I hate to break it to you, oh impotent one, but you're not the big bad anymore, you're not even the kind of naughty.

Xander ,'Showtime'


Bureaucracy 2: Like Sartre, Only Longer  

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


Connie Neil - Jul 02, 2003 2:01:43 pm PDT #2832 of 10005
brillig

True, nothing new, but I've seen statements that seem to say a meritocracy is possibly the best way to handle things because we're all just friends here.

Gee, could I have put any more waffle-words in that?


§ ita § - Jul 02, 2003 2:03:43 pm PDT #2833 of 10005
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

I didn't get that impression. The "elitist" position, as I understand it that some people are more equal than others, due to their actions previous.

I don't see what that has to do with friendship.


Sophia Brooks - Jul 02, 2003 2:05:42 pm PDT #2834 of 10005
Cats to become a rabbit should gather immediately now here

Connie-- I think maybe you are equating social = friends, which is not always true-- you could compare it to dorm life or something.

I read the meritocracy argument as ita did.


Jessica - Jul 02, 2003 2:07:14 pm PDT #2835 of 10005
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset

What was interesting to me about the tension in Bureaucracy in May was that I skipped it.

Aha!

(Sorry, just figured out why I was so lost -- I never skip or skim this thread, and I just could not remember any tension in May, so I thought I was going crazy. But David's post reminded me that I was in England during that whole thing, and only read it afterwards in one big chunk. Carry on.)


Sophia Brooks - Jul 02, 2003 2:08:02 pm PDT #2836 of 10005
Cats to become a rabbit should gather immediately now here

some people are more equal than others

this is what bothers me about meritocracy-- I find my self imagining us in some Buffista version of animal farm chanting " Old Hat good, New Hat BAAAAAAAD." , like the sheep.


Connie Neil - Jul 02, 2003 2:09:01 pm PDT #2837 of 10005
brillig

Social does not always equal friends, true. I remain unconvinced on the meritocracy.


DavidS - Jul 02, 2003 2:14:55 pm PDT #2838 of 10005
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

I remain unconvinced on the meritocracy.

How about if we call it..."respect"? People earn respect. People that are more respected are given leeway and entrusted with more power.


Connie Neil - Jul 02, 2003 2:16:48 pm PDT #2839 of 10005
brillig

I'm all for the respect. So long as it's not quantified and people don't start sidling up to each other and saying "My respect's bigger than yours." Unless it's Saturday night, we're in a sleazy roadhouse, and everyone's drunk.


§ ita § - Jul 02, 2003 2:20:06 pm PDT #2840 of 10005
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

So long as it's not quantified and people don't start sidling up to each other and saying "My respect's bigger than yours."

I don't know what would make people suddenly start doing that -- Allyson's position (I'm interpreting here, while she's off cavorting with scientists) is that it's always existed. And your worry hasn't always been happening.

At least, not where I've read.


Consuela - Jul 02, 2003 2:22:11 pm PDT #2841 of 10005
We are Buffistas. This isn't our first apocalypse. -- Pix

So long as it's not quantified

Yah. And so long as it doesn't translate to, oh, special privileges, you know? By which I mean quantifiable objective rights that do not inhere to other members of the community. Which is the difference between someone cutting you some slack on a bad day because they've known you a long time, and getting to sit in the first class cabin because you were here first.

I don't want any first class cabins at B.org.

Does that make sense?