We need a tiered member orgainzation on the forums

[ratsbew]

I know it is like herding cats, actually it will be much harder, but some how we need to form committees of perhaps a couple dozen members that can focus on specific tasks and have their own board to post to. There could be a top level group that assigns tasks/delegates responsibilities to the committees, after the committees come up with a solution/idea it will be forwarded back up the chain of command for final approval and group discussion.
This is just a rough idea of what kind of organization I am thinking about, but if done properly the forums could work like a well run business where everybody knows their place in the big scheme of things.

Thoughts?

[freedominnumbers]

We'd be just like congress. Groups of "official" people who don't do anything with outsider mavericks doing all the work.

[10thAmendmentMan]

How about we take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week, but all the decisions of that officer have to be ratified at a special bi-weekly meeting by a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs, but by a two-thirds majority in the case of more major...

[Sematary]

I know it is like herding cats, actually it will be much harder, but some how we need to form committees of perhaps a couple dozen members that can focus on specific tasks and have their own board to post to. There could be a top level group that assigns tasks/delegates responsibilities to the committees, after the committees come up with a solution/idea it will be forwarded back up the chain of command for final approval and group discussion.
This is just a rough idea of what kind of organization I am thinking about, but if done properly the forums could work like a well run business where everybody knows their place in the big scheme of things.

Thoughts?

I think what we've been doing all year is working pretty good. People throw ideas out. People who think it's a good idea hop on board and help get it done and other people get into other ideas. I think it works perfectly.

[Ron Paul Fan]

No, this is a grassroots effort so it shouldn't be run like a campaign or a business. It's spontaneous! That's the beauty of it! Would November the 5th have ever gotten through to the floor for a vote? Some people wanted to table it from the get go and send it to committee to die! So no, that's a terrible idea. I like what we have now.

[UtahApocalypse]

Those that have ideas bring them up, when a idea is well liked it gets people interested. The people that want to work do.

[daviddee]

...

[pazzo83]

How about we take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week, but all the decisions of that officer have to be ratified at a special bi-weekly meeting by a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs, but by a two-thirds majority in the case of more major...

Hahahah, LMFAO.

[jake]

people can lead by EXAMPLE. step up to the plate to help the campaign and you will naturally be considered a leader by the grassroots!

[AlexMerced]

honestly, we should make more use of my.ronpaulspace.com and use the groups feature to form committes and such.

It's a great community, and plus the group URL is essentially a ron paul plug

[me3]

One thing that would be interesting, would be to allow members of the grassroots to identify their skills, and form guilds to help the campaign.

Graphic Artists
Copywriters
Seasoned Campaigners
Web Specialists
Marketers
Photographers
Entertainers
Programmers

etc.

Allow people to network within their skill group, and to supply support to projects.

It doesn't have to be centrally controlled, it could still be decentralized. But it would make it easier for people to create ads, websites, write press releases, get advice etc by identifying what skills are within the group and who to request assistance from. It could also cross over MeetUps, so that a Knoxville Tn group could get help creating radio ads from Alaska, Michigan and Oregon.

Of course, it would also be cool to be able to pool the collective resources as well. Like ads and marketing copy.

[Ron Paul Fan]

Well me3, I did introduce legislation in the Feedback Forum that would allow us to identify ourselves via the titles under our screen names, but I was laughed out of the forums. They told me, "Oh Ron Paul Fan, you always bring up the frivilous matters." "Moderators already have too much on their plates." Blah blah blah. So the bill was killed when Josh quashed it. I would encourage you to co-sponsor my bill that I introduced in the Feedback Forum and let Josh know about your position on this very important issue.

[me3]

I can't co-sponsor that Bill in good conscience. It's not frivolous, but it might be unconstitutional. We need to check with the Supreme Court.

[ratsbew]

I suppose the total lack of agreement on the USA Today ad shows that it is hard to make decisions in such a large group.

