14 Aug 2002: uk.current-events.{us-bombing,terrorism}
From: Richard Ashton <r.ashton@ukvoting.org.uk>
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 08:41:41 +0100
Subject: RESULT - CFV uk.current-events.(us-bombing|terrorism) Option D wins
Newsgroups: uk.net.news.announce,uk.net,news.config,uk.current-events.us-bombing,uk.politics.misc,alt.current-events.wtc-explosion,alt.security.terrorism
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
RESULT: CFV - uk.current-events.{us-bombing|terrorism} Option D wins.
Remove uk.current-events.us-bombing AND create new unmoderated group
uk.current-events.terrorism WITH Optional NI Clause
SUMMARY
Option D (Remove uk.current-events.us-bombing AND create new unmoderated
group uk.current-events.terrorism WITH Optional NI Clause) is the one
remaining option which is not outvoted by any other and preferred to
option F (Status Quo) by a margin of greater than 12.
======================================================================
Voting closed at 23:59:59 BST, 12th July 2002
Proponent: Jeffrey Goldberg <jeffrey@goldmark.org>
Votetaker: Richard Ashton <r.ashton@ukvoting.org.uk>
Distribution: uk.net.news.announce, uk.net.news.config
uk.current-events.us-bombing, uk.politics.misc
alt.current-events.wtc-explosion, alt.security.terrorism
======================================================================
The full results follow below in the following order:
1) Information on the ballot
2) Results
3) Vote Statistics
4) Individual Vote Details
5) Votetaker's Comments
6) Voting and Appeal Guidelines
7) Rationale and Proposal
======================================================================
INFORMATION ON THE BALLOT
Voters were asked to vote on a proposal to create the group under
two alternative names: uk.current-events.us-bombing and uk.current-
events.terrorism. Both groups having the option of a special clause
about Northern Ireland.
The options on the ballot were:
A: Recharter and keep uk.current-events.us-bombing
B: Recharter and keep uk.current-events.us-bombing
WITH Optional NI Clause
C: Remove uk.current-events.us-bombing AND create new unmoderated
group uk.current-events.terrorism
D: Remove uk.current-events.us-bombing AND create new unmoderated
group uk.current-events.terrorism WITH Optional NI Clause
E: Re-Open Discussion
F: Remove uk.current-events.us-bombing (Status Quo, see NOTE below)
The NOTE for Status Quo read.
NOTE: The existing group uk.current-events.us-bombing was created
under the emergency procedure and has reached the age where it must
either be formally re-chartered through the group creation procedure
or removed. Thus if no vote is passed the groups removal (with no
replacement) is the "Status Quo" according to the voting
procedure. And according to those procedures, only those options which
defeat the "Status Quo" option (F in this case) by at least 12 votes
will be considered. Again, the "Status Quo" option does NOT keep the
group, but removes it. You may contact the vote taker or the
proponent for further clarification.
======================================================================
RESULTS
Multi-option group creation votes in the uk.* hierarchy are decided by
a two-stage procedure. All options are first compared with votes for
the status quo (Do Not Create Group), and any which are not preferred
to SQ by the required margin of 12 votes are eliminated. The remaining
options, if any, are then evaluated by the Condorcet method.
Stage 1:
Option A was preferred to SQ (Option F) by a margin of 51 votes
Option B was preferred to SQ (Option F) by a margin of 50 votes
Option C was preferred to SQ (Option F) by a margin of 55 votes
Option D was preferred to SQ (Option F) by a margin of 56 votes
Option E was preferred to SQ (Option F) by a margin of 47 votes
Therefore, all options proceed to a full Condorcet count.
Stage 2:
A full Condorcet count shows that Option D is preferred to all
other options:
Full Condorcet Tables:
Table 1 - Absolute Figures (Raw Preferences Grid)
A B C D E F
A [n/a] [ 24] [ 27] [ 31] [ 51] [ 51]
B [ 30] [n/a] [ 24] [ 25] [ 49] [ 50]
C [ 32] [ 36] [n/a] [ 19] [ 51] [ 55]
D [ 31] [ 34] [ 38] [n/a] [ 55] [ 56]
E [ 11] [ 13] [ 10] [ 9] [n/a] [ 47]
F [ 13] [ 12] [ 9] [ 8] [ 14] [n/a]
In this grid, each number represents the number of votes which were
cast that preferred the option named in the number's row to the option
appropriate to the number's column. For instance, 34 votes preferred
Option D to Option B while 38 votes preferred Option D to Option C.
