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Mic Check: Bulletin Board - Most Recent 2 Versions of Draft hosting guidelines (read at yr leisure)
SOP (approved)A place for Occupy participants and supporters to promote the values of Occupy Wall Street, share information, and advocate constructive interaction among members of the DU community. This is a General Assembly of supporters of the 99%. While dissent is allowed because there are many different groups that oppose rule by the 1%, anti-Occupy Wall Street rhetoric belongs in other forums.
Description (approved)
This group would be self-governing and adhere to the principles of a General Assembly as close as possible while providing a place for Occupy supporters to organize for Occupation and other efforts in support of the Occupy Movement. This group would not preclude discussion of Occupy Wall Street in other forums. Upon recieving 10 posts in support of this proposal this thread will be submitted to the DU administration for approval. (done)
I promised Ellisonz I'd post this, as he has offered to facilitate this discussion since he's abstaining from serving as a co-host.
There is no rush, right now we're just posting these here for comment.
Long version (product of the du2 consensus thread) --
DRAFT version no. 1
Group Standards and Procedure
1. All members will treat other members in a manner consistent with the DU Community Standards and Terms of Service. No member shall disclose personal messages without authorization. No member may engage in personal attacks or harassing behavior. Discuss the post and not the poster.
2. In accordance with the principles of Occupy, the method of decision-making used by group participants shall be consensus, allowing for the use of straw polls if and as needed, to be recognized accordingly by the OP or by any host who is not the OP, thereby closing out the decision-making portion of the thread. A determination of consensus may be reconsidered by two (2) other hosts, thereby leaving the discussion open.
3. Consensus process may not include blocking motions by sole individuals, unless the person(s) calling for discussion allow for it. These standards and procedures may be amended only by a supermajority of respondents who are group members at the petition of 10 members previously participating in a host election.
4. Up to 4 co-hosts, or a set number specified by the group, would be appointed by the lead host as instructed by the group, in accordance with an ongoing consensus of group participants as to the number and duties of such hosts, which consensus shall be recognized fairly in response to a dedicated thread in which a decision is reached by users to make an ongoing determination of hosting issues, such thread to remain open for at least 72 hours and provide an additional 72 hours to come to a decision, the results of which shall be recognized by the lead host and acted upon per the wishes of the group.
5. The lead host shall appoint such co-hosts as are instructed by consensus of the group, and shall stand for election every 6 months, and approved either by unanimous consent motion or a free and fair election that shall in either case have a discussion period of 72 hours and last 72 hours, and shall otherwise serve at the pleasure of the group. Any and all co-hosts would be similarly approved in joint fashion from time to time at reasonable intervals as determined by the group. Any host may be subject to an open recall by a supermajority of respondents who are group members at the petition of 10 members previously participating in a host election.
6. During the period of time a host selection thread is active, members may freely debate the merits of candidates and the purpose of the group. No DU member shall be compelled to give a reason for objection or for casting a vote. Any debate must be consistent with the DU policies on conduct. No DU member shall be denied the right to participate in a consensus or vote. Objections may be interpreted as request for further discussion.
7. Whether a host should close out consensus or the person calling for a debate on any given subject will be determined if thread participants (by acclamation) or a host (in-thread) or the OP themselves deem it to be an issue wherein a person other than the OP ought close out discussion. Whether it is a matter for decision among hosts alone (e.g. in the case of conduct issues) shall be determined in like fashion, except that two (2) hosts may request it. Any and all host decisions shall be transparent to other users. Decisions made by the group are those wherein a host may be asked to "close out" consensus of the group towards the end of a thread. Hosts initiating or participating in the discussion may wish to refrain from acting as the person in charge of determining consensus. ><
8. As is typical in Occupy and online forums such as Wikipedia, consensus may be discussion-based and the person closing out discussion may give weight to well crafted arguments presented by actual Occupy supporters, irrespective of imagined or perceived activist credentials in locking threads.
