How Should We Elect Staff?

[Tiberius]

As most of you will know, new members of the staff team are chosen by current members of the staff team. It's not a fixed policy, but more of a "tradition" that we've kept since we first set up the site. This process involves the staff coming up with a shortlist, and then voting amongst ourselves until someone has a majority. On one occasion we let people apply for moderator positions, and we formed the shortlist from that, but I don't think we got many applications.

This is a poll to determine how many of you are happy with the current system, or how many would want more control over the "election process".

The options are as follows:

1) "Fully" public elections. - Candidates nominate themselves privately and send us a short declaration of intent. The declarations are anonymized and people vote on them.
2) "Semi" public elections. - Candidates nominate themselves but the staff choose the shortlist. Voting as before.
3) No public elections. - i.e. how it is now, with staff choosing members privately.
4) Other.

Please vote carefully, and if you don't like any of the options, vote "Other" and discuss your proposal in the comments.

[frankiej]

I think it would be fairer to just let me decide everything from now on.

[LastPoet]

I say you keep it as it has been. Way too much confusion with public elections.

[Napoléon]

I don't mind the idea of public elections other than it might go toward a popularity vote rather than who would actually be the best candidate. That's the problem with democracy though I suppose

[frankiej]

I don't mind the idea of public elections other than it might go toward a popularity vote rather than who would actually be the best candidate. That's the problem with democracy though I suppose

Yeah, you would end up with someone like me with power. A hilarious but awful image.

[Napoléon]

Yeah, you would end up with someone like me with power. A hilarious but awful image.

I wouldn't flatter yourself too much there buddy

[frankiej]

I would also probably try to poison any opposition.

[Tiberius]

I said we'd make public elections anonymous. As in, people vote on declarations of intent, without knowing who wrote them.

[Napoléon]

I said we'd make public elections anonymous. As in, people vote on declarations of intent, without knowing who wrote them.

I still don't think it's the greatest way to choose someone. A guy with a great CV might have a great CV but does that necessarily make him better at the job than a guy with an average CV?

[Jackalope]

I'm in favor of members who would like to be on staff having an official channel to express interest. On the other hand, I'm thinking anyone who wants the job should be automatically disqualified. (jk on that last part).