Table 2 - Relative Figures (Opposite Comparison Grid)
A B C D E F
A [n/a] [ -6] [ -5] [ 0] [ 40] [ 38]
B [ 6] [n/a] [-12] [ -9] [ 36] [ 38]
C [ 5] [ 12] [n/a] [-19] [ 41] [ 46]
D [ 0] [ 9] [ 19] [n/a] [ 46] [ 48]
E [-40] [-36] [-41] [-46] [n/a] [ 33]
F [-38] [-38] [-46] [-48] [-33] [n/a]
In this grid, each number represents the number of votes which were
cast that preferred the option named in the number's row to the option
appropriate to the number's column less the number of votes which were
cast that preferred the option named in the number's column to the
option appropriate to the number's row. For example, 5 more people
preferred Option C to Option A than preferred A to C, and 12 more
people preferred Option C to Option B than preferred B to C.
The winning option in the absolute table is that where all the numbers
in it's row are equal to or higher than the number in the equivalent
position in it's column. The winning option in the relative table is that
which has no negative numbers in it's row and no positive numbers in it's
column. On this ballot this is option D.
======================================================================
VOTE STATISTICS
There were 96 requests for ballots from the UKVoting server including
multiple requests by some people.
There were 80 messages received through the UKVoting server for this
vote, consisting of:
66 valid and counted votes
5 valid votes superseded by later votes from the same voter
1 SMTP duplication of an email (ignored)
1 Spam (ignored)
3 Abstentions (recorded)
4 Votes disallowed by the Votetaker
The counted valid votes, abstentions and those discarded as invalid are
listed in detail below.
======================================================================
INDIVIDUAL VOTE DETAILS
Notes:
1. Voters were asked to rank the options from 1 (highest) to 6
(lowest). Equal rankings are allowed, and any unranked options are
considered to be ranked below all ranked options.
2. Voters used a variety of different marks (or lack of them) to
indicate unranked options. Irrespective of the actual character used,
all unranked options have been represented in the table by '-' (dash).
3. The votes column shows the ranking given by the voter to each
option. For example:
A B C D
voter 1 1 2 4 3
voter 2 - 2 - 1
4. The preference column records the order of the preferences. Using the
above example
voter 1 A>B>D>C A preferred to B, B to D, D to C
voter 2 D>B>A=C D preferred to B, B to A, A = C
Name Email A B C D E F Preferences
3Phase Phase3.worldten@att@ten 2 1 4 3 5 6 B>A>D>C>E>F
Adam Price adam.pappnase@demom@kuoc 1 3 4 5 2 - A>E>B>C>D>F
Alan Fleming af.etrigan@gro - - - - 2 1 F>E>A=B=C=D
Alan Ford alan.whirlten@kuoc 4 3 2 1 5 6 D>C>B>A>E>F
Alan LeHun ukvote.lehun@clara@kuoc 4 2 3 1 5 6 D>B>C>A>E>F
Alex Holden vote.alex-holden@kuoc - - - 1 - 2 D>F>A=B=C=E
