A thread to discuss naming threads, board policy, new thread suggestions, and anything else that has to do with board administration and maintenance. Guaranteed to include lively debate and polls. Natter discouraged, but not deleted.
Current Stompy Feet: ita, Jon B, DXMachina, P.M. Marcontell, Liese S., amych
Maybe because I've been in the thick of these discussions since before we moved over to Phoenix, I'm ready to vote on voting now.
Though I see the process that's gathering momentum here as one piece, it really is a collection of individual elements that will probably need individual votes.
We need then to order the votes in a logical way, with the essential components voted on first because they will determine the other decisions. I think that means first deciding: (a) that we are definitely going to start voting on decisions instead of merely trying to achieve loose consensus (I see strong support for this); (b) the method of voting and tallying (two email accounts now, on-site poll later); (c) majority or supermajority vote (I think majority will suffice except for what we might consider "constitutional issues" that would fundamentally change the nature of the community. Such as closing registration, or registration by invite only. Something very big); (d) what constitutes a quorum and what that number should be (I think it should a percentage of registered users since any hard number may not be relevant if community size fluctuates over time; (e) creating a Supreme Court thread (I see strong support for this, despite Sue's objections. The simple idea is to put a limit on debate and stop the circular arguments which are causing some friction and frustration. If everybody knows the rules).
Maybe we need to set a time limit on
this discussion
and then at a certain time close it and take action. I don't know if we need a whole extra week, since we've been talking about it so much already. I could live with that but at this point I'd rather get moving on the most basic issues. I'd say no more than three more days discussion on this, then vote on voting.
PM-- maybe it is that we (as buffistas) don't know. I've seen plenty of posts where people say "let's just leave it up to the stompies... we trust them" and then a stompy saying "no, you need to decide, and then we will do it." I mean, I think I am pretty clear, but maybe not everyone is?
If we discover that we're voting all the time and it's a hassle, my opinion could change, but until that happens I think sticking to a procedure is the better, more hassle-free way to go.
I totally agree with this when it comes to things like changing procedures or adding new threads.
I haven't seen any indication that any of the other stompies are confused, either.
I'm not one, but I agree with Plei on this. Codifying those duties sounds to me like people want to add/change them. Fair enough, but let's hold off on this issue, because it's sounding like there will be a lot of discussion needed.
Somewhere on WX, from pre-move, I think it's spelled out.
It should, along with stompy contacts, be added to the FAQ. Don't think it should be changed, mind you, but it should be added.
I agree with David, and also Plei re stompies, although I think that should be put aside until we deal with how we make decisions. And then we can make a decision about that. ;)
(d) what constitutes a quorum and what that number should be (I think it should a percentage of registered users since any hard number may not be relevant if community size fluctuates over time;
Here's my problem with this. Say we established a floor of 10 percent of registered users. Right now, that means about 75-80 votes are needed.
Joss comes by, and suddenly we need 100 votes. We get news about major ME developments, and it's up to 120. Etc.
My understanding is that there's no simple way of determining what you might call "active" users - say, unique posters within the last month? That might be a better number to base things on, but more complicated than it's worth, I suspect.
I've gotta say, I think 50 votes is enough. It's not a large percentage of registered user, but it's a decent percentage of regular posters, and accounts for the fact that a lot of people won't feel strongly enough one way or the other to bother voting.
The trouble, Plei, is not so much that you don't know, but that I (for example) don't know.
I don't know either, really. I have a vague understanding, but I'd like to see them enumerated. But I agree it can wait until we've established how we make decisions.
