[WikiEN-l] Anthere - "take decisions yourselves" - yes please!

[Anthony]

On Jan 11, 2008 5:08 PM, doc <doc.wikipedia at ntlworld.com> wrote:
> *If* we are to govern ourselves, then *we* need to define what is and is
> not sufficient mandate for policy changes in our community.

Absolutely agreed.

> Most sane
> people would agree that a 66% support rate on a dubious and confused
> eight day poll performed when half the community was on holiday is
> simply not our method of deciding stuff like this.
>
Probably, but would most sane people agree that the poll used was
dubious and confused?  And what does it matter what "most sane people"
would agree on?

> But the developer took it on himself to decide what was an was not
> consensus in our community - and accepted the advice of the rather
> determined promoter of the policy.

Developers have no other choice but to decide what to implement and
what not to implement.  I quote the great philosopher Neil Peart when
I say "if you choose not to decide you still have made a choice".

> It is not possible for this community
> to govern itself while outsiders make such decisions and yet all outside
> bodies refuse to hear any appeal against them.
>
> Now, as I say, this fikning policy (admin right to grant) is now a done
> deal. But what we need now is to make sure this can never happen again.

Wikipedia has needed a constitution for a long time now.  Top-down or
bottom-up, that's the only way to stop "this" from happening again.
The board seems to have rejected the top-down approach, as has the arb
com.  But then, the community seems to have rejected the bottom-up
one.