Andrew Wheatley andrewwheatley.baesystems@moc 2 1 6 5 3 4 B>A>E>F>D>C
Andy Walker ajwalker.bham@kuac 6 5 2 1 3 4 D>C>E>F>B>A
Arthur Figgis arthur_figgis.bigfoot@moc 2 1 4 3 5 6 B>A>D>C>E>F
Barry Dorrans barryd.idunno@gro - - 2 1 4 3 D>C>F>E>A=B
Barry Salter ukvotes.salterg@demom@kuoc 2 1 4 3 - - B>A>D>C>E=F
Brett Paul Dunbar brett.dimetrodon@demom@kuoc 2 3 1 6 4 5 C>A>B>E>F>D
Brian {H K [1]} bhk.dsl@kuoc 1 3 1 2 5 6 A=C>D>B>E>F
Charles Lindsey chl.clw@csman@kuac 4 3 2 1 5 3 D>C>B=F>A>E
Chris Thompson cet1.cuscam@kuac 5 4 2 3 6 1 F>C>D>B>A>E
DG dickg.dickalba@demom@kuoc 2 4 1 3 5 6 C>A>D>B>E>F
Dave Mayall david@mayall.ukonline@kuoc 5 4 3 1 2 6 D>E>C>B>A>F
Dave Roberts dave.studio33@kuoc 4 3 2 1 6 5 D>C>B>A>F>E
David Boothroyd david.election@demom@kuoc 3 4 2 1 6 5 D>C>A>B>F>E
David Buttery gplscrapyard.yahoo@kuoc 2 1 4 3 5 6 B>A>D>C>E>F
David Mahon ukceubtvote.amigo@kuoc 6 5 2 3 4 1 F>C>D>E>B>A
David Taylor davidt.yadt@kuoc 1 1 1 1 2 3 A=B=C=D>E>F
David Uri daviduri.bigfoot@moc 4 3 2 1 5 6 D>C>B>A>E>F
Denis McMahon denis.pickaxe@ten 4 5 2 1 3 6 D>C>E>A>B>F
Egg Salad salad.sarnie@gro@uk 6 5 4 3 2 1 F>E>D>C>B>A
Geoff Berrow $$bl.ckdog@kuoc 4 2 3 1 5 6 D>B>C>A>E>F
Graham Drabble graham@drabble.lineone@ten 2 1 2 1 2 2 B=D>A=C=E=F
Ian Kitching imkitching.apu@kuac 1 3 2 4 5 6 A>C>B>D>E>F
James Coupe james.zephyr@gro@uk 3 3 2 1 2 3 D>C=E>A=B=F
James Farrar londonstatto.yahoo@kuoc 4 2 3 1 5 - D>B>C>A>E>F
Jeffrey Goldberg jeffrey.goldmark@gro 4 3 2 1 6 5 D>C>B>A>F>E
Jezza jezza.hotwells@freeserve@kuoc 6 6 2 1 6 3 D>C>F>A=B=E
John F Hall jfh.avondale@demom@kuoc 2 1 4 3 5 6 B>A>D>C>E>F
Jon Beasley-Murray jpb8.duke@ude 2 1 4 3 5 6 B>A>D>C>E>F
King Queen kq.kingqueen@gro@uk 1 3 2 4 6 5 A>C>B>D>F>E
Mark Goodge mark.goodstuff@kuoc 6 6 1 2 6 3 C>D>F>A=B=E
Mark Williams mark.aziraphale@homeip@ten 4 3 2 1 5 6 D>C>B>A>E>F
Michael Parry michael.cavrdg@demom@kuoc 6 5 3 1 2 4 D>E>C>F>B>A
Mogga mogga.mogga@moc 1 2 3 4 5 6 A>B>C>D>E>F
Neil Fernandez ncf.borve@demom@kuoc 1 - - - - - A>B=C=D=E=F
Oak jpcard.cchat@moc 1 1 1 1 2 3 A=B=C=D>E>F
Paul Cummins paul.cummins@ieeu@gro 1 1 3 3 3 6 A=B>C=D=E>F
Paul Evans paul_evans2k.hotmail@moc 1 1 2 2 3 4 A=B>C=D>E>F
Pekka P@ Pirinen ppp.pirinen@demom@kuoc 2 1 6 5 3 4 B>A>E>F>D>C
Peter Duck pduck.zetten@kuoc 2 1 4 3 5 6 B>A>D>C>E>F
Peter Duncanson mail.peterduncanson@ten 3 1 4 2 5 6 B>D>A>C>E>F
Peter G Sheppard peter.petersheppard@moc 3 4 2 1 5 6 D>C>A>B>E>F
Peter Smyth psmyth.gmx@ten 5 6 3 4 2 1 F>E>C>D>A>B
Philip Powell philip.blencathra@gro@uk - - 4 1 2 3 D>E>F>C>A=B
Rabid rabid.hotpop@moc 2 1 4 3 5 6 B>A>D>C>E>F
Rachel lady.shalott@demom@kuoc 1 3 2 4 5 6 A>C>B>D>E>F
Richard Kennaway jrk.sys@uea@kuac 4 3 2 1 - - D>C>B>A>E=F
Richard White whiter.gmx@kuoc 3 4 1 2 5 6 C>D>A>B>E>F
Shane Matthews useten.cluelessweasels@moc 3 4 1 2 5 5 C>D>A>B>E=F
TWP twpngmail.yahoo@kuoc 2 4 1 3 5 6 C>A>D>B>E>F
