On 6/5/07, Ray Saintonge saintonge@telus.net wrote:
The other fallacy to be avaided is saying that all policy decisions are final. We have shown ourselves ill-equipped to deal with subtle changes in circumstances when people insist on the strict leteral application of rules. Rather then defending hard-wired rules we need to be sensitive to changes, and the need to consider the opinions of those who did not participate in the formation of the rules for whatever reason. These reasons include not having been a part of the Wikipedia community at the time the rule was adopted. We need to recognize that the young people who will be most affected by rules did not have a vote in the way that the older generations chose to fuck it up.
Problem is the wording of the rules was precisely based on the fear that people would try to do what they are now trying to do. BLP only allows deletion of unsourced info precisely because people were worried about what is now happening.
CSD is so limiting because people didn't want admins to decide stuff more than was required to keep the wiki ticking over.
What makes it harder for policy decisions is the unwillingness of some to consider alternative solutions. MPs don't exactly inspire confidence in the real world; what makes you think that wikiMPs would do any better?
Judging by experience with trying to elect an arbcom they would be a lot worse.