[wplug-plan] Quorum Conundrum

[David Ostroske]

On 7/27/06, Patrick Wagstrom <pwagstro at andrew.cmu.edu> wrote:
> On Thu, 2006-07-27 at 01:44 -0400, David Ostroske wrote:
> > Online discussion is the absolute BEST way to hash out an issue before
> > any sort of meeting takes place. When we were writing the bylaws, we
> > found that we'd get through our meeting agenda so much faster and with
> > higher-quality results than if we just showed up and started at square
> > zero. Plus, if somebody couldn't make it to the meeting, they'd still
> > have their word in via email, and the people present at the meeting
> > would remember what they said.
>
> I'm sure those of us who do research into the mechanics of online
> communities would disagree.  Let's try to avoid absolutes.  Only the
> Sith deal in absolutes.

ONLY the Sith? Absolutely no one else? :)

Well, with more qualifications, absolutes become more sensible. Let's
say we've already got something specific that needs to be debated. (A
dues change! It doesn't get much simpler.) Let's say that the ultimate
resolution will take a particular form. (Yes or no. There it is.)
Let's also take other forms of discussion into account. If I'm
claiming that discussing an issue prior to its resolution via some
mailing list is the BEST way to prepare for the meeting, then I must
define "BEST." I mentioned speed, quality of discussion, and the
ability of others who couldn't attend to have their voices heard.

By that, I mean that online discussion is the BEST way to hash issues
out. And in the end, I'm arguing that discussing issues on the -plan
list is what we all should do when such heavy matters come up, rather
than waiting for a meeting to come along and tossing out a million
loosely connected ideas, when we really should be using the time to
_get business done._

Maybe you have something better in mind. If so, I'd like to hear it.
But I've made my case for the mailing lists.

-- 
David Ostroske <eksortso at gmail.com>