SUO: Re: Gathering questions and issues with IEEE motion
At 18:25 2002-01-22 -0000, Tim King wrote:
>
> Dear Frank,
>
> Your analysis of "Abstain (no opinion)" having the same effect as "No" is quite correct. However, our voting procedure is meant to be supporting a consensus-based standards effort (and I am well aware of your strong support and involvement with such efforts). Thus, I propose that 50% >>approval<< is not unreasonable.
The discussion on approval of motions, not necessarily approval of documents for further stages of development. I'm discussing approval of motions.
> With your background, I am suprised that you have not been willing to observe that for an ISO New Work Item, a majority of the participating members (nations, in this case) must vote in favour (only one form of "Abstain" is possible but the participating members have an obligation to vote and, thus, the bottom line is always 100% of the membership; two forms of abstinence allow us to cater for those who disappear into the ether ... and I can hear many doing so as this current debate rumbles on ;-)
I'm aware of the ISO rules, but ISO rules aren't the same as IEEE rules. If this were an ISO process, then I'd be following those rules (which don't use Robert's Rules). Also, the nature of membership is different in ISO/IEC (national bodies) vs. IEEE (individuals) ... which tends to produce different results, even with the same number of participants.
> If I may refine my terminology once again, how about "Abstain (no opinion)" = "Abstain (unpersuaded)"?
I don't believe Abstain (unpersuaded) is useful ... it still sounds like No to me. Regardless, people want a type of "response" that neither supports (does not add) nor opposes (does not subtract) from the tally that determines the outcome.
-FF
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Frank Farance, Farance Inc. T: +1 212 486 4700 F: +1 212 759 1605
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