Thomas Lee tfl.psp@kuoc 2 - 1 - 3 - C>A>E>B=D=F
Tim Miller tim.economictruth@kuoc 4 3 2 1 5 - D>C>B>A>E>F
Wm tcnw51.tarrcity@demom@kuoc 1 1 2 2 3 4 A=B>C=D>E>F
arachedog philipjpage.btinterten@moc 1 4 2 3 5 6 A>C>D>B>E>F
gandalf gandalf.btconnect@moc 2 1 4 3 5 6 B>A>D>C>E>F
geek geek.paulmartin@karoo@kuoc 1 3 2 4 5 6 A>C>B>D>E>F
guv les.thereeves@kuoc 1 2 4 5 3 6 A>B>E>C>D>F
hmelton hmelton.btinterten@moc 1 2 4 3 5 6 A>B>D>C>E>F
phobos_anomaly phoenix_equation.yahoo@moc 1 2 1 1 3 4 A=C=D>B>E>F
spurious mjoseph.blueyonder@kuoc 1 2 4 3 5 6 A>B>D>C>E>F
the kat the@kat.ntlworld@moc 1 2 2 2 3 - A>B=C=D>E>F
[1] Brian {Hamilton Kelly}
Abstentions
Molly Mockford molly.mockfords@clara@kuoc ABSTAINED
Jack Howard renegade.stormshadow@kuoc ABSTAINED
paul {voter}.watman@clara@kuoc ABSTAINED
Invalid votes:
Ann Wood ann(at)baglady org uk
Thomas Lee thomaslee(at)clara co uk
Richard Ashton ashcan(at)clara co uk
dilton dilton(at)tiscali co uk
======================================================================
Invalid votes.
a)Ann Wood ann(at)baglady org uk
The www.baglady.org.uk site is hosted by Dave Mason at
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dave.mason/ and Frames Forwarded by
"clicknamesforwarder". The vote from Egg Salad salad.sarnie@kugro from
which Dave Mason usually posts [as sarnie at sarnie dot org dot uk]
was counted. Email corroboration of "Ann's" involvement in newsgroups
was unenlightening. That, coupled with both votes being uniquely
identical F>E>D>C>B>A, leads the votetaker to believe, on the balance
of probability, that "Ann" did not cast this vote.
Dave Mason's vote under his normal Usenet name has been counted. Extra
technical data about these votes has been supplied to the committee.
This vote is declared invalid.
b) dilton dilton(at)tiscali co uk
Thomas Lee thomaslee(at)clara co uk
Richard Ashton ashcan(at)clara co uk
There is no doubt in the votetakers mind that these three votes were
submitted by Allen Hughes. For the following reasons all three votes
are declared invalid.
1) These "voters" did not correctly follow the instructions on the ballot:
Enter your normal usenet name between the square brackets:
Name: [ ]
"Richard Ashton", "Thomas Lee", and "dilton" are not the normal usenet name
of Allen Hughes who submitted these votes.
2) Two "voters" do not have any posting history, on groups.google or in any
other place except the transparently absurd attempts to "create" a posting
history by posting to uk.net.news.config
<URL:http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=1025705318.25011.0%40iris.uk.clara.net
+>
<URL:http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=1025733406.39724.0%40demeter.uk.clara.
+net>
The identity dilton@tiscali.co.uk was given the benefit of the doubt
in a prior vote but has now been established beyond reasonable doubt
to be another alias for Allen Hughes.
