From: wikien-l-bounces@Wikipedia.org [mailto:wikien-l-bounces@Wikipedia.org] On Behalf Of Ryan Delaney
That kind of corrosive supiciousness is the problem. For
the most
part our administrators, those who are involved in backchannel operations, are the best and the most trustworthy we have.
This is basically right, because the people who actually want to get stuff done don't want to go through the trouble of haggling with process fetishists and the 10% of people who oppose everything. Trying to convince everyone that a particular action is right is a waste of time. No matter what you do, there will always be someone who thinks you should have done the opposite. Back-channels are the only way to get input from only rational people, and cut out the trolls and so on.
We've been through this before with the notion of an admin-only mailing list.
Input from trolls and otherwise isn't important and may usually be safely disregarded. For the most part, they are NOT admins and although they might SAY something, they will not be able to DO anything. In the case of an admin-only discussion area, they could not even say anything.
But it is important that admin actions and decisions be as open and honest as possible, so that all members of the community may be sure that administrative actions are not dependent on flawed or incomplete or malicious inputs.
Two analogies spring to mind, neither completely apposite, but good enough. Although proceedings in chambers, in a closed courtroom, or in the jury room are not open to the public, the bulk of the judicial process is transparent and the public may be satisfied that it isn't just a bunch of lawyers in private nutting out a solution to suit themselves or acting on a whim or whatever. Likewise, although discussion in caucus or cabinet is private, debate and voting is conducted in open Parliament, so that voters may see for themselves how their representatives act.
In neither case do members of the general public get an input except in limited and controlled circumstances. Statements from the gallery have no effect and are not recorded in evidence.
Peter (Skyring)