> On Fri, Feb 6, 2009 at 10:58 AM, Marc Riddell > <michaeldavi...@comcast.net>wrote: > >> [snip] >> With that in mind, I am proposing the following: >> >> A guideline (or "rule" if you want) stating, Do not make any statement in a >> discussion that does not contribute constructively towards the advancement >> of that discussion. And that, any statement found in a discussion by >> another >> reader of that discussion that does not contribute constructively towards >> the advancement of that discussion be challenged immediately, openly and >> directly. >> >> This will take time, patience, and probably involve a bit of controversy. >> But with this very clear, direct approach a culture will be created. A >> culture of fairness and civility that will be the signature culture of the >> Wikipedia Project. >> >> Thoughts? >> >> Marc Riddell >> on 2/6/09 11:33 AM, Chad at innocentkil...@gmail.com wrote: > > It will never work. What's constructive? Who decides what's constructive? > Is calling someone a troll constructive? What if they really are trolling? > Is it constructive when I repeat a point I've already made? What if you just > disagree with me, could you then challenge my points as being non- > constructive since they aren't right? > > Such a system requires common sense. We wouldn't be in this mess if > people had common sense to begin with. > "It will never work." ? That's a pretty solid wall you've put up, Chad.
The key phrase in your message is "common sense". And I don't believe the term "constructive" needs to be endlessly defined here. This is a collaboration and not a court of law. I believe the majority of editors in the Project possess enough of a sense to be able to determine whether a statement is constructive, i.e., helps build upon what's been said toward a reasonable conclusion and one that serves only to be an obstacle, a distraction to that construction. I am asking reasonable, intelligent persons to make reasonably intelligent judgments here. I believe we are capable of that. As for "calling someone a troll"; we shouldn't be calling anyone anything. Marc _______________________________________________ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