3) The thread in uk.net.news.config about the Votetaker allegedly sending
"Thomas Lee" a virus illustrates well the orchestration of sockpuppets. See
<URL:http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=1026216714.33459.0%40iapetus.uk.clara.net>
4) "Richard Ashton" <ashcan(at)clara co uk> and "Thomas Lee" <thomaslee
(at)clara co uk> did not respond to emails stating that had not used their
"normal Usenet name", "dilton" did reply to tell the Votetaker its vote had
been counted in a previous vote.
5) All the votes of these three voted option 1 as first, with no other options
marked, only one other voter out of 66, ignored the ballot instruction to:
"You can leave options unmarked, but are requested not to; ..."
6) UKVoting has other evidence to support the findings that these three votes
are from Allen Hughes, the Votetaker has made this evidence available to the
committee.
7) Allen Hughes requested 4 ballots in his own name but failed to register a
vote with them. The exclusion of the "Richard Ashton", "Thomas Lee" and
"dilton" votes, does not, therefore, equate to disenfranchisement in this
particular case.
VOTETAKER'S COMMENTS
There were a number of mistakes made in this vote, mainly by the votetaker,
and some other issues.
1) In spite of multiple checking the CFV was sent to Control with an
incorrect address for the ballot request. My thanks to the proponent
and others who pointed out this stupid error and to Control for
rapidly cancelling and replacing the faulty CFV. 41 people attempted
to get a ballot from this address, all but 5 eventually got the ballot
successfully, the ballot was sent to the 5, but none was returned. My
sincere apologies to those who were inconvenienced.
2) During the first batch of ACKs (acknowledgements) of votes the
voting software incorrectly processed four acks, this was due to a
buffer overflow problem triggered by the inclusion of the ballot
ID. One of the voters spotted this mistake and informed the
votetaker. The problem was identified, corrected and the faulty ACKs
replaced before the second batch of ACKs were due. My thanks to the
sharp eyed voter for pointing out the error.
3) Allen Hughes, a reader of uk.net.news.config, posted an objection
in unnc, with the Message-ID: <3D1556B9.2D9EC2C5@Allen.as>, to the
effect that the proponent had apparently posted instructions about the
vote that may in other circumstances have voided the vote. The
votetaker did not consider that this posting was designed to, or would
have the effect of, influencing the way voters should vote. There was
no filled in ballot paper posted and therefore the usual reason for
concern was not present. The votetaker decided not to void the vote
and after discussions with UKVoting formally notified the Committee
and Control of the objection. The votetaker also advised Allen Hughes
that this had been done.
4) Filled in ballot posted
On 23 Jun 2002 a voter posted his ballot to the newsgroup uk.current
- -events.us-bombing. The voter was responding to a request in that
group to check how the vote was going. The votetaker considered this
carefully and decided not to stop the vote as this individual was not
in any way canvassing for votes, consideration was also given to the
fact that the voter was new to voting in uk.* groups. At the end of
the vote a check was made and no other voter before or after the
posting voted identically to the posted vote
5) The Email ballot system, developed for UKVoting by Jon Ribbens,
after the sucessful trial run by Mark Googe in a earlier vote, was a
great success. It did not seem to put off a significant number of
voters and affords UKVoting a generally available method that can be
used in all future votes.
======================================================================
VOTING AND APPEAL GUIDELINES
This vote was conducted by a neutral third party member of UKVoting.
UKVoting is a group of independent votetakers who count votes on
behalf of the uk.* hierarchy and other 3rd parties.
The rules under which votes for the uk.* hierarchy are taken are
posted regularly to uk.net.news.announce or can be found at the
following URL:
<ftp://sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk/usenet/news-info/news.answers/uk/voting>
The UKVoting web pages can be found at <http://www.ukvoting.org.uk/>
There is a five day discussion period after these results are posted
to uk.net.news.announce.
Allegations of irregularity should be sent to control@usenet.org.uk.
======================================================================
RATIONALE AND PROPOSAL FROM THE CFV
RATIONALE:
- ----------
uk.current-events.us-bombing was created on 11 September, 2001 through
the quick creation mechanism. It was extended for the full 180 days
allowed under the guidelines. The group continues to be used, and has
become a place for remarkably civil discussion of different views.
