Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Quorum

[R.N. Johnson (cohoranda]

I think that proxies and decisions by email/ phone are not a good idea because 
you can't really have meaningful group discussion that way. Email and phone 
calls are great supplements to the group discussion, and a good way to sound 
people out ahead of time or to disseminate information, but the type of 
creative discussion that comes together face to face does not happen.   Its 
like taking an online course: people go through the motions of online 
"discussions", but very little is said.  You miss the kind of intellectual 
exchange you can get in a group of people who are physically present. It's 
worth it if all you need is the piece of paper saying you did it, but not worth 
the trouble if you actually wanted to learn more than you could by just reading 
the book.

Randa Johnson
New Brighton Cohousing

Aptos, CA