Philip Sandifer wrote:
So what can we do? How can we streamline our policy formation problems to drive away the policy equivalents of lunatic POV pushers? Again, noting that the usual problems - consensus can change, so forcibly closing debates doesn't work, often contributors who are totally insane on one point are wonderful on every other article they edit, etc. So what can we do?
Do you really want to drive them away? That doesn't appeal to me.
It would seem to me that the only long-term options are to come to consensus or to exile people. That consensus can be of the agree-to-disagree variety, naturally. For minority views, it usually has to be. But I don't see any middle ground between that and giving the boot to people who care a bit too much.
Personally, I'd prefer finding new ways to build consensus. I know that you have some strong views that are only held by a minority. What makes you willing to shelve them and accept that the consensus is against you for now? Maybe we can find something in that to apply to others.
William