According to the hierarchy charter for uk. current-events.* groups
created by the quick creation mechanism must either be removed after
180 days or created through a normal process. Users of the group have
requested that the group continue in some form. During the first RFD
period at least 15 people indicated that they would use the group if
it continued in some form.
The group has become a place for US/UK discussion. In many ways it is
a place were Americans have come to seek statements of European/UK
perspectives. Thus its placement in uk.* is well justified.
PROPOSED CHARTER:
Newsgroups line uk.current-events.terrorism Global terrorism
CHARTER uk.current-events.terrorism
This group is for discussion of international terrorism and efforts to
combat it. Postings which provide links to news items about the
so-called war on terrorism are particularly encouraged. News items
concerning UK involvement or helping to elucidate UK perspectives are
also specifically encouraged.
Discussion of these news events is also on-topic, particular that
which helps encourage understanding of disparate view points.
Discussion of policy and background to the events is also on topic,
but potential posters are encouraged to carefully consider whether
they have anything to say which hasn't been stated many times before.
Posters are reminded that feelings run strong about these issues and
are encouraged to discuss matters civilly.
Posters are reminded that the group uk.current-events.n-ireland exists
and that discussion which is narrowly focused on Northern Ireland may
be better suited there.
Advertising
Advertising is forbidden.
Binaries & Formatting
Encoded binaries (e.g. pictures, compressed files, etc.) are
forbidden. Such material belongs on a web or FTP site to which a
pointer may be posted. Cryptographic signatures (e.g. PGP) may be used
where authentication is important and should be as short as possible.
Posts must be readable as plain text. HTML, RTF and similarly
formatted messages are prohibited. To see how to make some common
newsreaders comply with this, read
<http://www.usenet.org.uk/ukpost.html>.
END CHARTER
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
The ballot emailed to requesters is included here for completeness.
BALLOT FORM
This is your official ballot form for the vote:
uk.current-events.{us-bombing|terrorism}.
It is personal to you and will only work for one vote. If you wish to vote
again then you must request a new ballot.
Votes must be received by 23:59:59 BST, 12th July 2002.
For voting questions *only* contact
The votetaker: Richard Ashton <r.ashton@ukvoting.org.uk>
For questions about the proposed new newsgroup or charter change contact
the proponent: Jeffrey Goldberg <jeffrey@goldmark.org>
Distribution:
This CFV has been posted to the following newsgroups:
uk.net.news.announce
uk.net.news.config
uk.current-events.us-bombing
uk.politics.misc
alt.current-events.wtc-explosion
alt.security.terrorism
=================================================================
RATIONALE:
- ----------
uk.current-events.us-bombing was created on 11 September, 2001 through
the quick creation mechanism. It was extended for the full 180 days
allowed under the guidelines. The group continues to be used, and has
become a place for remarkably civil discussion of different views.
According to the hierarchy charter for uk. current-events.* groups
created by the quick creation mechanism must either be removed after
180 days or created through a normal process. Users of the group have
requested that the group continue in some form. During the first RFD
period at least 15 people indicated that they would use the group if
it continued in some form.
The group has become a place for US/UK discussion. In many ways it is
a place were Americans have come to seek statements of European/UK
perspectives. Thus its placement in uk.* is well justified.
=================================================================
SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION
- ---------------------
The original name proposed by the proponent(uk.current-events.post-11sept)
sucked. A great number of alternatives were suggested (some with
difference focuses for the group). A straw poll was conducted with
10 options. Not included in the straw poll -- but deserving of
(dis)honourable mention -- were uk.current-events.wot, a name based on
the acronym from The War Against Terrorism, and the incomparable
uk.current-events.war-for-votes.
Unfortunately, the poll results were inconclusive, with typically one
vote separating the options. However, it appeared that while there
was little consensus on a name, there didn't appear to strong
objection to many of the alternatives. At that point the proponent
(just under the deadline for a second RFD) submitted a second RFD
listing the top two options from the poll.
