Jon's right by me. At some point you have to set a cutoff. Just to make things managable, if for no other reason. A cutoff line is always unfair to whomever is just barely on the other side of the line. But if you move the line for them, then you just make another person the one that is just past the line. Someone's always going to be just thismuch on the wrong side of the line. But over time that should even out.

I'm not talking now, but it doesn't mean I am not reading. and I want people to post more then once. a lot of the post are the thinking process that people are going through - and that helps me think through what I want.

also in general I am in favor of voteing - but I don't think it is nessacary for thread names. I like the clever names but if the were called 'Buffy:eel brains and chicken toes ' or 'Natter: rtuoi98757892hne' I'll be just fine -- as long as I know where to go. but others might care more than I do.

That said, I wonder if three days of discussion followed by three days of voting might not be enough?

I'd prefer this to a full week on either. Or maybe four days discussion/three days voting to round out the week, with exceptions made for long weekends or holiday periods. If you know you'd be away through the whole vote period, I'd think an email explaining and casting an early vote would be fine.

But I don't think any other limits on discussion are good. This isn't campaigning, where we each state our platform. Discussion brings out nuances and side issues, and hashing these out requires some back and forth. Otherwise, why not just go straight to voting?

I just meant that for people who don't hang in Bureau a lot, perhaps it would be easier if there were a thread were they could go and quickly run through everyone's postion without having to wade through hundreds of posts.

I like this. And you can go back and edit your position as needed (and in response to other positions).

I think "a day or two" or discussions, as Wolfram suggested, is too short. Three business days I could live with.

I'm not suggesting one or two or three business days in total. I'm suggesting the discussion get a two day head start, then the voting opens while discussions continues for another five or seven days. That gives the business trippers time to get in on the discussion and/or vote and the mind-made-uppers time to vote and move on, and reduces the whole business down from 14 days to a more manageable 7 to 9 days.

Just so it's clear, I was not trying to limit discussion. I just thought a seperate thread where each person could clearly state their position in a single post would be a help. But I don't want to cut down on discussion in this group. Discussion is a very, very good thing. Even repetitive discussion is good, because sometimes it helps people to make up their minds.

Just was thinking that a set aside thread for position statements might make it easier for people to understand what the whole community is thinking.

Sort of as if this thread were the Campaign Trail, so to speak, where you can spout off your opinions to your heart's content. But another thread would be more like a Presidential Debate, so to speak, where you ability to state your position is strictly controlled in order to ensure that each position gets an equal airing.

Just was thinking that a set aside thread for position statements might make it easier for people to understand what the whole community is thinking.

Ditto. Discussions in one thread - position statements in another - one per person.

I like this. And you can go back and edit your position as needed (and in response to other positions).

Ugh. So you'd have to reread the entire thread every day? Can't say I like that idea.

I would say no need to edit and cause rereading of the thread. If you change your mind, then you could delete your previous post and post a new one.

If you change your mind, then you could delete your previous post and post a new one.

Which makes it more redundant with the regular discussion thread. I dunno. I think one thread for discussions and positioning is enough.

I can say that I would never post in a thread that only allowed me to have one position at a time.