9. Topics for discussion may be considered on or off-topic by acclamation, assuming that the poster in question is producing content that is deemed valuable by fellow supporters of Occupy. If a host believes a thread to be off-topic they may lock that thread, but they shall not lock any thread that they have participated in, beyond posting an explanatory locking comment. Hosts shall fairly consider appeals, and group members may appeal to any two (2) hosts for reconsideration of the lock.
10. No member shall be blocked from a group without a specific warning issued by a host, if the warning host judges the warning has been ignored, followed by an open vote on the block by hosts, with all votes being equal. If a member disrupts the open vote on their block, they will automatically negate the vote and be blocked by the lead host. Members may appeal their block to the any host and receive a second vote on the block if any host makes such a request. No double jeopardy.
11. The lead host shall serve as informal vibes watcher and ensure that hosts and group participants are properly interpreting these standards and procedure, and shall defer to the consensus of the group and to co-hosts on all other matters, insofar as, once appointed, the lead host would have power equal to that of any individual co-host within the group and hosts shall only have such powers within the group as are granted by the consensus of the group members from time to time as described above. (*? added by me, may not be necessary esp. if we want to pare it down not add stuff)
12. Note that Occupy is not a partisan movement, but DU is a partisan blog. Therefore this group is, necessarily, a forum for Occupy supporters who happen to be contributing members of the DU community and does not seek to co-opt the label, speak for any Occupy or for all Occupiers, or take the place of physical Occupy efforts. It is not meant to forestall but to encourage discussion on other DU forums by providing a place for inter-forum links among other things, bringing people together on a common issue, and public information that might get lost in the shuffle.
Occupy ALL Streets. Occupy ALL Seats. Occupy ALL Forums.
1. All members will treat other members in a manner consistent with the DU Community Standards and Terms of Service. No member shall disclose personal messages without authorization. No member may engage in personal attacks or harassing behavior. Discuss the post and not the poster.
2. In accordance with the principles of Occupy, the method of decision-making used by group participants shall be consensus, allowing for the use of straw polls if and as needed, to be recognized accordingly by the OP or by any host who is not the OP, thereby closing out the decision-making portion of the thread. A determination of consensus may be reconsidered by two (2) other hosts, thereby leaving the discussion open.
3. Consensus process may not include blocking motions by sole individuals, unless the person(s) calling for discussion allow for it. These standards and procedures may be amended only by a supermajority of respondents who are group members at the petition of 10 members previously participating in a host election.
4. Up to 4 co-hosts, or a set number specified by the group, would be appointed by the lead host as instructed by the group, in accordance with an ongoing consensus of group participants as to the number and duties of such hosts, which consensus shall be recognized fairly in response to a dedicated thread in which a decision is reached by users to make an ongoing determination of hosting issues, such thread to remain open for at least 72 hours and provide an additional 72 hours to come to a decision, the results of which shall be recognized by the lead host and acted upon per the wishes of the group.
5. The lead host shall appoint such co-hosts as are instructed by consensus of the group, and shall stand for election every 6 months, and approved either by unanimous consent motion or a free and fair election that shall in either case have a discussion period of 72 hours and last 72 hours, and shall otherwise serve at the pleasure of the group. Any and all co-hosts would be similarly approved in joint fashion from time to time at reasonable intervals as determined by the group. Any host may be subject to an open recall by a supermajority of respondents who are group members at the petition of 10 members previously participating in a host election.
6. During the period of time a host selection thread is active, members may freely debate the merits of candidates and the purpose of the group. No DU member shall be compelled to give a reason for objection or for casting a vote. Any debate must be consistent with the DU policies on conduct. No DU member shall be denied the right to participate in a consensus or vote. Objections may be interpreted as request for further discussion.
7. Whether a host should close out consensus or the person calling for a debate on any given subject will be determined if thread participants (by acclamation) or a host (in-thread) or the OP themselves deem it to be an issue wherein a person other than the OP ought close out discussion. Whether it is a matter for decision among hosts alone (e.g. in the case of conduct issues) shall be determined in like fashion, except that two (2) hosts may request it. Any and all host decisions shall be transparent to other users. Decisions made by the group are those wherein a host may be asked to "close out" consensus of the group towards the end of a thread. Hosts initiating or participating in the discussion may wish to refrain from acting as the person in charge of determining consensus. ><
8. As is typical in Occupy and online forums such as Wikipedia, consensus may be discussion-based and the person closing out discussion may give weight to well crafted arguments presented by actual Occupy supporters, irrespective of imagined or perceived activist credentials in locking threads.
