Posted by Dr. Bob on December 5, 2010, at 2:10:44
In reply to solstice, and everyboddy really, me too :), posted by muffled on December 4, 2010, at 11:57:27
Regarding blocks:
> There have been times that blocks have been issued, and no one has really understood why the post provoking the block even merited a block.
>
> SolsticeIf someone doesn't understand, they can ask. If they disagree, that of course is different.
> Long blocks are just not needed.
> STOP LONG BLOCKS.
>
> muffled.Moving on might be best for some posters and being powerless for a long time might help them do that.
--
Regarding running/serving:
> there has been a ... negative reaction to the idea of elections. I recognize the validity of why it is, as Dinah said, abhorrent.
>
> anyone whose nature is decidedly NOT competitive will be stopped by their aversion to it.
>
> Solstice> I'd feel very hurt to be rejected by my peers. ... In some ways it would seem like a popularity contest
>
> Dinah> having elections, if we could find good candidates, would be a useful enterprise. It at least somewhat requires that people be thickskinned enough to handle losing, even if that does always feel bad.
>
> It might mean then that they could weather some of the storms of making difficult or even unpopular decisions, which apparently can really affect the comfort level and sense of community of quasi-authority figures here.
>
> Willful> I once considered deputydom,cuz I can separate myself from the general noise.
>
> muffled> Also, I felt as if a volunteer position all of a sudden became a political position, and I know 1) I'd lose 2) I couldn't take that, and 3) the spirit of volunteering was quickly run out of the job before it ever coalesced.
>
> PartlyCloudyPeople's feelings are of course valid. That elections in general are abhorrent, however, I'd consider an overgeneralization.
I agree, those who are decidedly not competitive, or who will feel very hurt not if they're not elected, or who are convinced they won't be elected, probably shouldn't run. I agree, council members should probably be thick-skinned enough to weather some storms.
Muffled, would you consider councildom?
--
Regarding the proposal itself:
> What you're describing sounds as much a board of appeals as a parole board.
> A politician is always worried about reelection. Posting the votes for or against puts an elder in the role of politician, who must consider how their vote will impact on their popularity. I find myself unwilling to even have the temptation to have the exercise of my values influenced by a concern for popularity.
>
> Dinah> he has said that Council's jobs would be: 1) pay attention to blocking activity, and if there is an outcry over a particular block.. Council convenes
> Think of our court system.. and juries. The only time members of a jury are asked to disclose their vote is in death penalty cases
>
> SolsticeOf course people "appeal" for parole, but IMO this would be more like a parole board than a board of appeals, since blocks wouldn't be overturned, just shortened.
Council members might not worry about re-election. They might just exercise their values, confident that they were elected because of them. Or being re-elected might concern them -- because it's important to them to represent their constituency.
Juries aren't elected.
My proposal was that it would be up to blocked posters to involve the council, so theirs would be the only relevant outcry.
--
> Jane
> who is still confused about why we need an incredibly elaborate process set up for a minor problemBecause the more general issue is how and to whom to transfer power.
> Solstice
> who is confused about the anger directed at her because she supports a proposal Bob madeMaybe that was a taste of the "minion effect"?
> I found myself somehow disappointed that we put all this possibly unnecessary energy and emotion into this idea... only, when it became a real possibility, to pull the rug out from under it.
>
> So I was questioning why this sudden backing away?
>
> WillfulIn addition to the issues that have been brought up, part of it may be the anxiety of the unknown that's always associated with change.
> maybe sometimes we goto stop a bit and breathe(and wait fer friggin Bob to reappear...!?!?).
!!
> Manoman, too bad we can't all get together on a beach, toss back a few brewskies and hash this out.
>
> MSome of us may in fact be able to:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20100321/msgs/949355.html
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=168914719799505Bob
a brilliant and reticent Web mastermind -- The New York Times
backpedals well -- PartlyCloudy
poster:Dr. Bob
thread:964630
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20101201/msgs/972553.html