And now ita posts for me. I get annoyed with the process and step out, but then also annoyed with the results. Not Good.

I'm REALLY hopeful that having this discussion will actually allow us to put some fun back in, because we won't get so frustrated with circular discussions.

I'm REALLY hopeful that having this discussion will actually allow us to put some fun back in, because we won't get so frustrated with circular discussions.

Me too, Sophia. Speaking only for myself, I VERY rarely get angry at decisions that are made here because, really, it's just an Internet message board. (At the moment, I can't even think of a single time I've gotten angry at a decision) However, I do often get annoyed with the endless discussions leading to the decision.

I agree that having a formal decision-making process will help make things zipper, more pleasant, and all-around more fun.

How about:

The Great Debate: I Came Here for an Argument!

Delurking to say that I think the separate thread will make it easier for someone to get all the debate about an issue with a high signal-to-noise ratio. If we end up with three issues being discussed simulatneously, it might make everything a little more coherent if they're separated by thread/time/bubble pack and allow people to focus on whatever's at hand (or maybe that's my lack-of-coffee non-multitasking morning brain speaking). It also allows people to be more involved with the issues they have an active interest in and follow that discussion (e.g. I have no opinion on how we should archive old threads 'cause I'm not technically qualified, but I have opinions about Whuffie)

t relurk

The Great Debate: I Came Here for an Argument!

No you didn't.

Yes to separate thread for topic discussion.
One week/One week seems reasonable.
Email vote, poll page here, form here, whatever is used works for me.
My instinct is that more than simple majority may be needed on some issues, but I don’t have strong feelings about it.

Having a structure will be nice. Hopefully there won’t be things to vote on all the time because time to read show threads is good too.

I'm in favour of a structure that will tell me what's happening. As a relative newbie, I have to agree that three conversations at once in one thread- especially when they're all important- is confusing.

Concur on using Robert's Rules of Order for proposing a debate, and on having a separate This Week On Debates Are We thread.

I for one am glad we're going into this now, and into such detail, and coming up with (potential) results. The more we formalize our rules and procedures, the more streamlined and orderly our future debates will be. I can handle disorder when it's along the lines of 10 Buffistas in a living room, but 150+ in a fast-moving board, I needs me some order.

• 50% majority on new thread creation?
  
• Plurality on thread naming?
  
• override majority (66%) on momentous issues?

We're also going to need to codify how much executive power to cede to the Stompy Foots, because heretofore they seem to have understood themselves as "expressing/enacting the will of the people". If the will of the people is codified into a vote, some of this ambiguity is removed, but at the price of speed. So, concomitant to, or following on, making voting decisions, I suggest we describe exactly which tasks a Stompy may do without mandate (i.e. individual judgement), and which require mandate (vote). That sort of comes after the voting is decided upon, but is the next logical question to settle, yesno?