Re: understanding consensus

["Philip J. Nesser II" <pjnesser@martigny.ai.mit.edu>]

Christopher Ambler supposedly said:
> 
> 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.
> 

Chris, 

I would point out that many people feel that they can watch the discussion
and make an informed decision privately with the IAHC members.  There have
been a large number of personal attacks made by people against posters who
do not share their opinions, and many people do not care to expose
themselves to such attacks.

I don't think it is reasonable to demand or expect that all communications
to the IAHC members be posted to the list.  Certainly any message posted to
the list should be publically available, but do you expect every IAHC
member to transcribe their phone calls, retype faxes in, or post private
email which many have been sent in confidence?

--->  Phil