Re: understanding consensus

[Bob Helfant <bhelfant@globecomm.net>]

Chris,

I agree that the open discussion is good for everyone.  Without it, noone
would know what the general issues are.  Clearly, most of the followers of
this list are not comfortable with joining in so I am suggesting a way to
get their feedback.  A secret ballot is not a radical idea.  It is how we
vote nationally and locally every year.  It helps people speak their mind.

Bob



At 02:38 PM 12/27/96 +0000, Jeff Williams wrote:
>Bob,
>
>  I thought that I needed to reply to this.  Please read below
>Your comments.
>
>
>Bob Helfant wrote:
>> 
>> Chris,
>> 
>> I think that there are a lot of people who like me, are not comfortable
>> giving their company views on a public list.  I suggest a secret ballot of
>> some osrt to see how each person on the list feels.
>
>  I understand your concern.  And I empithize, bot do not sympithise
>with it.  Here is why.  
>
>  I believe tht it is MORE important to permote open discussion and
>statment of opinion rather than not.  The reason is that we are 
>considering alot here, so the importance of openess is paramount.
>Also the concern of creation of cliques, by secret ballot in this type
>of discussion regarding points of the draft is a danger in secret
>balloting.  Therefor if you are wanting to achieve alot it is
>incumbent to require or ask for alot.  The ends in this case, Justify
>the means.
>
>  Regards,
>
>> 
>> Bob Helfant
>> GlobeComm
>> 
>> At 09:33 AM 12/27/96 PST, Christopher Ambler wrote:
>> >Then that begs the question - if this is such a hot topic, where are
>> >all the posters? If this topic is such that only 10 people are making
>> >the vast majority of the posts, and there seems to be agreement
>> >amongst most of them on some points, wouldn't that suggest that
>> >most people, while interested, don't care?
>> >
>> >If the IAHC is getting comments from outside of this list - the list
>> >that THEY set up to discuss this issue - they should post it here so
>> >we can accurately gauge the opinions of those who care to give them.
>> >
>> >As to the rest, the lurkers, they are urged to speak up, but nobody
>> >can force them. If consensus is made by 20 people when only 20
>> >people care to speak, then so be it, no?
>> >
>> >--
>> >Christopher Ambler
>> >President, Image Online Design, Inc.
>> >
>
>-- 
>Jeffrey A. Williams
>DIR. Internet Network Eng/SR. Java Development Eng.
>Information Eng. Group. 
>Phone :972-447-1878
>E-Mail jwkckid1@ix.netcom.com
>