[Andrew76]

I agree with others who've stated that the Forum, as it is, spontaneous and grass roots works fine. Any other level of organization would slow up the process, for a hundred zillion reasons. People who want to organize, whether it's to come up with a newspaper ad, or a cool new flyer already can if they want to. I introduce: www.ronpaulforums.com Hooray!

Not at all trying to crap on anyone's ideas, because I'm sure we can all empathise with feeling frustrated over certain things getting done/not done. The thing is, with this forum, if you want to see something done, just go ahead and do it. Or, make a pitch to everyone else and see what shakes out. Don't like the way an ad looks? Make one yourself. We're all good at something, and we have at least one thing in common, we all want the most qualified man to come along in the last 100 years, to win the office of the presidency.

[AlexMerced]

the forums are fine as it is, if you want to forim a group, use ronpaulspace.com and then link it from your post for those who want to get involved

[Isupportliberty]

One thing that would be interesting, would be to allow members of the grassroots to identify their skills, and form guilds to help the campaign.

Graphic Artists
Copywriters
Seasoned Campaigners
Web Specialists
Marketers
Photographers
Entertainers
Programmers

etc.

Allow people to network within their skill group, and to supply support to projects.

It doesn't have to be centrally controlled, it could still be decentralized. But it would make it easier for people to create ads, websites, write press releases, get advice etc by identifying what skills are within the group and who to request assistance from. It could also cross over MeetUps, so that a Knoxville Tn group could get help creating radio ads from Alaska, Michigan and Oregon.

Of course, it would also be cool to be able to pool the collective resources as well. Like ads and marketing copy.

+9001

[The Plan]

I don't think it's a bad idea to form groups pertaining to skills. We don't have to have a governing body really. Just think about it. If we could have groups of people organised in such a fashion to complete certain projects it would make this whole thing more efficiant. We should definitly form a body of members on this board to draft press statements and work even closer with the campaign. We can still be organised and use the free market ideal. We can adapt this ideal to suit the needs of the campaign and show america that it can work. I think something like this would tie it together quite well. Just because we do something like this it doesn't mean everybody has to stop acting on their own at the same time like we all have so far.

[Ninja Homer]

One thing that would be interesting, would be to allow members of the grassroots to identify their skills, and form guilds to help the campaign.

Graphic Artists
Copywriters
Seasoned Campaigners
Web Specialists
Marketers
Photographers
Entertainers
Programmers

etc.

Allow people to network within their skill group, and to supply support to projects.

It doesn't have to be centrally controlled, it could still be decentralized. But it would make it easier for people to create ads, websites, write press releases, get advice etc by identifying what skills are within the group and who to request assistance from. It could also cross over MeetUps, so that a Knoxville Tn group could get help creating radio ads from Alaska, Michigan and Oregon.

Of course, it would also be cool to be able to pool the collective resources as well. Like ads and marketing copy.

You could just start a thread asking people to post what they are skilled at or what skills they'd be willing to donate some time to in support of the campaign. Then when somebody needs something done, they could look at the list and PM people asking for help.

I don't know if they'd be willing to do it, but mods here should be able to set up private forums here and give access to whatever people are working on a certain project. I think a small group could get some things done a lot faster without hundreds or thousands of comments and criticisms like with the USA Today ad.

[Ron Paul Fan]

You could just start a thread asking people to post what they are skilled at or what skills they'd be willing to donate some time to in support of the campaign. Then when somebody needs something done, they could look at the list and PM people asking for help.

I don't know if they'd be willing to do it, but mods here should be able to set up private forums here and give access to whatever people are working on a certain project. I think a small group could get some things done a lot faster without hundreds or thousands of comments and criticisms like with the USA Today ad.

Or you could just support my bill in the Feedback Forum which would give us the option of choosing the titles that best describe ourselves. The mods won't do what you've asked in your 2nd paragraph because they "have too much on their plates." This is what I was told when they swatted me down when I suggested this idea. Maybe they'll change their minds if the people get behind it.

[justinc.1089]

No!


