14 Sep 2000: Create new newsgroup uk.philosophy.atheism


From: alan@whirlnet.co.uk (Alan Ford)
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 00:28:24 +0100
Subject: RESULTS: New Newsgroup uk.philosophy.atheism PASSES (OPTION 2)
Newsgroups: uk.net.news.announce,uk.net.news.config,alt.atheism,talk.atheism,uk.philosophy.misc

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

RESULT OF CALL FOR VOTES

New Newsgroup uk.philosophy.atheism PASSES with OPTION 2 
                                           (no proselytising clause)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------

Voting began Friday 18th August 2000
Voting closed Friday 8th September 2000 23:59:59 BST

Proponent: andy roberts <andy.roberts@zetnet.co.uk>
Votetaker: alan@whirlnet.co.uk (Alan Ford)

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------

DISTRIBUTION

These results have been posted to:
 uk.net.news.announce
 uk.net.news.config
 alt.atheism
 talk.atheism
 uk.philosophy.misc

- --------------------------------------------------------------------

RESULTS COUNTING

The three options were:

1) Create New Newsgroup    (YES OPTION 1)
   with all the proposed charter
2) Create New Newsgroup    (YES OPTION 2)
   without proselytising clause
3) Status Quo              (SQ) no new newsgroup
4) Re Open Discussion      (ROD) discussion reopens


STAGE ONE - Options compared to Status Quo:

Yes, Option 1      preferred to SQ by 52 : 46 - FAILS +12 rule
Yes, Option 2      preferred to SQ by 70 : 23
Re-Open Discussion preferred to SQ by 62 : 30

The following options beat Status Quo by the required 12 votes,
and therefore proceed to the next stage:

    Yes, Option 2
    Re-Open Discussion


STAGE TWO - Comparison of remaining options:

Yes, Option 2 is preferred to Yes, Option 1      by 52 : 41
Yes, Option 2 is preferred to Status Quo         by 70 : 23
Yes, Option 2 is preferred to Re-Open Discussion by 68 : 28

Yes, Option 2 is therefore a condorcet winner


YES OPTION 2 was preferred to all the other options, and had a majority 
of more than twelve over the Status Quo, therefore the group is created 
with the charter as given below.

There were a total of 101 votes.

There will be a five day discussion period after these results have
been posted before the group is created to allow for any allegations
of irregularities to be raised.

The Rationale, Summary of Discussion, Proposal, and Charter follow
the main results for informational purposes.

RAW PREFERENCES GRID

     OP1   OP2    SQ   ROD
OP1 [n/a] [ 41] [ 52] [ 46]
OP2 [ 52] [n/a] [ 70] [ 68]
 SQ [ 46] [ 23] [n/a] [ 30]
ROD [ 52] [ 28] [ 62] [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, 52 votes preferred
option one (OP1) to SQ while 28 votes preferred reopening the discussion
to option two (OP2).

OPPOSITE COMPARISONS GRID

     OP1   OP2    SQ   ROD
OP1 [n/a] [-11] [  6] [ -6]
OP2 [ 11] [n/a] [ 47] [ 40]
 SQ [ -6] [-47] [n/a] [-32]
ROD [  6] [-40] [ 32] [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.

As shown by all the numbers in its row in the lower grid being positive,
Option 2 (OP2) was preferred to all other options and hence wins the
ballot.

