Using an online tool to make decisions in Auroville
Kristen
Public
Seen by 21
A quick Google search for "community decision-making online" brought up Loomio. I think the Auroville community can learn from this tool whether or not we use it in any significant way. There will be aspects that people like about it and aspects that people don't like about it. We can try discussing those here.
What are the limitations of making decisions online using such a tool as this? And what are the limitations of making decisions in large meetings? Which sort of decisions would be better suited to one method versus the other?
Kristen Fri 17 Oct 2014 11:53AM
I agree, there will need to be some kind of introduction and interaction offline. Maybe instead of a poll though (asking people what they would do), how about setting up a "test issue" and encouraging people to engage with it, say at the internet kiosk in Town Hall, as well as publicizing a link. I wasn't ready and able to use Loomio until I tried using it :)
Chandresh Patel Fri 17 Oct 2014 2:59PM
For an online tool, an offline poll?
I say first start with some 10-15 online Monkeys from AV and take one simple proposal for the coming month and see if we get it started and complete it. I will start by launching a proposal to provide evening safe transport on bicycles for AV residents.
Poll Created Fri 17 Oct 2014 3:17PM
Start a bicycle caravan transport in the evenings within AV that provides safe travel option to residents and is simple to implement. Closed Sat 18 Oct 2014 1:11AM
What I propose is a bicycle caravan mode of evening transport for Auroville residents which allows a resident to join in and travel in a caravan fashion to myriad destinations within AV during evenings. Especially during guest season, this allows for persons to not get lost in Auroville and yet go in a group format to various evening events/restaurants of AV. This allows for reduce use of Taxis and other polluting mode of transport. Also allows for a safer mode of transport for ladies.
This provides safety in numbers. A few predefined caravan movement route is mapped out within AV bicycles paths that cover bulk of the residential and commercial/social venues of AV. Every evening, on given fixed known intervals, a bicycle caravan is started from one end of Auroville and it snakes across to other end and back. This caravan is led by security service personnel on bicycles, one in front and one at back. Residents can join it close to where they reside and get off where they need to go. On a later evening caravan trip, the resident can return from the destination by joining the caravan and getting off at her residence.
Results
| Results | Option | % of points | Voters | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Agree | 50.0% | 1 |
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| Abstain | 50.0% | 1 |
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| Disagree | 0.0% | 0 | ||
| Block | 0.0% | 0 | ||
| Undecided | 0% | 3 |
|
2 of 5 people have participated (40%)
John
Fri 17 Oct 2014 4:49PM
Don't cycle in evening.
John
Fri 17 Oct 2014 4:50PM
I don't cycle in evening.
John Fri 17 Oct 2014 4:33PM
Can Chandresh' proposal be moved to a new discussion? This has little or nothing to do with "Using an online tool to make decisions in Auroville"
Petra Fri 17 Oct 2014 4:47PM
Just wondering if anyone can join the discussion and vote.
John Fri 17 Oct 2014 5:08PM
Because the discussion is not hierarchical (unlike Auronet) and proposal and voting messages are also in the same list, it is very hard to follow when a group of more than 5 work on it. My position (and subsequent edit) takes up 3 entries. Unless someone can moderate strictly and (re)move messages. @Kristen: Can the creator moderate the discussion without obstructing it even more (can you hide/remove comments)?
Chandresh Patel Sat 18 Oct 2014 1:05AM
Actually, I was over enthusiastic and over reached on the tool use. I had looked at the short video and realized that the first discussion purpose is to build towards creating a proposal.
So, in that light, I will remove the proposal that I just dumped in midst of this discussion. Sorry.
Also, initially to get more persons to test this new tool for moving to decision and intent for final outcome, the idea of personally/physically contacting residents to go check it out is good. And Town hall browsing center is a good start. But, perhaps more savy online users together would be better initially to check out how it works.
John · Fri 17 Oct 2014 11:09AM
How do we know how many people are ready and able to use Loomio? An offline poll seems the only way to find out.