[bestbits] Multi-stakeholder definition being developed using LiquidFeedback software
Joana Varon
joana at varonferraz.com
Sun Aug 31 05:42:01 EDT 2014
Super nice, Jeremy et all.
For a different/similar purposes, I was researching some online tools for
deliberative democracy with colleagues and this is the list of tools we
came up with: https://antivigilancia.wiki.br/brmeeting/ferramentas
(descriptions in Portuguese but the list is understandable). And its a
wiki, so anyone can add references to more tools.
Will be happy to explore Liquid Democracy and to discuss usage of this and
other tools to improve our processes.
best
joana
On Fri, Aug 15, 2014 at 5:56 PM, Jeremy Malcolm <jmalcolm at eff.org> wrote:
> I am starting a separate thread to highlight a current initiative that
> was buried in a previous thread last month - that there is a new fluid
> working group experimenting with the use of "LiquidFeedback" software at
> http://bestbits.net/lf to develop a rough consensus definition of
> multi-stakeholder Internet governance, and which could potentially be used
> in advocacy as a "quality standard" of multi-stakeholder processes.
>
> So far the only proposal posted for discussion is one based on the
> NETmundial principles. But anyone can create a proposal for others to
> discuss and express support for. The software is currently configured so
> that inputs are shown as anonymous to non-registered users, which should
> help people feel that they can express themselves freely, whilst still
> maintaining transparency.
>
> It is a technical requirement of the LiquidFeedback software that
> participants receive an invite code before they can register. Until now
> only a few members who affirmatively expressed interest received an invite
> code, but anyone else who wishes to participate should contact me and I
> will send you one. You can then simply click "Registration" at
> http://bestbits.net/lf to create your account.
>
> There will be a 10 minute reporting back from this working group at our
> meeting in Istanbul, so if you wish to contribute, now is the time to do
> so.
>
> Below is a more detailed primer about how to use the software, partly
> copied and pasted from an online document here
> <http://karl.aegee.org/lf/dummyguide.html>.
> What is Liquid Democracy?
> Liquid Democracy is a democratic system for grass-root participation in
> the creation of, refining of and public voting on proposals. Although
> similar to a direct referendum, it allows votes to be delegated by topic or
> area, and for those delegations to be revoked at any time. Liquid Democracy
> is sometimes referred to as Delegated or Proxy Voting.
> What is LiquidFeedback? LiquidFeedback is a formal on-line decision
> support system that is the first user-friendly Web-based implementation of
> the Liquid Democracy concept, which has been used by the German Pirate
> Party amongst others. There is not much you can do in LiquidFeedback: You
> may create a proposal, express your support, make a suggestion and vote.
> That's essentially it. Quickstart - what to do first For now, you will
> require an "invite code" to use LiquidFeedback. Later we can hook it into a
> Best Bits membership database (which does not yet exist). If you did not
> receive an invite code and would like one, please let me know.
>
>
> - *Quickstart for participation in the multi-stakeholderism
> definition:*
> - Click on the *unit Best Bits
> <http://bestbits.net/lf/unit/show/1.html>* and enter the *area
> Multi-stakeholderism <http://bestbits.net/lf/area/show/2.html>*
> - *Create an issue
> <http://bestbits.net/lf/initiative/new.html?area_id=2>* for a new
> proposal or motion, or look at existing issues in the list of *Open
> issues*
> - Important: Add your *support* to all those issues that you agree
> with
> - Create a *suggestion* for an issue to make it better, or rate an
> existing suggestion as *should, should not, must, must not* be
> implemented
> - Click on your name on the top right and go to *upload
> avatar/photo <http://bestbits.net/lf/member/edit_images.html>* for
> making things a bit more colourful for everyone.
> - If you completely dislike an initiative, then simply do nothing
> and wait for the voting, or create a competing proposal, an
> *alternative*.
>
> - Come back to LiquidFeedback and vote once the voting phase has
> started. When establishing your account, you can specify that you want to
> be notified of this by email.
> - Optionally, go to "Members" and add those persons as Contact that
> you might to delegate your vote to. Then go to "Areas" and maybe click "Set
> Area delegation", or go into an issue and do "Set Issue delegation"
>
> Important: During the discussion phase (in the states *New* and
> *Discussion*) you should support all initiatives that you can agree with
> (generally, or under certain conditions), and make suggestions for
> improvements (you can find details on the initiative page). Hereby you give
> the initiators the chance to improve the draft. This early feedback makes
> for vital feedback and changes the graphical "approval bars" in green and
> grey that you see in front of each listing of initiatives.