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE RESULTS IN FULL

Total Votes: 101

Re-Open Discussion-----------------------------------------------------------+
Status Quo----------------------------------------------------------------+  |
Yes, Option 2----------------------------------------------------------+  |  |
Yes, Option 1-------------------------------------------------------+  |  |  |
                                                                    |  |  |  |
Aidan Folkes              aidan@celestis@freeserve@OC@KU            1  2  4  3
Alex Dawson               alex@dawson67@fsTEN@OC@KU                 1  4  3  2
Andrew Hartley            andrew@eastupham@freeserve@OC@KU          4  1  2  3
Andrew Norman             nja@le@ac@KU                              4  1  3  2
Andrew Stoker             andrew@peek-a-boo@GRO@KU                  3  4  1  2
Andy Mabbett              andy@pigsonthewing@GRO@KU                 -  -  2  1
Andy Roberts              andy@roberts@zetTEN@OC@KU                 1  2  3  4
Ann Wood                  ann@wood@pemail@TEN                       3  3  1  2
Be OS                     beos51@hotmail@OCm                        4  3  2  1
Bernard Peek              bap@shrdlu@OCm                            4  1  2  3
Brett Paul Dunbar         brett@dimetrodon@demon@OC@KU              1  2  4  3
Brian                     Brian@bjforster@force9@OC@KU              3  1  2  1
Bryan Kennerley           briank@btinterTEN@OCm                     1  2  -  -
Calum MacLeod             mmacle@scri@sari@ac@KU                    4  1  3  2
Charles F Hankel          charles@hankel@freedombird@TEN            1  2  4  3
Charles Lindsey           chl@clw@cs@man@ac@KU                      2  1  1  1
Chris Hall                chris@clapham@GRO                         1  2  4  3
Christopher G Brannigan   c@g@brannigan@btinterTEN@OCm              4  3  1  2
Craig Hardie              craig@algatis@GRO                         1  2  4  3
Danny Collman             ddOCllman@hwthwood@demon@OC@KU            1  2  4  3
Dave Hillam               dave@hbarTEN@freeserve@OC@KU              -  1  -  2
Dave Mason                dave@lowjobs@OC@KU                        3  4  1  2
Dave Mayall               david@mayall@KUonline@OC@KU               4  3  1  2
Dave Roberts              dave@smartproof@OC@KU                     1  2  3  4
David Damerell            damerell@chiark@greenend@GRO@KU           3  2  2  1
David Jackson             david@middleroom@demon@OC@KU              1  4  3  2
David Mahon               KUpa1@amigo@OC@KU                         2  3  4  1
Dev Null                  dev@null@ntlworld@OCm                     4  4  1  2
Devi Jankowicz            anima@devi@demon@OC@KU                    4  1  3  2
Eddie Bernard             useTEN@ebernard@greatxscape@TEN           1  2  4  3
Edward King               eaking@ulape@GRO@KU                       3  1  3  2
Fish                      fish@infidels@GRO                         1  4  4  4
Frankie Roberto           frankie@roberto@lineone@TEN               1  2  3  4
Geoff (Blade Runner)      black-dog@geocities@OCm                   4  1  4  4
Glenys Pople              gkp@howfen@demon@OC@KU                    4  1  3  2
Graham Drabble            graham@drabble@lineone@TEN                4  3  1  1
Graham Nye                graham@tyndale@demon@OC@KU                4  2  3  1
Guy MGROan                guy@first-light-services@OC@KU            4  1  2  4
Gwen Jones                gwen_jones@cybergal@OCm                   1  2  4  3
Harlequin                 harlequin@fnord@GRO@KU                    1  2  4  3
Hugh Simmons              hugh@st-ronan@demon@OC@KU                 3  1  4  2
Iain Bowen                alaric@alaric@GRO@KU                      4  1  2  3
Ian Bush                  I@J@Bush@dl@ac@KU                         1  4  3  2
Ian Chard                 ichard@cadence@OCm                        2  1  4  3
Ian Peattie               ian@john-richard@OC@KU                    4  2  3  1
Jack & Megan              renegade@stormshadow@OC@KU                2  1  4  3
James Coupe               james@zephyr@GRO@KU                       3  2  2  1
James Farrar              flynny@redhotant@OCm                      2  1  4  3
Jezza                     jezza@hotwells@freeserve@OC@KU            1  4  3  2
John Davies               john@redwoods@demon@OC@KU                 1  2  -  -
Jon Plews                 jonplews@dial@pipex@OCm                   1  2  3  4
Jon Thomson               jon@thomson2273@freeserve@OC@KU           3  3  1  2
Justa Lurker              jlurker@bigfoot@OCm                       4  1  1  3
Kath Collman              kath@hwthwood@demon@OC@KU                 4  2  1  3
Kevin Andreoli            kevin@andreoli@freeserve@OC@KU            3  1  4  2
Laurent Neyret            neyret@wannadoo@fr                        2  1  4  3
M@                        mgk@ecs@soton@ac@KU                       4  1  3  2
Mark Eller                Marell@ellmar@demon@OC@KU                 1  2  4  3
Mark Goodge               mark@good-stuff@OC@KU                     4  1  3  2
Mark Tyndall              mrt102@york@ac@KU                         3  1  1  2
Mark Wright               mark@wright@bristol@ac@KU                 1  2  4  3
Martin Thomas             martin@albedosystems@OCm                  2  1  4  3
Max Boucher               max@mbstockwell@freeserve@OC@KU           1  4  3  2
Michael Parry             Michael@cavrdg@demon@OC@KU                1  2  4  3
Mike Fleming              mike@tauzero@freeserve@OC@KU              4  1  2  3
Mike Henry                mike@tw2@OCm                              4  1  3  2
Niles                     alex@foster@zetTEN@OC@KU                  1  4  4  4
Patrick Herring           p@herring@dcs@shef@ac@KU                  3  1  4  2
Paul Hutchinson           pmh@classicfm@TEN                         1  2  4  3
Paul Leake                P@J@Leake@durham@ac@KU                    3  1  4  2
Paul                      Paul@xebon@clara@OC@KU                    4  3  2  1
Pekka P@ Pirinen          ppp@pirinen@demon@OC@KU                   3  4  1  2
Peter H@M@ Brooks         peter@new@OC@za                           1  2  4  3
Peter Munn                pmunnsub@pearce-neptune@demon@OC@KU       1  1  2  3
Peter Parry               peter@wpp@ltd@KU                          4  1  3  2
Phil Clark                phil@saxmund@demon@OC@KU                  1  2  3  4
Phil Wade                 philwade@bigfoot@OCm                      1  2  4  3
Philip Baker              phil@thalasson@OCm                        3  3  1  2
Philip Boys               pgboys@btinterTEN@OCm                     1  2  4  4
Philip Powell             philip@blencathra@GRO@KU                  4  1  3  2
Richard Kennaway          jrk@sys@uea@ac@KU                         3  1  -  2
Richard Kettlewell        rjk+KUpa01@sfere@greenend@GRO@KU          1  1  2  1
Simon Gardner             666_@hack@powerTEN@OC@KU                  1  4  2  3
simon gray                simon@star-one@GRO@KU                     4  1  2  3
Simon Miller              miller@bits@bris@ac@KU                    4  1  3  2
Sleepalot                 sleepy@carlisle98@freeserve@OC@KU         1  2  -  -
SomeBlokeCalledRapunzelSy rapunzel@KU-rec-sheds@GRO@KU              1  2  4  3
Stephen Baird             steve@grinning-cat@OC@KU                  2  1  4  3
Steve Toledo-Brown        Stephen_Toledo_Brown@KU@ibm@OCm           4  1  3  2
Steven Hilton             sth6@le@ac@KU                             1  3  4  2
Stuart O'Donnell          spod@veniOCnes@demon@OC@KU                3  1  2  4
Tez Boyes                 tez@pierrot@OC@KU                         2  1  -  3
The Proximate Cluebat     cluebat@earthlink@TEN                     1  2  4  3
Thomas Lee                tfl@psp@OC@KU                             4  3  2  1
Tim Walls                 tim@snowgoons@fsTEN@OC@KU                 4  1  2  3
Tobias Erle               torex@gmx@de                              1  4  3  2
Tony Towers               tony@cats@tele2@OC@KU                     3  1  1  2
Tony                      tony@tagman@demon@OC@KU                   4  1  3  2
zith                      zith@zith@OC@KU                           4  1  3  2
Zuq Fis                   allah_is_god@hotmail@OCm                  -  -  1  4
{R}                       {R}@news@semolina@GRO                     1  2  3  4