Making certain people "head" or whatever over other people will only feed their egos, and make them feel like they can make a decision for the majority. And if the majority is making the decision anyway, why would you need someone over the majority on here to decide?

This forum has done extremely well without certain people being given any "committee positions" or anything like that. Its surprising that it has worked well like that, but it has. I mean we're about to possibly break a world record with just a group of people free to come and go and do as they please without formal bureacracy, so we obviously don't need it.

It just shows how little formal committees or organizations you need to get things done well. All we had was a website formally for november 5th, and the creator of the site was the only person with any real power over the majority opinion on here, and it worked out great.

So I say if its not broke don't fix it.

[leonster]

Yeah I don't want committees, etc... but it WOULD be very useful to have either:

A) the option to edit your title, to what you have skills in and are willing to use

or

B) one big thread where people can list that, AND the OP keeps editing the first post to include everything people stated below, in groups of skills



..b/c often, you know what needs to be done but know you personally don't have the right skills for part of it, and aren't sure who to turn to for help...

Edit: After thinking about it a minute, B seems like it wouldn't be too hard...? If there's any interest, I might do it myself. Let me know.

[cjhowe]

How about we take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week, but all the decisions of that officer have to be ratified at a special bi-weekly meeting by a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs, but by a two-thirds majority in the case of more major...

An anarcho-syndicalist commune you say? I like what you have to say and the way you say it. Do you have a newsletter I can subscribe to?

[Isupportliberty]

Or you could just support my bill in the Feedback Forum which would give us the option of choosing the titles that best describe ourselves. The mods won't do what you've asked in your 2nd paragraph because they "have too much on their plates." This is what I was told when they swatted me down when I suggested this idea. Maybe they'll change their minds if the people get behind it.

the forums are what they are. why not just have a seperate website for what you propose and allow people to organize there as well?

[dircha]

We need more people telling others what to do and less people doing things!

[nayjevin]

B) one big thread where people can list that, AND the OP keeps editing the first post to include everything people stated below, in groups of skills

..b/c often, you know what needs to be done but know you personally don't have the right skills for part of it, and aren't sure who to turn to for help...

Edit: After thinking about it a minute, B seems like it wouldn't be too hard...? If there's any interest, I might do it myself. Let me know.

solved!

[me3]

We need more people telling others what to do and less people doing things.
I don't think a tiered membership is the answer, but in general for the community, more ways to organize virtually, like how MeetUps allow people to organize offline might be a benefit.

A large grassroots like this is capable of amazing things when they collaborate and cooperate.

[ronpaulitician]

I like a little bit of chaos in my online habitat. Makes me believe in the prospect of a free society.

[mkrfctr]

I'll be the security guard. I'll take $8.75/hr and I'll be sleeping in the corner. If anything real goes down, call 911 as you won't find me.

Let me know where to pick up my check.

[Ron Paul Fan]

the forums are what they are. why not just have a seperate website for what you propose and allow people to organize there as well?

America is what it is. Why not just have a separate country for what you propose and allow people to organize there as well? Don't even try to change the country we love so dearly! Why not just have a seperate website so that you can mind your own business! Proposing improvements to the forum are welcomed. This is why there is a Feedback Forum! If enough people rally around my name title idea then they might consider changing it! This is how change comes about you see, on this forum and in this country! This is the whole essence of the campaign! I'm not sure that you really support liberty if you don't like my idea of freedom of choice. I do not support the idea of a tiered forum and people having specific jobs that they won't do. That's not freedom.

[Bryan]

A few points of note:

1. Sub-forums for projects can be created upon request, just so long as they stay active. Its possible to extend mod prividges for that sub-forum if it becomes necessary (never was for the Philly Rally).

2. On the listing of skills to offer up, this is what the "Resource Exchange" sub-forum is for ("Post requests for help and offers to share you talents and resources for others projects.") - perhaps this could be better explained and promoted. Thoughts? One could also use their signatures to include these things.

