[WikiEN-l] Re: Consensus

Mon Jul 18 10:33:02 UTC 2005

> From: "Charles Matthews" <charles.r.matthews at ntlworld.com>
>
> "Dan Grey" wrote
>
>> "Consensus" can only mean everyone agrees - and when the hell that
>> does that happen? Next to never.
>
> Consensus may be a slightly fuzzy term, but it doesn't mean that.   
> In fact
> WP's standard way of operating is a rather good illustration of  
> what it does
> mean: a mixture across the community of those who are largely  
> agreed, some
> who disagree but 'agree to disagree' without disaffection, those  
> who don't
> agree but give low priority to the given issue, those who disagree  
> strongly
> but concede that there is a community view and respect it on that  
> level,
> some vocal and unreconciled folk, some who operate 'outside the  
> law'.  You
> find out whether you have consensus, if not unanimity, when you try  
> to build
> on it.
>
> Charles

Well said!

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