User:OneKarma/Forum/Demo

Forum

• User:OneKarma/Forum
• User:OneKarma/Forum/Functions
• User:OneKarma/Forum/Demo
• User:OneKarma/Forum/Communications - a discussion around the meaning and intent of Occupy Boston's 'official' communication spaces

---

This page exists to present a 'prototype' method of use. The use of a structure such as the following would effectively draft and maintain documents naturally as it is used.

This is the Forum Demo will demonstrate the structure and process of actions, discussions, and proposals in a forum. It is intended that this process be scalable by 'tiers'. Tiers would be designed to address various issues within an intuitive and ordered hierarchy. Working Groups are a first step in creating such an hierarchy, but they will require a minor re-design to effectively implement these proposals.

In addition to the introduction section, every 'Issue' page should include the following identified sections. The creation of these sections should facilitate a learning process for both authors and readers.

[to be addressed: non-internet enabled users]

Section 1: Argument

• Introduction to issue and proposed solution
• Highlight language that may not be commonly defined or that is specifically defined for the proposal.

It is necessary that all actions can be performed by all persons. This requires a simple structure for suggesting, discussing, drafting, and voting.

The main page will be the current draft. To save massive editing confusion, the draft will be open for editing only to the primary author(s). Primary authors are the core group of developers. They should be in constant contact with each other regarding changes to the draft page. To become a primary author, one must be in agreement with the other primary authors upon the intent of the proposal. It is important that the introductory paragraph explains this intent very clearly and very briefly.

In addition to an introduction, the main page will contain the following:

Section 1a: Premise (Problem)

Contains concise and specific bullet points

1. For efficient and fair governance, there must be an open, equally accessible forum
   1. All relevant information must be equally available
   2. The time-line of making decisions must regard all persons' schedules
2. The current iteration of the GA is not equally accessible

The general process leading to a proposal is as follows:

1. One becomes aware of an issue
   1. One explores the depth of the issue in pursuit of potential solutions
   2. One documents the many aspects of the issue and how a solution might be implemented (draft creation)
2. One requests discussion via greater polis
   1. One edits the draft (or creates anew) via greater and greater polis, until accepted by the highest relevant polis

Notes

• 'One' may be more than a single individual. 'One' may choose to privately explore an issue and its potential solutions in the birthing of a draft. When a first draft is complete, it may be presented for review at the first tier. (The 'one' draft author(s) is considered the zeroth tier.)
• A proposal must pass through varying public approval tiers from the bottom up. (For example, a working group 1. drafts a document, and 2. votes affirmatively to present that document for ratification at a General Assembly.)
  • Each of these tiers will have different requirements to 'pass'.
  • A proposal must be passed by all tiers to which it is effective. (Working groups can create internal working groups for specific issues that fall under the umbrella of the working group. This can help to pull people into areas of interest that are currently being discussed.)
• A proposal must detail a set of actions to be performed.

Section 1b: Intended Conclusion of this Proposal

1. To design the forum
2. To exemplify and enable the forum on this wiki

Section 2: Proposed Active Solution

This section will contain a description of necessary actions, therefore it will be the largest section of the proposal. This page is merely an example of the proposed structure, and this section is therefore shorter than it would normally be.

To implement this structure, a number of actions must be taken:

1. The GA must agree upon the requirements described on this page (edits should be suggested on the Discussion tab)
2. There must be established an intuitive hierarchy of working groups and methodology

Section 3: Links

Link to all documents, including concepts, examples, meeting minutes, et al.

All relevant documents should be hosted on the wiki. It is important to have both public and private back-ups in various locations, such as personal computers and other internet hosts, like Google Docs.

Section 4: Clarifications

This section summarizes discussion points and how they are addressed in the 'solution'. There may be FAQs, points of information, and links to particularly important discussion points.

Section 5: Contacts

Authors should list their names, contact information, and specific roles regarding the proposal. This could also incorporate a short personal statement.

Section 5a: Primary Authors

Primary authors may approve 'new' primary authors by request.

1. OneKarma 17:39, 7 November 2011 (EST) - Responsible for all concepts, texts, and motivations. I have failed to create a core group of developers due to my strange work schedule, and probably due also to my very critical nature. It has been a difficult task to describe the concepts and to determine the necessary aspects of this proposal.

Section 5b: Secondary Authors

Secondary authors are those who wish to be informed of all updates, but who are not of the original authors.

Section 6: Discussion (on Discussion tab)

1. The discussion tab will serve as the primary meeting place for questions, comments, criticisms, and amendments. The discussion should be summarized and sectioned by issue.
2. If discussion is highly active, it may require hosting on a live-updating site, such as pad.riseup.net. When a discussion evolves into live-updating space:
   • links must be accurately described, and
   • the primary author(s) will have absolute rights to modifying the discussion tab. There shall then also be a carbon-copy of this tab so that non-primary contributors may help to direct the discussion. As well as updating the Clarifications section, the primary author(s) will be responsible for updating the discussion tab to match the live-updating version.