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------

VOTETAKER'S COMMENTS:

There was an extremely large turnout for this vote, especially 
considering it is simply for a group creation (albeit a contentious
one) -- certainly the largest vote I've ever handled!

Anyway, the result seems pretty clear and decisive.

Many voters were re-voting closer to the end of the vote after 
changing their minds -- another thing I had not seen before in any
significantly large numbers.

Interestingly, towards the end of the vote, when usually the votes
arriving tail off, I was receiving about three a day. It seems 
interest in this vote has spread far and wide.

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------

PROPONENT'S RATIONALE:
        
      An atheist group in uk.* is long overdue, support
      having been demonstrated long ago, but doesn't fit
      anywhere else that is acceptable. The newly formed
      uk.philosophy sub-hierarchy provides a suitable home
      for this group.

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------

PROPONENT'S SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION

During the official discussion period, over 600 messages were posted
stating a variety of points of view, much of it concerning the
proselytism clause.

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEWSGROUP LINE

uk.philosophy.atheism   Atheist philosophy, UK atheism + atheists

CHARTER: uk.philosophy.atheism (not moderated)

  Philosophical and general discussion of atheism in the UK.

  Advertisements are banned.

  Encoded binaries (e.g. pictures, compressed files, etc.) are
  forbidden.  Posts must be readable as plain text.
  HTML, RTF and similarly formatted messages are prohibited.

END CHARTER

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------

WHAT WAS VOTED AGAINST

The alternative "yes" option, Option 1, the one that did not win, 
included the following text in the charter:

  Non-atheists, humanists and agnostics are welcome to take part
  but proselytising by christians and other theists is considered
  off-topic and unwelcome.

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

- --
Alan Ford <alan@whirlnet.co.uk> <a.ford@ukvoting.org.uk>
UKVoting Votetaker

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: 2.6.3i
Charset: noconv

iQCVAwUBOcANmGOfGXkh8vHZAQG9CAP/YxqVWz8azT2wpoB4LtnJ06hXNJu04EAi
52RZg+dUCl3VQCR5CIC2qxdsRyXITIUxN6h4ANjKYXfu4n8BHDpkXDobPFaIgzbs
HEQvoAEp2YnsHD/9WAHjLAOBzWGTffRzhoEp7q/FvTSglMdd0cZXtJViCG33lpyf
LCOlelrJsdk=
=DbWT
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----



You can also see the raw article.
Back ot the UKVoting homepage