3. On the custom names, we're not opposed to ideas that are functional beneficial (ie: why do it?) and non-divisive. Non-divisive means having very specific requirements to get a specific title so there is no arguing that something isn't fair by one person getting a title while someone else doesn't. It would also have to be more-or-less low maintenance for the mod team. Right now the requirements are being a mod, a member of the official PCC or being Joshs girlfriend. :) (which I would hope everyone could appreciate the humor in how it was done). If someone comes up with a proposal that meets these requirements then it would be considered. Getting support (with a poll) for your idea helps too. :)

[Ron Paul Fan]

My proposal for #3 is freedom of choice, Bryan. How can it be devisive when the people are making their own choice about their custom name? Do people complain because I have a monopoly on the screen name Ron Paul Fan? Well, one guy copied me and did his in lower case, but that's beside the point. Let the free market handle it Bryan. It'll take the workload off of you mods and it's non devisive. And I still don't agree that Josh's girlfriend should get special rights. So that's my proposal and I'm sticking to it. But I already brought this up in the Feedback Forum and Josh shot it down without much thought.

[Revolution9]

We need more people telling others what to do and less people doing things!

Ka-blam! And there ya go right there..LOL! It's like the John Wayne in Daktari syndrome. I probably watched that thing twenty times and I am watching it with my then six year old son.. They are capturing a rhino and some gaucho will snag a hoof with a rope and Wayne would get all head honchoed out and his line would be "Get a rope around that leg". Well after doing this a dozen times my son says.. "Why does he keep telling everybody what to do after they already did it and just stand there not helping?"

Best Regards
Randy

[Cindy]

We need more people telling others what to do and less people doing things!

Exactly!

Top tier, start bossing everyone around.

Second Tier, help enforce their orders for them.

Third Tier, say, " Where is the creative freedom in this volunteer grassrooots campaign? I quit!!"

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: ^sarcasm^

Seriously, this forum kicks more grassrooots ass then anything I have ever witnessed in my life. The volume of ACTIVE awesomness generated from the collaborative volunteer efforts is mind boggeling to me.

Why would anyone want to change and mess with the magic of this place?

Leave it be..............

[Revolution9]

the people are making their own choice about their custom name?

What is a "custom name"? I missed the particular reference. Is my handle Revolution9 not a "custom name"?

Best Regards
Randy

[Isupportliberty]

America is what it is. Why not just have a separate country for what you propose and allow people to organize there as well? Don't even try to change the country we love so dearly! Why not just have a seperate website so that you can mind your own business! Proposing improvements to the forum are welcomed. This is why there is a Feedback Forum! If enough people rally around my name title idea then they might consider changing it! This is how change comes about you see, on this forum and in this country! This is the whole essence of the campaign! I'm not sure that you really support liberty if you don't like my idea of freedom of choice. I do not support the idea of a tiered forum and people having specific jobs that they won't do. That's not freedom.

All I am saying is discussion forums are what they are, forums of discussion. People come here to discuss anything and everything that has to do with Ron Paul's bid for the Whitehouse, and so far this place has served its function very well. I am merely proposing that if people want a place where they can participate in a tiered member organization or some other way to organize, then it is in someone's best interest to create such a place where that can fostered.

These boards have served a great purpose, but it's not the only place on the internet where people can come together and organize for the same purpose. This place can exist the way it is (which seems to be working pretty well imo) and other places with a different structure can exist as well. The two aren't mutually exlusive. No one is restricting your freedom or anyone elses freedom to implement ideas.

I like the ideas of being able to collaborate with other supporters as well and there are already places where people do this that are better designed for these activities, such as meetup.com or the subforums here. With that being said, if the majority of people on these forums want custom titles and the admins are ok with that then it has my vote as well, if not then the people have spoken.