The most contentious issue that emerged during the discussion was
whether some clause should be in the charter which encourages
that discussion terrorism related to Northern Ireland be directed to
the already existing group, uk.current-events.northern-ireland. Some
people, the proponent included, felt that because a more specific
group already exists, discussion appropriate for that specific group
should be there and not in the proposed group. Others, however,
expressed the feeling that this would be an arbitrary and unfair
curtailment of a very legitimate topic which would otherwise be fully
appropriate for the group. The straw-poll was indecisive.
The proponent never fully grokked the argument against the NI
restriction, but was made fully aware of the strength of feeling among
those who objected to the clause. And so the proponent decided that
this question had to be voted on as no consensus was possible.
Several aspects of this proposal are unprecedented, and so during the
discussion the proponent asked for several rulings from the
Committee. Some of those rulings are moot (concerning amending the
uk.current-events hierarchy), but one is relevant to this CFV. The
term "status quo" for 12+ rule in voting could be misleading on this
ballot, and so the ballot must be worded with extra care. Although
the term "status quo" may not appear as it would on other ballots,
voters should be assured that there is an option that has an in built
12 point advantage and that is the one for the group
uk.current-events.us-bombing to be removed as scheduled. So if you
don't want to group removed with no replacement, then it is important
to vote against that option.
=================================================================
PROPOSED or AMENDED CHARTER
- ----------------------------
OPTION 1: Recharter uk.current-events.us-bombing
CURRENT NEWSGROUPS LINE
uk.current-events.us-bombing The World Trade Center Terror Attacks
PROPOSED NEWSGROUPS LINE
uk.current-events.us-bombing 11 September 2001 attack on US and follow-up
CURRENT CHARTER (to be replaced)
For discussion specific to the tragedies occurring in Washington and
the World Trade Center and any surrounding issues.
This newsgroup has been created under the provisions of the
uk.current-events.* charter allowing for the immediate creation of
groups in response to current events. It will automatically be removed
after 30 days unless some specific action to prolong it is taken
(e.g. an RFD for the creation of a permanent group).
Advertising is forbidden. Posts must be readable as plain text. No
encoded binaries of any kind other than cryptographic signatures
(pointers to binaries stored elsewhere, e.g. on websites, FTP sites,
or binaries newsgroups are allowed).
END CURRENT CHARTER
CHARTER uk.current-events.us-bombing
This group is for discussion of news events connected to the 11
September, 2001 attacks on the US. Postings which provide links to
news items about the so-called war on terrorism are particularly
encouraged. News items concerning UK involvement or helping to
elucidate UK perspectives are also specifically encouraged.
Discussion of these news events is also on-topic, particular that
which helps encourage understanding of disparate view points.
Discussion of policy and background to the events is also on topic,
but potential posters are encouraged to carefully consider whether
they have anything to say which hasn't been stated many times before.
Posters are reminded that feelings run strong about these issues and
are encouraged to discuss matters civilly.
<Optional NI clause>
Posters are reminded that the group uk.current-events.n-ireland exists
and that discussion which is narrowly focused on Northern Ireland may
be better suited there.
</Optional NI clause>
Advertising
Advertising is forbidden.
Binaries & Formatting
Encoded binaries (e.g. pictures, compressed files, etc.) are
forbidden. Such material belongs on a web or FTP site to which a
pointer may be posted. Cryptographic signatures (e.g. PGP) may be used
where authentication is important and should be as short as possible.
Posts must be readable as plain text. HTML, RTF and similarly
formatted messages are prohibited. To see how to make some common
newsreaders comply with this, read
<http://www.usenet.org.uk/ukpost.html>.
END CHARTER uk.current-events.us-bombing
Create unmoderated group uk.current-events.terrorism
Newsgroups line
uk.current-events.terrorism Global terrorism
CHARTER uk.current-events.terrorism
This group is for discussion of international terrorism and efforts to
combat it. Postings which provide links to news items about the
so-called war on terrorism are particularly encouraged. News items
concerning UK involvement or helping to elucidate UK perspectives are
also specifically encouraged.
Discussion of these news events is also on-topic, particular that
which helps encourage understanding of disparate view points.
