our restaurant of choice. It's fun, it's family style and they can handle largish groups.

Buca di Beppo Santa Monica 1442 2nd Street Santa Monica CA 90401 310.587.2782

We'll have dinner around 5:00 (though this is contingent on me getting a reservation - I'm aiming for 5:00 - 5:30). If you'd like to join us, please drop a line back to me ASAP. So far I've heard from Laura and her DH, DH's friend, ita, Perkins, me and Lori. If any other LAista is planning on attending, let me know so I can finalize the time and reservation.

Also, I will be out the course on Sunday, probably around the 16 mile mark. I'll possibly walk a bit with Laura because, in my experience, having friendly faces walking the course with you can make all the difference. It's nice to have a cheering section.

If you can't make dinner on Saturday, Laura will be finished on Sunday in the afternoon and craves Pizza and Sushi. However, there's not gonna be a big desire to wander around (post marathon - less walking is better) so something could be arranged like take out at her hotel or at someone's house.

Let me know your thoughts; profile addy is good.