Hello,
This is about the discussion that took from the FOSS paper initiative. Let's take this opportunity to come good here, for once, at least trying to put our differences behind us.
To ensure that this discussion does not disintegrate into name-calling (which is already happening), hurt egos and an abandonment of the original discussion, let us please first agree on the mode of debate.
Here are a few questions. They may already have been answered before, but please do reconsider in the light that this forum may not have as high a rate of successful communication/collaboration as we may like. And this is coming from a long-time lurker. We should succeed this time at least, right?
The following points are kept general to serve for later conversations as well as this one.
1] Presumably suggestions are to be generated on this forum and elsewhere. Who will 'pool' the suggestions together, if anyone?
2] Is there to be a steering committee for this? If yes, how is the committee to operate? Is it to be a standard majoritarian system (50+1 vote wins) or a municipal-libertarian one (a very large majority is necessary)?
3] Who will chair the think-tank? Who will be seat-holders?
4] What is the penalty for verbal abuse? Removal from the conversation? Removal from the forum?
5] What is the tentative deadline for drafting an action plan?
6] Which are the people/resources we know we've got in the bag?
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Here is the 'Six Boxes Approach', (by Bill Blundel, Washington Post) which you can use to structure a mass of information into usable shape, by considering the points:
HISTORY IMPACT SCOPE CENTRAL REASONS GATHERING AND ACTION OF OPPOSING FORCES THE FUTURE
This can be used while discussing too. Each point will be weighted subjectively of course, but you reach a place of well-rounded thought.
Most of the guys here are senior to me on this forum, I hope this email won't come amiss. Sometimes an outsider has a fresh perspective to offer.