Discuss mailing list

[Quinn Wood <wood.quinn.s AT gmail.com>]

On Wed, Mar 12, 2014 at 4:36 PM, Peter Green <peter AT greenpete.free> wrote:
> Does anyone think such meetings would be of benefit?
>
Two conversations unrelated to this have drifted away from their
topics towards similar ones to this now.

Changes need to be necessary, effective, and proportional.
1.) Necessary: What problem must be solved?
2.) Effective: Does this proposed action address the problem?
3.) Proportional: Does this solution cause additional, or worse, problems?

If you can't answer those three questions, don't bring it up. You rock
the boat needlessly and after a week it degrades into what color we
should paint the shed we're putting your proposed thing in, at best.
At worst people end up angry or personal conflicts outside the scope
of the related discussion arise. After a month, interest is usually
completely gone, and the proposal dies with a whisper. It's important
to stay away from projects which are largely catered (wittingly or
not) towards people who just want to feel momentary empowerment. It
saps energy and leaves the community image looking like a dead animal,
occasionally twitching but not really alive anymore.

Nothing I've said above is directed at any specific idea, proposal, or person.