[Cz-editcouncil] Resignation

[Larry Sanger]

Does the Chair mean to say, perhaps, that he is asking whether there is any
objection to the motion, and that it will be considered to be passed "by
acclamation" if there is no objection?  If we are going to suspend normal
rules for this mailing list, I request that we set a (if necessary
extendable) ending date for suspended-rules period.  If we do not set an
ending date, I will have an objection to the motion.  I won't object to the
motion otherwise, but I can give you one good reason to object and to insist
on holding any discussion on the forums: these are issues that deeply
concern the whole community, and are not wholly in the purview of the
Editorial Council.
 
John says, "mechanisms should be in place to intellectually resolve disputes
over content without these sorts of problems causing resignations."  In my
experience, when disputes cause resignation, they are not disputes over
content, but instead over bad-behaving fellow contributors or over CZ
policies.  Over the many months of this project's existence, we have in fact
already proposed and discussed many dispute resolution mechanisms--I
proposed several myself--and these have either been tried and rejected, or
died in discussion due to lack of interest.  See e.g.,
http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/CZ:Dispute_Resolution  Discussion has
generally taken place either in the Forums or among the Executive Committee.
Currently, the Executive Committee has tentatively adopted a "moderator"
system that was executed mainly by Gareth Leng, but his recent academic
promotion and additional duties have cut into the time he has had to spend
on CZ.
 
I want to emphasize how difficult the whole matter of dispute resolution is.
In an open, largely flat project, it is very difficult indeed to legitimize
and gain support for any community decision, and decision-making process,
that will satisfy one party and overrule another.  This has an inherent
tendency to create a hierarchy and, potentially, change the operation of the
project fundamentally; I say that because the project works precisely
because it is collaborative and largely free of top-down control (pace
Martin in this case!).  I don't mean to discourage anyone from making
proposals (or supporting those already proposed); I'm just trying to lay out
some constraints.  As soon as such a process is officially installed, we can
easily predict that power-hungry, controlling types will leap to participate
as much as they can.  The more we anticipate and design to solve such
problems, the better off we'll be in the long run.
 
As to purview, please see
http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/CZ:Editorial_Council_Rules_of_Procedure#Vote_
on_the_issue_of_purview
 
and also 
 
http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/CZ:Editor_Policy#Editorial_Council
 
which explicitly lists editorial dispute resolution as in the Council's
purview.  We have traditionally distinguished between "editorial" dispute
resolution and "behavioral" dispute resolution, although obviously there
must be great overlap, if the distinction is not completely incoherent.
 
More than anything, I feel, we need some understanding of the basic
requirements and constraints of such a resolution process.  I've made a
number of stabs at this in the Forums, but I doubt I ever got to the bottom
of it.
 
Of course, you might say that there is a more tractable issue we can take up
that is related to Martin's complaint.  (I am informed that Martin is off
the list now, by the way.)  Namely, to what extent and under what rules the
Editor-in-Chief may (or even should) engage in content controversies, and
according to what rules he may overrule decisions or undo work the work of
subject editors.  I would be happy to work with both the Editorial Council
and the Executive Committee to clarify such fundamental matters; they are, I
admit, rather vague at present.
 
--Larry
 

-----Original Message-----
From: cz-editcouncil-bounces at mail.citizendium.org
[mailto:cz-editcouncil-bounces at mail.citizendium.org] On Behalf Of Dr.Supten
Sarbadhikari
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 1:11 AM
To: The Citizendium Editorial Council
Subject: Re: [Cz-editcouncil] Resignation


Dear All,
The issues in question are numerous.
1. Suspension of the normal rules of the Editorial Council mailing list. 
2. Formation of the Judicial Board.
3. Installation of a Secretary to carry out the regular administrative
activities of the EC.

For the first issue, as John has already seconded Brian, I agree to suspend
the normal rules and allow for discussions related to the way ahead.
However, I'd be mostly traveling on duty from Saturday Nov 08 to Thursday
Nov 13, and will not be having regular access to the Internet.

Regarding the second issue, whether the EC can pass a Resolution for the
setting up of the Judicial Board or not has to be decided. The Executive
Committee, The Constabulary, The Editorial Council and the proposed Judicial
Boards are supposed to be independent of each other!

To me, the third issue is the most burning one and I again request that any
of the EC members may volunteer or nominate another member for the post of
Secretary. The candidate is expected to be familiar with the Rules of
Procedure and the trivial housekeeping activities. The Rules of Procedure
can be found at: 

http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/CZ:Editorial_Council_Rules_of_Procedure


Additional information can be obtained from:
http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/CZ:Editorial_Council_Resolution_0007
I'd be happy to clarify any other doubts or queries that you may have.


Please send me the consent/nominations privately at supten at gmail.com within
eight days, i.e., latest by Friday November 14, 2008, 03:30 hrs. UTC.

With warmest regards

Supten
The Chair, CZ EC


On Wed, Nov 5, 2008 at 9:34 PM, John R Moffett <drjohn at factinista.org>
wrote:


I would second the motion if put forward. I would also concur that
mechanisms should be in place to intellectually resolve disputes over
content without these sorts of problems causing resignations.

John Moffett
USUHS


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