emv@math.lsa.umich.edu (Edward Vielmetti) (02/16/90)
I propose a 'mercy rule' for group creation. You know the story -- the Bombers are beating the Slugs 234 to 4 in the bottom of the 6th, and it's getting late, and the Slugs really want to go out for beer anyway and graciously concede. New groups with widespread interest and little controversy should be created quickly. If there is an overwhelming preponderance of evidence that the group will be created with no substantial opposition, then the vote results can be sent in and the group created "early". Currently the rules look like this: 100 more yes votes than no votes 2/3 of the votes are yes (2x as many yes as no) any number of no votes as long as the first two conditions hold 2 week discussion, 3 week vote, create group. A "mercy rule" vote might look like 200 more yes votes than no votes 95% of the votes are yes (~20x as many yes as no) No more than 20 no votes. 2 week discussion, 10 day vote, create group. The range of votes for which this would kick in is 200-0 201-1 202-2 203-3 204-4 205-5 206-6 207-7 208-8 209-9 210-10 220-11 240-12 260-13 280-14 300-15 320-16 340-17 360-18 380-19 400-20 so by these rules the Bombers could have called it at 204-4 in the bottom of the 5th and gone home. This substantially enlarges the ability of NO voters to delay group creation while streamlining the process for groups with an easy YES answer. I'm curious to those who have data, which existing proposals this would have affected. --Ed