[Bryan]

My proposal for #3 is freedom of choice, Bryan. How can it be devisive when the people are making their own choice about their custom name? Do people complain because I have a monopoly on the screen name Ron Paul Fan? Well, one guy copied me and did his in lower case, but that's beside the point. Let the free market handle it Bryan. It'll take the workload off of you mods and it's non devisive. And I still don't agree that Josh's girlfriend should get special rights. So that's my proposal and I'm sticking to it. But I already brought this up in the Feedback Forum and Josh shot it down without much thought.

Thanks. Josh actually has given it thought because I had been pushing him to do something with them a while back. It was hard to agree on something functional so it when nowhere. If we do the freedom of choice option it may negate the benefit of having campaign PCC people being specifically ID'ed - this has actually made a difference where other members can know that someone is part of the official campaign and they aren't faking some info.

[Bryan]

What is a "custom name"? I missed the particular reference. Is my handle Revolution9 not a "custom name"?

Under it says "Senior Member"- that name.

[Ron Paul Fan]

Thanks. Josh actually has given it thought because I had been pushing him to do something with them a while back. It was hard to agree on something functional so it when nowhere. If we do the freedom of choice option it may negate the benefit of having campaign PCC people being specifically ID'ed - this has actually made a difference where other members can know that someone is part of the official campaign and they aren't faking some info.

Well Jesus, Bryan. Are you gonna let Josh push you around like that and bark orders at you all day? Stand up for yourself! Ron Paul would want you to! Look at all the support for this idea in this thread. All of the campaign pcc people on here have already been identified. If someone tries to fake it they'd quickly be sniffed out and we'd dispose of those people rather quickly. The benefits by far outweigh the negatives and you know it! But if King Josh says no then I guess that's that. Thanks anyway Bryan.

[Primbs]

www.dnforum.com has an interesting system. We can assign Ron Paul points for services or tasks undertaken and accomplished. People like recognition.

People can cash in these points to become different level activists. You can let people italic their name, glow their name or change the font of their name.

[Bryan]

Well Jesus, Bryan. Are you gonna let Josh push you around like that and bark orders at you all day? Stand up for yourself! Ron Paul would want you to! Look at all the support for this idea in this thread. All of the campaign pcc people on here have already been identified. If someone tries to fake it they'd quickly be sniffed out and we'd dispose of those people rather quickly. The benefits by far outweigh the negatives and you know it! But if King Josh says no then I guess that's that. Thanks anyway Bryan.
There is no wedge here to drive. I'm in agreement with Josh for now on my ideas due to time limits. We need ideas better than mine (very doable).


www.dnforum.com has an interesting system. We can assign Ron Paul points for services or tasks undertaken and accomplished. People like recognition.

People can cash in these points to become different level activists. You can let people italic their name, glow their name or change the font of their name.
Thanks, going with some points for service is exactly what I had in mind- the only problem is that there is too much that is subjective, people will get put-off that they only got X points for something while someone else got X+Y for something they thought wasn't as big a deal. Then it's all a big mess, unless there is some very specific non-subjective criteria for the point system. Another simple idea was if you were a meet-up group leader (very non-subjective) but there are still issues.

[Revolution9]

Well Jesus, Bryan. Are you gonna let Josh push you around like that and bark orders at you all day? Stand up for yourself! Ron Paul would want you to! Look at all the support for this idea in this thread. All of the campaign pcc people on here have already been identified. If someone tries to fake it they'd quickly be sniffed out and we'd dispose of those people rather quickly. The benefits by far outweigh the negatives and you know it! But if King Josh says no then I guess that's that. Thanks anyway Bryan.

Yer next post will be 1776

Randy

[mkrfctr]

RPF you're a bit off kilter on this one, sorry.

The titles have to be hand coded in by the admin, they are a PITA to do and to update. There is no easy way to enable any old user to just pick one for themselves.

And in fact there already exists three ways people can use the free-market system of naming type things
1. their name
2. their avatar
3. their sig

Pic one or two or three of those, this issue is a no-go.

Thanks,
Not Brian nor Josh, and definitely no one's bitch.

[constituent]

....

[Proemio]

We need a "five-year-plan" - they always work!!!