RE: Problems with Voting | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Rob Sandelin (floriferous![]() |
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Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 08:10:17 -0600 (MDT) |
Voting can be done using a totally collaborative spirit and process, the only difference is that after all the discussions and amendments, you vote at the end. One of the things voting DOES give you is a way to shut off people who abuse consensus process for personal power. The, I will block this and shut down the group if I don't get my way, sort of approach is deflated when voting can and does over ride them. I have seen many many groups gets completely derailed by power trips, misplaced personal values, and even deliberate destructive uses of consensus. A group of violent anarchists took over a local greenpeace office for a bit using blocking of all agreements as a tactic. After a week (which was very generous) the backup voting process sent these folks packing. Sometimes you need to make it clear to ego-drivers that compromise is something THEY have to do too. Being able to vote your way past a deliberate misuse of consensus blocking is a VERY important part of successful process. In my experience consensus also regularly fails in decisions with no best choice only personal preferences. Is blue or green the best tile color for the bathroom? 30 adults consenting on this choice often means, those with the strongest opinions get their way, the rest don' care and stand aside. If two people with strong opinions, blue or green, butt heads, the effort/time expended on consensus might be considerably more than the decision is really worth. Large complex multi-facetted decisions, like budgets for example, can also be difficult to reach consensus upon. And if your large group process does not work well, deciding small things like what to plant in the garden, or how many forks to buy can eat up hours of time which might be better used for other things. Rob Sandelin South Snohomish County at the headwaters of Ricci Creek Sky Valley Environments <http://www.nonprofitpages.com/nica/SVE.htm> Field skills training for student naturalists Floriferous [at] msn.com -----Original Message----- From: cohousing-l-admin [at] cohousing.org [mailto:cohousing-l-admin [at] cohousing.org]On Behalf Of Racheli Gai Sent: Sunday, August 10, 2003 5:58 AM To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org Subject: [C-L]_Problems with Voting I agree with the point that voting doesn't *necessarily* entail ignoring those with differing views. However, it makes it very easy to do so. People who find it hard, even when using consensus, to listen and acknowledge the validity of opposing opinions, are much less likely to worry about that sort of thing when they have the numbers on their sides. I've worked with at least one organization which used Robert's rules. It seemed to me that the system allowed amazing level of manipulation by those "in the know". My impression is that it wasn't unique to that particular group. I "vote" for consensus ! :) R. -- ----------------------------------------------------------- racheli [at] sonoracohousing.com (Racheli Gai) ----------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ Cohousing-L mailing list Cohousing-L [at] cohousing.org Unsubscribe and other info: http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.332 / Virus Database: 186 - Release Date: 3/6/02 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.332 / Virus Database: 186 - Release Date: 3/6/02 _______________________________________________ Cohousing-L mailing list Cohousing-L [at] cohousing.org Unsubscribe and other info: http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L
- RE: Something faster and easier than consensus?, (continued)
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RE: Something faster and easier than consensus? Fred H Olson, August 9 2003
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Problems with Voting [was Something faster and easier than consensus?] Sharon Villines, August 9 2003
- Re: Problems with Voting [was Something faster and easier than consensus?] Joani Blank, August 9 2003
- Problems with Voting Racheli Gai, August 10 2003
- RE: Problems with Voting Rob Sandelin, August 27 2003
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Problems with Voting [was Something faster and easier than consensus?] Sharon Villines, August 9 2003
- RE: Problems with Voting [was Something faster and easier than consensus?] Rob Sandelin, August 27 2003
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RE: Something faster and easier than consensus? Fred H Olson, August 9 2003
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