Directly electing moderators

[Anonymous]

I believe It was common in 80s for Seaham branch to ask someone impartial to chair a debate between two parties. Only fair . Looks bad if the chairperson is partisanOtherwise it would be like appointing a sunderland fan to  referee of the Sunderland/Newcastle DerbyTherefore It would be seen as 'fair' for our forum moderator to be a non-member.

[SocialistPunk]

Thanks for solving the mystery Vin.I don't expect I'll get any acknowledgment from some quarters that I knew what I was talking about.

[northern light]

It was more than thirty years ago when I attended a debate between Harry Young and a cocky young Tory hopefull, that volunteers were called for, from the floor, to chair the debate. But that was a long time ago. Perhaps things have changed

[SocialistPunk]

Thanks as well Northern Light.I knew I wasn't imagining it. Though it's unlikely to have been party policy. Perhaps some long standing members could clarify?During my time in the NERB in the late 1990's I only recall two party debates, but my memory of those events is so poor I can't recall if it was being done then.

[moderator1]

DJP wrote:

SocialistPunk wrote:

I thought I heard that the SPGB used to invite audience members to take the chair at physical debates.

Don't think so. Could be wrong though..

You are definitely wrong.  Most of the debates held in Swansea are chaired by a non-member.  Its down to the Branch to decide who chairs their debates.

[Anonymous]

moderator1 wrote:

DJP wrote:

SocialistPunk wrote:

I thought I heard that the SPGB used to invite audience members to take the chair at physical debates.

Don't think so. Could be wrong though..

You are definitely wrong.  Most of the debates held in Swansea are chaired by a non-member.  Its down to the Branch to decide who chairs their debates.

Not that it's remotely related to this thread but there are several other examples where the party has invited non-party members to chair physical debates. The debate with Peter Tatchell at Conway Hall last year is a case in point. Then of course there are hustings (essentially election debates) where the organisers of these events generally appoint an independent chair.

[DJP]

moderator1 wrote:

You are definitely wrong.  Most of the debates held in Swansea are chaired by a non-member.  Its down to the Branch to decide who chairs their debates.

OK. Shows how many meetings I go to. But surely this is different for business meetings?

[Young Master Smeet]

To be frank, I'm at a loss as to why someone who will not or cannot join the party would even want to moderate our forum for us.  My first thoiught is sabotage, or to turn the forum towards whatever policy or idea they do support.  If someone is mustard keen to moderate our forum for us, they can apply to join the party, and then join ther forum team.  Or they can open their own forum for discussing ideas they do want, or even join an organisation that does represent their views.At formal debates I've been to, the chair is normally a party member appointed by the branch, usually with the agreement with the opponent.  When we do need a neutral chair, it's by agreement between the contenders, and the chair is someone known to both parties, not someone off the street.

[jondwhite]

If a non member turned up to branch and offered to make the tea would your first thought be they are trying to poison you?

[Anonymous]

Young Master Smeet wrote:

not someone off the street.

Why not? 

[DJP]

jondwhite wrote:

If a non member turned up to branch and offered to make the tea would your first thought be they are trying to poison you?

That's not an ananalogous situation…

[Young Master Smeet]

Vin wrote:

Young Master Smeet wrote:

not someone off the street.

Why not? 

We don't know if a passing person can chair; we don't know if a passing person might be a political opponent out to sabotage, etc. we need a certain confidence in a chair.

[Anonymous]

Young Master Smeet wrote:

We don't know if a passing person can chair; we don't know if a passing person might be a political opponent out to sabotage, etc. we need a certain confidence in a chair.

The chair can be removed by a floor vote.  There are many reasons why a party member should not chair a public debate and this forum is a public debate.

[SocialistPunk]

DJP wrote:

moderator1 wrote:

You are definitely wrong.  Most of the debates held in Swansea are chaired by a non-member.  Its down to the Branch to decide who chairs their debates.

OK. Shows how many meetings I go to. But surely this is different for business meetings?

DJP,If you notice the quote below makes no reference to party business meetings.

SocialistPunk wrote:

May I ask if the SPGB invite non-party members to chair physical debates that they host?

There has never been any suggestion that sympathiser/supporter volunteers get membership voting rights.

[SocialistPunk]

I ask if the issue is about trust and I get the following reply.

Young Master Smeet wrote:

SocialistPunk wrote:

I guess a big issue for party members is trust. Can a non-party moderator be trusted to moderate appropriately in an unbiased manner. However the same question regarding moderating in an unbiased manner is still applicable to a party member.

Nope, nothing to do with trust or bias, simply: this is a Party forum, it should be run by party members, democratically accountable to the rest of the party.

Then we get the following.

Young Master Smeet wrote:

To be frank, I'm at a loss as to why someone who will not or cannot join the party would even want to moderate our forum for us.  My first thoiught is sabotage, or to turn the forum towards whatever policy or idea they do support.

[Author]

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