[IMC-Boston-Editorial] Thoughts on online decision process

[Jonathan D. Proulx]

As a background question is there formal consensus on this topic
either from the general meeting or the editorial group?  Even if it
hasn't obviously we should follow working practice absent consensus on
change...anyway here's my thoughts, a bit long winded I'm afraid.

I'm honestly baffled by the idea that in person meeting are more
inclusive or more efficient than online process and would like to hear
more details about how this is so for people.  My experience is that
most in person meeting could easily be handled in email and many many
things I'm involved in are done exclusively in email with people who
could never all get together at one place and time.  I admittedly live
in a rather odd and technological world, but it's mine and hard to see
out of.

There are quite a number of issues around online decision making, and I
make no pretense that simply saying "OK we can make operational
decision on line now unless someone blocks and calls for a meeting" is
going to work, it's not.  But from where I sit online process is much
more inclusive and accessible than physical meetings.

This is particularly true of the webitorial group.  If you don't have
access to a computer, you can't read, manage, or edit the website, so
how are you involved?  Clearly there is the issue of how much access
you have and how frequently you can get to your email and any
development of online consensus process would need to specify a
comment period and quorum requirements.  It would not be true
consensus if 75% of the group agreed on something and when forward
before the other 25% even heard the idea, nor would it be appropriate
for 25% to assume silence is consent of the other 75% even after
several weeks.

So there's clearly many issues of process to be addressed as well, I'm
consciously glossing over this a bit because we don't agree on utility
of any process so I think specific proposals void of specific interest
and concerns would not be useful (and this email is quite too long already) 

Access is one issue I've heard.  I don't see how this is an issue
in this working group as if you don't have web access you're already
cut out to a large extent.  This is no the case for general meeting
business or video/print/radio etc... as you can participate without a
computer and internet access.  If getting a computer is an issue, I do
have some ideas on how to get old but serviceable systems for free.  I'd
like to hear a bit more from people who have this problem but are able
to attend meetings, bit of a catch-22 since this is email I suppose,
but second hand anecdotes will do in this case I suppose.

The other, perhaps larger, issue is the issue of process or perhaps
more basicly civility.  To a certain extent I believe formalizing a
decision precess will help with this as opposed to a free for all
shouting match.  Beyond that people just need to learn to behave
themselves.  That part is a blanket issue across all lists that
involve any discussion.

If we adequately address the access issue, which my admittedly
privileged technological position may blind me to (but may also
position me to help resolve if I can be shown the issues), online
process allows for much greater participation.  There are no
scheduling conflicts.  People who work weekends or odd shifts can
participate on their schedule, along with people who are just spread
too thin with work/school/family/whatever to have a sane schedule,
people who are home bound due to illness or injury, people (like
sharpie) who are travelling extensively), and many other cases.

It seems to me that refusing to make decisions online cuts a large
number or people from participation, and I personally have little
patience for the civility argument, we are living in a digital age and
the group particularly in digital media, we need to learn how to get
along in this environment.

In the end, I am almost never going to make it to a meeting in person.
If that means I have less of a voice in decision process, I'm not
going to loose any sleep over it and will continue my modest role in
editing out egregious spam and flames and kicking the web server in
the extremely rare case that it isn't working properly.

-Jon