>> I think we need a leader that makes a final decision when and only when
>> the decision cannot be reached by democratic means.
>
>I think we only need a leader when we have a decision that we can't figure
>out just by deciding and agreeing on it like we have so far. I was in a
>group that voted for things. Every decision took far too long, nothing got
>done and nobody was happy. If there is an official structure to this group
>I think we will find a lot more resentment for leaders etc. I personally
>have never had much respect for leaders making decisions for me, even the
>ones I voted for.

Adrian, Andre, et al:

If you want to pursue true democracy internally, it will be interesting to
see how it goes.  Is that really what you're proposing, Andre?  What is the
difference between "deciding and agreeing" and "voting for things"?, other
than formality?

More importantly, what has this group really decided and agreed upon so
far?  Find me one post to this list saying "OC is officially..." (and a
second post saying the person who made the first post is officially
designated to speak for the group as a whole).  We have an ongoing
conversation where ideas are discussed but nothing is formally approved and
people doing the work implement their interpretation of the ideas without
any design document (we've hedged that with "100% HyperCard compatible").

Also, lacking an agreed upon mechanism for conflict resolution leaves us
open for greater rifts as differences of opinion arise.  And I suggest that
differences of opinion will be more likely to arise once those of us
lacking the skills or inclination to work directly on low-level programming
can begin scripting OpenTalk and help design the UI.

Regardless of internal operations, the group must have a leader who serves
as our point of contact with the outside world.  Who do outsiders contact
for "official" information about OC?  Can anyone issue a press release in
the name of the OC project?  Who does Scott work with re: MetaCard's use
for OC UI development?

A leader serves as much more than a tie-breaker.


Rob Cozens, CCW
http://www.serendipitysoftware.com/who.html

"And I, which was two fooles, do so grow three;
Who are a little wise, the best fooles bee."

from "The Triple Foole" by  John Donne (1572-1631)

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