9. Topics for discussion may be considered on or off-topic by acclamation, assuming that the poster in question is producing content that is deemed valuable by fellow supporters of Occupy. If a host believes a thread to be off-topic they may lock that thread, but they shall not lock any thread that they have participated in, beyond posting an explanatory locking comment. Hosts shall fairly consider appeals, and group members may appeal to any two (2) hosts for reconsideration of the lock.
10. No member shall be blocked from a group without a specific warning issued by a host, if the warning host judges the warning has been ignored, followed by an open vote on the block by hosts, with all votes being equal. If a member disrupts the open vote on their block, they will automatically negate the vote and be blocked by the lead host. Members may appeal their block to the any host and receive a second vote on the block if any host makes such a request. No double jeopardy.
11. The lead host shall serve as informal vibes watcher and ensure that hosts and group participants are properly interpreting these standards and procedure, and shall defer to the consensus of the group and to co-hosts on all other matters, insofar as, once appointed, the lead host would have power equal to that of any individual co-host within the group and hosts shall only have such powers within the group as are granted by the consensus of the group members from time to time as described above. (*? added by me, may not be necessary esp. if we want to pare it down not add stuff)
12. Note that Occupy is not a partisan movement, but DU is a partisan blog. Therefore this group is, necessarily, a forum for Occupy supporters who happen to be contributing members of the DU community and does not seek to co-opt the label, speak for any Occupy or for all Occupiers, or take the place of physical Occupy efforts. It is not meant to forestall but to encourage discussion on other DU forums by providing a place for inter-forum links among other things, bringing people together on a common issue, and public information that might get lost in the shuffle.
Occupy ALL Streets. Occupy ALL Seats. Occupy ALL Forums.
And short version is Ellisonz's most recent proposed edit, below. I haven't had the chance to compare the two myself as I have to run out the door, but this thread is just for public viewing and/or comment. We can do an editing thread like we did in the epic mic check thread on the old site, and then take things as people prefer.
DRAFT version no. 2
Note that Occupy is not a partisan movement, but Democratic Underground is a partisan blog. Therefore this group is, necessarily, a forum for Occupy supporters who happen to be contributing members of the DU community and does not seek to co-opt the label, speak for any Occupy or for all Occupiers, or take the place of physical Occupy efforts. It is not meant to forestall, but to encourage discussion on other DU forums by providing a place for inter-forum links among other things, bringing people together on a common issue, and public information that might get lost in the shuffle.
Occupy ALL Streets. Occupy ALL Seats. Occupy ALL Forums.
1. All members will treat other members in a manner consistent with the DU Community Standards and Terms of Service. No member may engage in personal attacks or harassing behavior. This group is not to be used to organize disruption of other forums and/or groups at Democratic Underground. Discuss the post and not the poster. Please don’t make this group suck; this group should be fun for all.
2. The lead host shall be elected for a term of 6 months from the conclusion of a free and fair vote. This election shall of an election lasting no less than 72 hours from its start. Eligible voting members shall consist of posters who have made at least five posts in the group in the preceding host term. No member shall be denied the right to vote who has met this qualification.
3. The lead host may nominate up to 4 co-hosts in order of succession, may be nominated by the lead host, for approval by the group as defined by the voters of the previous election with no voting period lasting less than 48 hours. These hosts shall likewise serve a term of 6 months. The prior lead host shall be responsible for the operating and tabulation of elections with results being certified by a majority of prior hosts.
4. Hosts serve at the pleasure of the group and not the lead host once elected and may not be removed by another host without a recall election. At the petition of 10 members previously voting in the lead host election, recall voting period shall last for no less than 72 hours. In response to a successful recall petition. If the lead host is recalled all hosts must resign and new elections must be held.