Discussion of policy and background to the events is also on topic,
but potential posters are encouraged to carefully consider whether
they have anything to say which hasn't been stated many times before.
Posters are reminded that feelings run strong about these issues and
are encouraged to discuss matters civilly.
<Optional NI clause>
Posters are reminded that the group uk.current-events.n-ireland exists
and that discussion which is narrowly focused on Northern Ireland may
be better suited there.
</Optional NI clause>
Advertising
Advertising is forbidden.
Binaries & Formatting
Encoded binaries (e.g. pictures, compressed files, etc.) are
forbidden. Such material belongs on a web or FTP site to which a
pointer may be posted. Cryptographic signatures (e.g. PGP) may be used
where authentication is important and should be as short as possible.
Posts must be readable as plain text. HTML, RTF and similarly
formatted messages are prohibited. To see how to make some common
newsreaders comply with this, read
<http://www.usenet.org.uk/ukpost.html>.
END CHARTER uk.current-events.terrorism
**** IMPORTANT VOTING INSTRUCTIONS ****
Send your ballot to ukceubt@vote.ukvoting.org.uk
Note: This is *NOT* the same as the votetaker's personal address.
Please do not assume that just replying to this message will work.
Check the address before you mail your vote.
Please ensure that you enter your name and a valid e-mail address
where asked to do so on the ballot form below. If you do not, your
vote will NOT be counted. Your vote acknowledgement will be sent to
the email address used in your ballot form.
No address = no acknowledgment = no vote.
Do NOT remove the placeholders around the ballot form.
Please try and ensure that you do not reformat the ballot paper in any
way - in particular, please delete surplus spaces between the brackets
after entering your name and email address, so that the fields remain
the same overall length.
Please send your vote in plain text (ASCII) only - the votetaker will
make a best-effort attempt to read votes sent in other formats, but
this can not be guaranteed.
**** CONDORCET VOTING ****
This vote is being counted under the Condorcet system.
To vote insert a 1 by your favourite option(s), a 2 by your second
favourite option(s) and so on.
You can give the same ranking to more than one option where you have
no preference between them.
You can leave options unmarked, but are requested not to; any unmarked
options will be assumed to be ranked lower than all marked options.
To abstain from the vote, fill in your normal usenet name and e-mail
address only, and leave all options unmarked.
- ---------8<-----Delete this line and everything above it------8<----
- ----------------------------- Start of Ballot ----------------------
- -------=-=-=-=- Don't Delete Anything Between These Lines =-=-=-=-=-
Mail your ballot to ukceubt@vote.ukvoting.org.uk
Ballot Id: <placeholder for ballot id>
Enter your normal usenet name between the square brackets:
Name: [ ]
Enter your email address between the square brackets:
Address: [ ]
*PLEASE COMPLETE THE ABOVE SECTIONS FOR VOTE TO BE VALID.*
RANK THESE OPTIONS IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE:
A: [ ] Recharter and keep uk.current-events.us-bombing
B: [ ] Recharter and keep uk.current-events.us-bombing
WITH Optional NI Clause
C: [ ] Remove uk.current-events.us-bombing AND create new unmoderated
group uk.current-events.terrorism
D: [ ] Remove uk.current-events.us-bombing AND create new unmoderated
group uk.current-events.terrorism WITH Optional NI Clause
E: [ ] Re-Open Discussion
F: [ ] Remove uk.current-events.us-bombing (Status Quo, see NOTE below)
- -------=-=-=-=- Don't Delete Anything Between These Lines =-=-=-=-=-
- ------------------------------ End of Ballot -----------------------
- ---------8<-----Delete this line and everything below it------8<----
NOTE: The existing group uk.current-events.us-bombing was created under
the emergency procedure and has reached the age where it must either be
formally re-chartered through the group creation procedure or removed.
Thus if no vote is passed the groups removal (with no replacement) is the
"Status Quo" according to the voting procedure. And according to those
procedures, only those options which defeat the "Status Quo" option (F in
this case) by at least 12 votes will be considered. Again, the "Status
Quo" option does NOT keep the group, but removes it. You may contact the
vote taker or the proponent for further clarification.
BALLOT ENDS
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