Re: Question: What would you like to see {more,less} of?

[Ian Jackson <ijackson@chiark.greenend.org.uk>]

Chris Lamb writes ("Re: Question: What would you like to see {more,less} of?"):
> Dear Enrico,
> > I wouldn't want the DPL to express their opinion with the expectation
> > that everyone should agree or follow their lead, but more with the idea
> > of giving a sense of direction

I agree very much with Enrico.

> However, would you have any concrete suggestions for phrasing or ideas
> for framing this that could not be interpreted as a top-down directive,
> yet not being "just another" voice in the mix?

IMO the DPL is never "just another voice".  But if you want to give a
message some additional weight, a good approach might be to take an
existing thread and

  * summarise the arguments in as neutral a way as possible
  * write a personal statement of your own preferences
  * identify whose responsibility it is to take the ultimate decision
  * and/or explicitly ask for volunteers to step forward for tasks
    which in your view need doing, but which are lacking effort.

perhaps as a message with a new subject line.  This is something that
anyone could do but your status as DPL would give such a message a lot
of weight.

I appreciate that this is a lot of work.

> Every time I tried drafting such "loaded" opinions in the past I could
> already hear the (perhaps justified…) pushback and thus decided not to
> get closer involved.

If you think the above is too lightweight, another approach would be

  * plan to post a position statement to d-d-a

  * post a draft of that position statement to -devel CCing
    appropriate stakeholders, thus engaging in a (probably public)
    consultation

I would much rather hear things from the DPL I disagree with, than see
silence.  People who disagree with you, particularly key
decisionmakers and stakeholders, can still say so, and don't have to
do as you say.  I think if you make that clear you should avoid
getting flames, as opposed to reasoned criticism.

Ian.

-- 
Ian Jackson <ijackson@chiark.greenend.org.uk>   These opinions are my own.

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