5. The freedom of respectful debate and speech are not to be infringed by any host, although election threads are expected to remain free of extraneous debate. Hosts are expected to use their superpowers judiciously, to be responsive to the concerns of membership, and to refrain from discussing hosting issues in uncivil terms either in the group, in personal messages, or in any other forum of Democratic Underground other than the Forum and Group Hosts workplace forum. No off-site board for hosting shall be created for any purpose.
6. In accordance with the general practice of Occupy, the method of decision-making for locking threads used by group participants may be by consensus, allowing for hosts or members to determine consensus on the utility of a thread as being consistent with the Statement of Purpose. No thread may be locked without the stated locking message of two-hosts. No thread expressing complaint about any hosting issue shall be locked (hosting complaint petition), so long as it is consistent with the Community Standards and Terms of Service, which may be determined by the acclamation of the group participants. Any lock may be overturned by a majority vote of hosts.
7. No member shall be blocked from a group without a specific warning issued by a host, if the warning host concludes the warning has been ignored, followed by an open vote thread on the block by hosts, with all votes being equal. If a member disrupts the open vote on their block, except for an apology and request for clemency that may or may not be accepted, the lead host may block on their own. Members may appeal their block to the any host and receive a second vote on the block if any host makes such a request. No member shall be blocked from the group except by the lead host, although any host may request a vote on a block.
8. These guidelines are considered enacted with a vote of two-thirds with only members who participated in the last host election being eligible. The guidelines for hosting and membership may be amended at the petition of ten voting members of the lead host election, but must include a majority of current hosts. This document does not negate the right of DU administrators to remove any host for any reason or to administer DU as they see fit.
Helpful definitions of terms:
Statement of Purpose – The guiding principle of the group by which all members are expected to adhere.
Lead Host – The number 1 host in the group hierarchy. Expected to conduct elections, generally serve as the vibes watcher of the group.
Co-Host – The number 2-5 hosts in the group hierarchy. They have equal hosting powers to the lead host, expected to serve in as co-vibes watchers of the group.
Recall petition – A request for the removal of a host
Hosting complaint petition – A request of redress to
Member – A member of Democratic Underground.
Voting Member – A member of the group who has made at least five posts in the group during prior term of the lead host.
Occupy ALL Streets. Occupy ALL Seats. Occupy ALL Forums.
1. All members will treat other members in a manner consistent with the DU Community Standards and Terms of Service. No member may engage in personal attacks or harassing behavior. This group is not to be used to organize disruption of other forums and/or groups at Democratic Underground. Discuss the post and not the poster. Please don’t make this group suck; this group should be fun for all.
2. The lead host shall be elected for a term of 6 months from the conclusion of a free and fair vote. This election shall of an election lasting no less than 72 hours from its start. Eligible voting members shall consist of posters who have made at least five posts in the group in the preceding host term. No member shall be denied the right to vote who has met this qualification.
3. The lead host may nominate up to 4 co-hosts in order of succession, may be nominated by the lead host, for approval by the group as defined by the voters of the previous election with no voting period lasting less than 48 hours. These hosts shall likewise serve a term of 6 months. The prior lead host shall be responsible for the operating and tabulation of elections with results being certified by a majority of prior hosts.
4. Hosts serve at the pleasure of the group and not the lead host once elected and may not be removed by another host without a recall election. At the petition of 10 members previously voting in the lead host election, recall voting period shall last for no less than 72 hours. In response to a successful recall petition. If the lead host is recalled all hosts must resign and new elections must be held.
5. The freedom of respectful debate and speech are not to be infringed by any host, although election threads are expected to remain free of extraneous debate. Hosts are expected to use their superpowers judiciously, to be responsive to the concerns of membership, and to refrain from discussing hosting issues in uncivil terms either in the group, in personal messages, or in any other forum of Democratic Underground other than the Forum and Group Hosts workplace forum. No off-site board for hosting shall be created for any purpose.
