[Cz-editcouncil] New Editorial Council

[Larry Sanger]

Point of order!

I would like to remind members of the Council that, according to our rules,
the mailing list is not actually intended for discussion of actual or
potential resolutions.  (See http://tinyurl.com/5mytzl : "'Official'
discussion of a resolution ordinarily begins only as follows...")  We have
been making an exception when we officially agree to bypass the resolution
process, i.e., for brief comments on motions for acceptance of a proposal by
acclamation.

I forget when this was decided, but as I recall, the reason for this rule,
briefly, is that it might have two bad effects: (1) it might make Council
membership too arduous, because it would require members to read too many
e-mails; and (2) it would tend to favor (unfairly) those who have the time
and inclination to speak out (and you know who you are ;-) ), which is a
feature of asynchronous online discussion and *not* of a traditional
face-to-face meeting under parliamentary rules.  More unconstrained
discussion can (and does) take place elsewhere, but I believe that the
seriousness of the Council's "parliamentary" mission and commitment to
fairness demands that we be a little more regimented.

--Larry (ex-chair)