[WikiEN-l] I've Kicked the Process Habit

Tue Sep 19 14:24:27 UTC 2006

I haven't followed this whole thread, so this point may have been
amply made already, but:

	*Phil did not say he was going to violate policy.*

He said he was going to ignore process, and there's a crucial
difference.  The speculation is that simply doing the right
thing, even in ignorance of process, will be in substantial
accordance with it (or at least, with core policy) 90% of the
time anyway.  And for the other 10%, the possibility that the
process is misguided or incomplete, and the existence of IAR,
ought to about cover it.

(Phil didn't claim those 90/10 numbers; I just made them up.)

> Or, for that matter, that offensive that you had to launch into
> such a bizarre attempt to smear me, including trying to re-air
> year old dirty laundry... 

Is Phil getting smeared now?  I can't say I'm surprised.  To the
process wonk, process is the most important thing there is, way
more important than the goals of the project it's supposed to
support.  Denying or disavowing the sacred process is the most
cardinal of sins.

I don't deny that Phil's declaration was provocative.  It calls
to mind Colonel Cathcart's objection to Yossarian's attitude:
"What if everyone felt that way?"  But Yossarian's retort is
equally apt: "Then I'd certainly be a fool not to."