6. In accordance with the general practice of Occupy, the method of decision-making for locking threads used by group participants may be by consensus, allowing for hosts or members to determine consensus on the utility of a thread as being consistent with the Statement of Purpose. No thread may be locked without the stated locking message of two-hosts. No thread expressing complaint about any hosting issue shall be locked (hosting complaint petition), so long as it is consistent with the Community Standards and Terms of Service, which may be determined by the acclamation of the group participants. Any lock may be overturned by a majority vote of hosts.
7. No member shall be blocked from a group without a specific warning issued by a host, if the warning host concludes the warning has been ignored, followed by an open vote thread on the block by hosts, with all votes being equal. If a member disrupts the open vote on their block, except for an apology and request for clemency that may or may not be accepted, the lead host may block on their own. Members may appeal their block to the any host and receive a second vote on the block if any host makes such a request. No member shall be blocked from the group except by the lead host, although any host may request a vote on a block.
8. These guidelines are considered enacted with a vote of two-thirds with only members who participated in the last host election being eligible. The guidelines for hosting and membership may be amended at the petition of ten voting members of the lead host election, but must include a majority of current hosts. This document does not negate the right of DU administrators to remove any host for any reason or to administer DU as they see fit.
Helpful definitions of terms:
Statement of Purpose – The guiding principle of the group by which all members are expected to adhere.
Lead Host – The number 1 host in the group hierarchy. Expected to conduct elections, generally serve as the vibes watcher of the group.
Co-Host – The number 2-5 hosts in the group hierarchy. They have equal hosting powers to the lead host, expected to serve in as co-vibes watchers of the group.
Recall petition – A request for the removal of a host
Hosting complaint petition – A request of redress to
Member – A member of Democratic Underground.
Voting Member – A member of the group who has made at least five posts in the group during prior term of the lead host.
I am hoping we can do as much as possible by consensus. Consensus usually breaks down when people try to use it in the context of a heirarchical structure that others in the group are trying to build, see for example the current issues in the FG. We are hoping to avoid that by making sure that the guidelines are understood as checks and balances to establish that it's a bottom up group and the co-hosts are appointed to help facilitate.
[font face="Times"]Gavel of Friendship[/font]
[font face="Times"]v[font color="white"].......................[/font]Hosts v[/font]
This thread is a repost from the other "occupy related" forum, where it was posted for the benefit of folks there who participated in setting up this group.
-----------
For more information, see previous threads on the "other" forum:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2475403 (original request)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2475691 (poll mega-thread + guidelines)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2476023 (drafting SoP)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2476213 (finalizing SoP)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2476349 (final draft of SoP)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2477306 (revisiting the host guidelines)
(thanks to Cronus of "Occupy" du2 for the sig pic. Take it! It's yours)
[font color="white"]...[/font] 
12 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Also, if you have a draft you would like to put forward, please go right ahead. We're going to *meld*
I like the emphasis on consensus. I have not thoroughly read it yet, but will comment later when I have more time to so.
Thank you and everyone who worked on this.
I think there will be some slight tweaks and more discussion of course before any sort of consensus is sought on the matter. I too considered the alternatives such as a instant run-off system and found the simpler and more cooperative model to be probably more like what most people want out of this group. I was actually really impressed by how the LGBT Group used it for their election, but I think the concern here being political requires a more judicial approach. This group seems to be pretty harmonious so far and that is definitely good thing. I think most of us would be more than happy to never need for hosts to lock a thread or even more seriously consider blocking a member. Superpowers are not to be used lightly!
Aloha to you Chan790! 
I am very please to see the call for multiple hosts, and with changes in hosts periodically.
I'm not sure I'm following the "no-host" approach, but if it can be undone easily then it might be worth a try.
What is to be feared are irreversible policies.
A few other boards here have had problems due to hosts who were (IMO) not using their powers wisely, but there were no checks in place.
On one board there is only one host and, apparently, no way to replace that person.
So, I'm very confident that this group will be a success and, while I will be somewhat unavailable for the next several days, I am confident in the leadership we have.
