Decision-making and authority at INTP Central.

[Star]

I've heard it said that INTPs are basically anti-authoritarian. However, it seems that the forum here works on some kind of closed, uncommunicative authority. I'd like to propose that there be a switch made to a more egalitarian type of moderation and decision-making here; specifically, consensus-based (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consensus_decision_making).


Rather than simply list known alternatives, debate for a short time, vote, and then accept or reject by some percentage of majority (say 50% plus one, or 2/3), a consensus decision-making process involves identifying and addressing concerns, generating new alternatives, combining elements of multiple alternatives and checking that people understand a proposal or an argument.

This empowers minorities, those with objections that are hard to state quickly, and those who are less skilled in debate. Therefore, consensus decision-making can be seen as a form of grassroots democracy.

Egalitarian groups that seek to reduce the amount of power delegated to leaders, chairpersons or agenda setters often use consensus methods. Such methods can reduce the amount of harm or loss imposed on minorities (or individuals) by a majority. Consensus methods may be appropriate when personal (or emotional) risk to members is high, trust is low, and time is available for a prolonged discussion. Consensus may be used to remedy patterns of decision-making based on habit, subservience or carelessness.

Now, I may be wrong; perhaps this anti-authoritarianism is just me, and not an INTP thing. I'd like to hear whether or not I'm the only one who thinks that this group, its leadership and its inner workings should be a bit more transparent.

[Claverhouse]

That sounds like fun. Just like primitive communism with all the swift incisive decision-making of a bunch of tired quarrelsome drunks.



Claverhouse :ph34r:

[garak]

We currently have swift incisive decision making?

[Star]

That sounds like fun. Just like primitive communism with all the swift incisive decision-making of a bunch of tired quarrelsome drunks.


Forgive me--seeing that the resident divine right monarchist has been given moderator privileges has brought out the anarchist in me.

[jimkopelli]

We currently have swift incisive decision making?
Yeah... you should have noticed as much as if not more than all but two of us...

Nobody ever said you had to like the decisions.

[Miss Anthropic]

We currently have swift incisive decision making?
No, a bunch of tired, quarrelsome, primitive, communist drunks have the swift, incisive decision-making....hmmmm, could that have been sarcastic? It is against my INTP nature to give a rat's ass how things are run around here. If I can turn my computer on and click the INTP forum bookmark and the site shows up, I'm good to go. Don't bother me with any decision-making, be it drunk and incisive, swift or communistic!

[CoHo]

Nobody ever said you had to like the decisions.

It isn't a good precedent to set though, anyone with a server can set up a forum, and I'm sure there are plenty of available domain names like INTPZone, INTPWorld. It would result in splitting up an already small user base into smaller and smaller chunks.

[cjs55]

I just want a way to get rid of the shit as quickly as possible.

This idea would take way too long for every little thing, especially considering that we are INTPs and like to babble on about nothing for extended periods of time (or is that just me?).

It would be a better idea to have moderators who can clean things up quickly without too much fuss.

[Clara]

I just want a way to get rid of the shit as quickly as possible.

This idea would take way too long for every little thing, especially considering that we are INTPs and like to babble on about nothing for extended periods of time. Or is that just me?
I agree, wholeheartedly.

Here's a bit of trivia for the non-Canadians : referenda are costly ( in this case, time and energy, only... even so ) -- as is the continual "threat" of them... it's a weird, weird phenomenon, one that I'd like to be spared, here.

On the other hand, and without contradiction : it's good to read the rules, reflect on them, contemplate, "Could they be better ?" ... and then bring the fruit of such cogitation to public light. Now THAT would be useful. ( However, I'm not volunteering -- see, coming up with that perspective, *that* was my contribution to this particular topic. My overall sense, though : the current rules are *great* -- it strikes me, when I read them, that a lot of thought went into wording them so they'd be plain, and minimal. )

Thanks, moderators & admins

[Helios]

No, a bunch of tired, quarrelsome, primitive, communist drunks have the swift, incisive decision-making....hmmmm, could that have been sarcastic? It is against my INTP nature to give a rat's ass how things are run around here. If I can turn my computer on and click the INTP forum bookmark and the site shows up, I'm good to go. Don't bother me with any decision-making, be it drunk and incisive, swift or communistic!


I support Miss Anthropic from Czarina!!! 8O

[melancholeric]

Forgive me--seeing that the resident divine right monarchist has been given moderator privileges has brought out the anarchist in me.
Anarchy might work for a community consisting of old dendrophiliac potsmoking hippies, but here divine right monarchy might be better.

Anyone remember the ghosteh/edwinjefferson affair?


It isn't a good precedent to set though, anyone with a server can set up a forum, and I'm sure there are plenty of available domain names like INTPZone, INTPWorld. It would result in splitting up an already small user base into smaller and smaller chunks.
You don't need a server. There are plenty of sites that offer free forum space. Just set it up and go, but don't expect to get more than a handful of members.


I'd like to hear whether or not I'm the only one who thinks that this group, its leadership and its inner workings should be a bit more transparent.
I agree with this though. A bit more transparent doesn't mean anarchy or democracy; that wouldn't work here.

[Trolsk]

Let's keep away the trolls from the decision making.

[melancholeric]

Well I used them as examples, but you're right. Every time someone mentions them it'll turn to a flamewar.

Just that the "discussions" around the time when they were banned made it quite clear (to me, anyway) that democracy would be doomed to fail here.

[Heather Harrison]

I don't care much about the rules or who is in charge. If I like the way things are, I'll stay. If not, I'll silently slip away. So far, I am staying.

How's that for not giving a rat's ass?

Heather Harrison

[Stem]

The rules are reasonable. It was just a silly idea to make Division56 an admin. He just can't handle it.

[Claverhouse]

It would be a better idea to have moderators who can clean things up quickly without too much fuss.
Or have access to Mr. Keitel's excellent firm of cleaners.


Claverhouse :ph34r:

[s]

That sounds like fun. Just like primitive communism with all the swift incisive decision-making of a bunch of tired quarrelsome drunks.



Claverhouse :ph34r:


[chuckles]

Great analogy.

[heeroyuy]

Would it be sufficient that the administration opens the intp-admins list so users may see what we see, but not post, as you would: 1) Overwhelm my mailserver 2) Someone would spam us 3) People would scream just like they do here.

Also, naturally, people would not immediately start threads for _every_ topic discussed on it. Thoughts?

Also-we need a small group of people with power, as frankly, this isn't a democracy, and there is a reason for that. Most people don't care how it's run, only a small precentage would vote consistently, thereby you'd end up with those most on having all the power...also, you'd polarize the forums more than they already are. It wouldn't be about issue, it'd be about the people. A smaller group is more likely to be able to say "okay, he's my friend, but he fucked up, I'll warn him" as I've seen done more than once.

Try to run a large forum as a democracy, and you'll see people register 10 accounts for 10 more votes. Welcome to the world of system administration :)