> Keywords explained An "initiative" is a proposal or motion. "Alternative
> initiatives" are counter-proposals.
> "Areas" sort issues into groups, and each issue contains one or more
> initiatives. Issues are numbered and have neither titles nor names.
> The user can create "suggestions" and label them as either "should" and
> "must", or do so with suggestions created by other users. This is analog to
> a request for a (friendly) amendment:
>
> - A "should" suggestion is a an amendment that will not lead to a vote
> against the proposal if not accepted.
> - A "must" suggestion is an amendment that needs to be fulfilled or
> else the user indicates to disagree with the proposal.
>
> Phases In Liquid Feedback a proposal, which is called an "initiative",
> moves through 5 different phases:
>
> * *New:* A freshly submitted initiative. An "issue" groups initiatives
> for the same topic, which constitute the competing choices.
> Every user can create both a new issue or a new initiative within an
> existing issue.
>
> * *Discussion:* A initiative has received sufficient support to enter
> into the public discussion phase.
> In LF typically a quorum of 10% of supporters is required for the
> discussion to start. Declare your support by clicking on "Support this
> initiative". Apart from voicing support you can suggest changes (with
> SHOULD or MUST) or create an alternative initative.
> The proposer of the initiative can modify its text during the discussion
> to adjust to the feedback.
>
> * *Verification/Frozen:* The proposed text cannot neither be modified
> anymore.
> So this is the time when to discuss how to vote on this initiative in, for
> example, a local board meeting.
> Note that it is still possible to propose alternative initiatives, i.e. to
> create counter proposals.
>
> * *Voting:* The users begin to vote - the results are only shown after
> the voting period has ended.
> Competing initiatives can be rankend and voted for or against, and a
> priority of the proposals can be established by the user.
> LiquidFeedback will afterwards sort out this "mess" and announce the
> winner.
>
> * *Finished:* Either the voting phase was completed (and a result
> determined), or one of the potential quorums wasn't reached, and the
> corresponding initiative was stopped early.
>
> Procedures You can become a "participant" of an entire area or a
> specific issue, and by that add your count to the quorum and therefore say:
> "I want to take part in the decision."
> You can become a "supporter" or a "potential supporter" of an initiative to
>
> - a) help a new issue to move to the discussion phase, and
> - b) during the discussion phase give an indication to the creator of
> the initiative what his odds are to be successful.
>
> Different draft versions of the initiative (older and newer) can be easily
> compared line-by-line so that you can see what exactly was changed.
> You can create an alternative initiative if your suggestions are not heard
> and not integrated into the proposal text by the inititator.
> Finally you can vote, or delegate your vote to another user you trusts to
> take the right decision. Delegation is also known as proxy voting and
> ensures that your vote is not lost if you do not have sufficient time or
> knowledge to dive into a specific issue are a certain area.
>
> If you completely disapprove an initiative In case you disapprove an
> initiative fundamentally, then you should not submit any suggestion in
> order to avoid becoming a supporter. Either wait for the voting phase, or
> use informal channels (mailing list, direct contact with the author) to
> express your disagreement. There is no "Dislike" button. LiquidFeedback is
> a formal decision-making system, is not moderated, it is designed to foster
> constructive input, and it makes an effort to prevent a potentially
> negative atmosphere. Next to the above options, you should support those
> alternative initiative(s) that you are positive about, or you may start
> your own initiative related to this issue. Finally, if you are not already
> a member of the area, you can increase the population of the necessary
> support quorum by becoming a member of the area, or by adding your interest
> to the issue.
>
> Schedules So called "policies" determine the duration of each phase and
> any quorum that might be involved along the way.
> Some policies may skip certain phases, while others might not require any
> quorum.
> The quorums are, if set, essentially a SPAM protection mechanism.
>
> For example, for the multi-stakeholderism discussion, the schedule is for
> 14 days of discussion, followed by 8 days for verification and 15 days of
> voting... but these are arbitrary and can be changed. More of the settings
> of the default policy are found *here
> <http://bestbits.net/lf/issue/show/1.html>*.
>
> If you have any questions, please let me know.
>
> --
> Jeremy Malcolm
> Senior Global Policy Analyst
> Electronic Frontier Foundationhttps://eff.orgjmalcolm@eff.org
>
> Tel: 415.436.9333 ext 161
>
> :: Defending Your Rights in the Digital World ::
>
>
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--
--
Joana Varon Ferraz
@joana_varon
PGP 0x016B8E73
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