Re: Overriding vs Amending vs Position statement

[Ben Finney <ben+debian@benfinney.id.au>]

Russ Allbery <rra@debian.org> writes:

> Ben Finney <ben+debian@benfinney.id.au> writes:
> > By your arguments earlier in this thread, it seems this person's
> > interpretation, though contradictory with the GR, is equally valid.
> > The GR is, you say, non-binding. So what is the point of going
> > through the GR process if it doesn't bind such a person to the
> > decision?
> 
> Because people treat them seriously and follow them voluntarily even
> if they don't personally agree.

And if they're not convinced? Either the GR is binding or it's not. You
say it's not; but if that's the case, when a person acts in
contradiction to such a GR, what basis does anyone else have for telling
them to stop?

If, on the other hand, the person's actions are prevented on the basis
of the GR, what sense is there in saying that the GR is non-binding?

> It feels to me like you're insisting on adding mechanisms to force
> poeple to do things into the process that simply aren't necessary
> historically.

No. I'm saying that there *are* such mechanisms, as pointed out earlier.
If a GR informs positive action but it's okay to interpret it as
“non-binding”, then we don't have a good basis for preventing actions
in contradiction to the GR. If, on the other hand, we say that GR *is*
binding, then actions that contradict it are harmful and can be stopped
on that basis.

Does this mean GRs are serious and should be worded carefully? Of
course; but I thought we knew that already.

> I would really rather focus on solving the problems that we actually
> have, rather than theoretical problems that assume fellow DDs are
> going to do obviously stupid things.

One of the prevalent themes in these discussions is that it isn't even
close to universal in the project what is “obviously stupid” and what
isn't. That's why we have decision-making systems.

-- 
 \           “I was in a bar the other night, hopping from barstool to |
  `\     barstool, trying to get lucky, but there wasn't any gum under |
_o__)                                       any of them.” —Emo Philips |
Ben Finney