[NCUC-DISCUSS] NCUC Election 2013

[Milton L Mueller]

-----Original Message-----
From: ncuc-discuss-bounces at lists.ncuc.org [mailto:ncuc-discuss-bounces at lists.ncuc.org] On Behalf Of Avri Doria

> I see no problem with enthusiastic seconding.  it is an NCUC tradition as far as I can tell - though 
> i have not been a member for as long as thee.

It is a bit of a tradition, not just in NCUC but on a variety of civil society lists. I frankly think it's a rather childish tradition - a perfect example of slactivism / herd thinking on email lists! ;-) 

FYI, we've seen this pattern many times before: at the beginning of a nominating period someone nominates someone well-known and well-liked, then there is an endless cascade of "+1s" or hoorays.

This makes it very easy for anyone who was thinking of nominating themselves for the same position to simply give up and go away. I've seen this happen, I have direct evidence for it across 3 different elections. I and others been complaining about it for years, so please drop the accusations. It really has nothing to do with who is being nominated. 

If, as Ed astutely put it, you think we should be having elections with more than one person in them, then you don't want to encourage pre-emptive expressions of support, because it virtually guarantees that whatever well-known person happens to throw their name out there first wins.  Usually this favors incumbents and well-known personalities but discourages bringing in new people.

--MM
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