Subject: How many PGs do we need?
Author:
Posted on: 2012-09-09 06:32:00 UTC
There were The Two, and then there were three, and then I'm not quite sure after that, and now we're counting to see how many active PGs there are. How many active PGs do we need here? We don't get that many Permission Requests, so two or three active (that is, able to respond to Permission Requests) PGs should be enough for the PPC now.
Your thoughts?
Some of the recent events have got me a bit worried, so... how many Permission Givers are currently/still actually around? I know I am, but... anyone else? The Board's moving very fast (which is awesome, by the way, everyone), and I can't spot any other PG names around...
(For those who don't know: Permission Givers are those who organise Permission to write for the PPC. By long tradition, everyone who has ever been a PG still is, right back to Jay, Acacia, and the Three Successors - but when too many leave, we need to appoint more. Hence my concern as to how many are left)
hS
We're on temporary hiatus. Nesh has been/will be doing a lot of traveling. I've been very busy with running a theatre company. We're not really gone, but we're not really here. Nesh says she will return when she has a mission to share. I will be back when I have the time and energy.
-Phobos
I'm glad you two are still around. I haven't seen either of you in a while!
I was worried the pair of you had fallen into a pit of radioactive sharks or something. Of course I suppose that could still be true...
Don't feel rushed, though. We all have our hiatus-times - whether through being away from computers, being busy, or simply not having the energy to participate. I'll probably slow down myself after tonight (last night shift! Hopefully ever!), so I can totally understand.
(You get two paragraphs and a parenthesis because there are two of you. And a parenthesis. Or something)
hS
I am going to assume that is for Merlin, our cat.
-Phobos
Of course, depending on the cat, a parenthesis may be viewed either as a snack or as a delightful toy, but either way they seem to go down well.
hS
Quiet, but present. As I do.
I keep meaning to talk more, but somehow I never do. Oops?
I feel sort of bad that you're probably the PG I know the least (it helps that I've met several of the others in person, I suppose); it would be awesome to see you around the Board more. And the Chat, of course, but I don't go there, so it wouldn't help me. :P
hS
I've met Dann and VM, so maybe I know you by extension? :P I kind of live in the Chat a bit, but even so I'm... not the best at talking, or voicing opinions. Also, I'm GMT-8, so probably even if you were in the chat I'd never see you. Hilarity abounds.
There were The Two, and then there were three, and then I'm not quite sure after that, and now we're counting to see how many active PGs there are. How many active PGs do we need here? We don't get that many Permission Requests, so two or three active (that is, able to respond to Permission Requests) PGs should be enough for the PPC now.
Your thoughts?
This has come up before - usually right when the balance between People Waiting For Permission and People Tired of Answering All The Requests hits critical mass (though fortunately, not this time, I think). It's not a bad idea to call roll and figure out where we are before we reach Torch-and-Pitchfork status, and props to hS for doing so.
The main two reasons I am a fan of more PGs rather than fewer are fairly simple. First, selfishly, less stress on the PGs- shared burdens are halved and so on, and it just means less of a workload per person in general. Second, on an entirely different front, diffusion of power. Yes, I'm paranoid. But the more different, trustworthy people we have filling the position, the less likely we are to ever wind up with a monolith.
--VM, who tried to post this three times from various devices last night. Bah, and humbug.
With the emphasis on 'different'. I know I have a distressing tendency to view the PGs as a government-of-sorts (even though we have no actual power, a couple of PGs suggesting something tends to get it taken very seriously), and sometimes I even start viewing it in terms of party politics... but that's wrong, and thank you for saying something which helped me remember that. PGs, like any other people, will agree and disagree on things at various times - but that doesn't mean there's a conspiracy to promote The One True Way. If several of us are promoting something (say, free cookies for all!), that just means several of us approve of something.
And yeah, that goes for the PPC as a whole, too. And any other group you care to name... but yes. Diversity in PGs - outside the core responsibilities - is very important.
(All that said, I still firmly believe Kaitlyn should be one - but I may be a little biased there :P)
hS
The problem is, a fair number of us aren't all that active (including, most of the time, me), and there is, among those laughingly called 'humanity', a common tendency to say 'Oh, someone else will deal with it'. If (say) Dann and Cassie are busy that week, I decide to let someone else take a Request, and VM and Araeph decide it's too close to call... but that same list could happen if we had twenty.
Personally I think we should be able to run with five (or more if more show up!); the test of that will be whether we respond to Permission posts effectively. Mostly, though, I was just feeling twitchy.
hS
Between summer things and convention things, my weekends have been busier than my weeks (!), so my internet time has been significantly reduced of late. That should be clearing up soon, though.
My internet time has been going up and down like a yoyo, so I know how you feel. Glad to hear things will be settling down, though.
hS
And still voting, and still wearing a hat, and posting, and so on and so forth.
I did scan the front page for your name, but it's, uh, quarter to four in the morning, so if you're there I missed you. It's great that you're still around, though.
hS
And wearing her Hat, too!
How are you finding the 'job', by the way? Making absolutely no change to anything?
hS
Actually, I find it's making me pay more attention to what goes on around the Board, even if I'm not commenting much. New sense of responsibility and all that. Plus I'm actually saying hello to newbies more instead of lurking nearby. :P
Recent events have you worried, you say? Can't imagine what you mean...
Except you. I was reasonably confident you were still here.
(Seriously, the Vasty Silence is making me nervous. You're about this |----| close to having me clinging to your shoes to make sure you stick around)
hS is quite tired actually and apologises for not making that much sense
Do the most senior members get appointed then, or is basically like a free game for everybody?
I have no intention to try and sign on, because I suck at moderation positions, but for the sake of the people here I feel compelled to ask.
We tend to appoint two at a time, and they're usually drawn from the 'more senior' members of the Community - but that's because they're the people whose writing ability and judgement everyone respects, not because it's a right. Our oldest member of all - my wife - isn't a PG, and doesn't want to be.
Hopefully, however, the numbers aren't critical, and everyone's just being quiet/I didn't see them.
hS
. . . to be very gracious about the fact that you used me as contrast against your hypothetical person whose judgment and writing skill are respected. :P
-- Kaitlyn the Gracious
PS: I might put a frog on your pillow though.
... wrote and/or posted, I'm positive people would respect those. :P
hS
So, in other words, you have to write not necessarily a whole BUNCH, just really well, to the point where people start looking to you for answers.
Okay, got it.
AND you must be an "old hand" at PPCing, or at the very least you need to have been around and active long enough to make a positive impression on folks.
I b'lieve that's the gist of it...
It definitely helps to be a recognised name, and it is important to be an active member, since PG is essentially a service position, and one needs to actually, um, do the job when it needs doing.
Also being liked enough that people will respect your decisions, that helps too.
hS