Re: Rules
From: list (listmoz.geek.nz)
Date: Thu, 12 May 2011 17:57:54 -0700 (PDT)
Kay said:
> The only thing that posting agreements (rules, laws, manners) assumes is
> that people's memories aren't perfect.

Indeed. I often struggle even to find things that I've written down,
which is why I'm a big fan of putting it online and using search. There
is a balance though, of trying to keep everything compact and readable
so people don't have to spend ages reading through rambling notes.

> I think people who are rule-shy have had experience of rules that
> combined two at-best marginally related traits - they were formalized
> and they were coercive

I think this also ties into the idea that consensus means no rules -
everyone agrees so why do we need a rule? But as you say, we need a rule
because some of us forget what we agreed. And because it's so much easier
to remember a clearly written rule than recall what the outcome of a long
discussion was. With the bonus that if you write it down anyone who didn't
realise they disagree can often point that out now rather than later when
it becomes obvious.

I often find that the recorded discussion also reminds me of things that
led into the rule. Sure, it seems obvious now that we can allow kids to
play in the great lounge unsupervised, but 10 years ago there were those
problems and ... we made a rule. So I like to record *why* we made
decisions, as well as what we decided. That also makes it easier to see
when the reasons change or are not applicable. "no unsupervised kids in
the great hall" makes perfect sense when all the kids are under 10, but
when does a teenager stop being a kid? Now we need a new rule :)

Moz



  • Re: rules, (continued)

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