On Tue, 2012-02-14 at 17:23 -0700, Stephen John Smoogen wrote: > 2012/2/14 Máirín Duffy <duffy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>: > > Don't hate me, but... > > > > On Tue, 2012-02-14 at 12:59 -0800, Max Spevack wrote: > >> I know that John is just paraphrasing here, but the truth is that there > >> are a number of times where all you see is something along the lines of > >> "not an issue for the Board" or "Board says that $PROJECT should do what > >> it thinks is best". > Now how can we make this better? Because I can't see being able to > truly answer various questions before the board. Well, my point was if the board wants to operate under the 'people doing the work decide' model, then I think the board should build the framework that makes it possible for people to get the work done. This may occasionally involve effort on the part of the board to interact with the people who do work on things, and making a case to them that some particular thing would make Fedora a better place. (E.g., hey Fedora infrastructure team, what do you think about deploying X? We think it might solve problem Y. This is how we think it'll make our project better. What do you think? Do you, in your expertise, have a better solution? Let's solve the problem together.) It doesn't have to be a decree or an order. It can be a compelling case and story to hopefully inspire people to action, or if not, show that maybe the proposed solution wasn't the best and find a better way. To be honest, I do worry a lot less about what exactly I work on and more about how to make a positive impact on the project or the world - I don't think I'm alone. Isn't that what drives us to free software communities? If someone on the board reaches out to you, taps you to help them solve a problem, explaining the positive difference and reach that work would have and helping recruit others to work with you, would you make the time? (A group of us on the websites team did exactly when this happened with the board's ~F11 timeframe request for a new fedoraproject.org.) The saying, 'go ahead' to things brought up to them rather than proactively approaching people with compelling projects, making them feel as if they have a shot at changing things for the better and making a difference, is certainly a less inspirational mode of operation IMHO. It could work though, if the board made available a framework under which people can get things done. If the board does not do this, the 'people doing the work decide' becomes 'people who have excessive amounts of free time and/or who are willing to sacrifice their personal lives and who have the patience and heart of a saint are the the people who decide.' (And there are many such people in the project. Valentine's <3 to all of you.) How the board answers particular questions is orthogonal here, though. The board doesn't have to be in the business of fielding various questions if the board follows through and makes it easier for people to help themselves. (e.g., rather than point people to the dark forest full of wolves and pray they have the fortitude to make it through, work to have a set of stadium lighting installed at various points in the woods to light the way for safe productive wandering.) As a bonus, you're not really taking sides when you work on the framework around participation, so I don't think 'sides' would come much into play. ~m _______________________________________________ advisory-board mailing list advisory-board@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/advisory-board
