Posted by alexandra_k on October 15, 2005, at 17:43:17
In reply to Re: Looooong Post, posted by Dr. Bob on October 14, 2005, at 2:09:44
I think smaller groups can be more self-regulating. It is when the group gets bigger that there seems to be a benefit to rules and enforcement of rules.
I mean... There are some smaller online communities that seem to function fairly much okay without a clear leader and explicit rules and rule enforcement and I suppose that Babble was like that too to start with.
But then the boards got bigger. And so maybe it counts as 'historical' that Dr Bob stepped foward as leader in the sense that he set up the boards so he kind of had a historical claim to the leadership.
And so Dr Bob has to try and figure out what rules are most helpful to the community. And figure out rationalisations for the rules being the way they are (which is important for other people understanding and accepting and abiding by the rules).
And I guess some people view him as a tyrant (I don't see that it is inevitable that he is!) but some people (mostly blocked people I guess) see him as a tyrant and they reject his leadership.
But other people... Have observed his leadership over time and they may come to view him as something of a charismatic leader if they respect (though not necessarily agree with all of) his moderating decisions...
And I guess some people start to feel like they fairly much understand the rules. And that they fairly much understand why they are the way they are (and you can do this aside from whether or not you completely agree with them). But people come to be able to accept and understand them.
And so I guess that at that point... You could move from having one leader to having a small group of leaders.
And I guess to start with it would be fairly natural for Dr Bob to retain the power to reverse the other moderators decisions. But it would help things out a lot if the moderators were given the opportunity to rationalise their decisions as well... And to reverse their own decisions... And... I could see how this may be able to work.
And if there is conflict in the group of moderators... Then I suppose all they can do is try and offer rationalisations as to why they think x is the best thing to do for the boards. And hopefully... That could work. Though I guess there would need to be a way of deciding should people continue to disagree. I suppose Dr Bob could step in... Or people could vote...
And so I can see how gradually... Dr Bob could just be part of the small group of moderators. And that could function quite well...
And from there... Well... The more you get people internalising the rules and willing to assist in the process...
The bigger the group of leaders is going to get...
And you might eventually...
Be able to self-govern / self-regulate behaviour in line with the rules
So that you could have self-governance at the level of the large group.Or possibly... Things will disintegrate. At which point... We wait for the emergence of another leader???? Or maybe Dr Bob will have to step in again...
I guess...
Since Dr Bob can't be around forever it is better for the boards if things are set up so that they can continue in his absence.
And some people... Do view Dr Bob as a tyrant. And they might do better if they had a small group of leaders rather than just one individul. They might even... Want to join the group of leaders. They may be able to internalise their rules and rationalisations and go on to contribute to that process...
Seems to me that the only other alternative...
Is to accept that the boards will collapse should something happen to Dr Bob.
And...
That can't be in the best interests of the boards.
I think...
This is making sense to me.
By the way... I don't think it was the 'I'm not going to be here forever' remark that was a shock... It was more that you didn't seem sad or upset or anything about that. And it was unclear... Whether that was something that you wanted because you are sick of us :-( And so... Maybe we worry because we are wondering whether Babble is in your 2 year plan or your 5 year plan or whatever...
poster:alexandra_k
thread:564410
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20051013/msgs/567258.html