Re: Tolerance

[Michael StJohns <[e-mail]>]

Hi Melinda - inline..

On 7/11/2019 2:00 PM, Melinda Shore wrote:
> On 7/11/19 8:27 AM, Michael StJohns wrote:
>> "Unprofessional"  (RFC3005's "Unprofessional commentary") has a lot of
>> meanings, and Webster has it as "**not exhibiting a courteous,
>> conscientious, or generally businesslike manner in the workplace", but
>> at times there will be a conflict between what's perceived as
>> "courteous" and what's "conscientious".
> I don't think anybody's arguing that people shouldn't make
> the technical points that need to be made.  However, if the
> goal is persuasion, which I think we probably agree it is
> (or should be) that suggests that the argument, in both
> substance and form, should be persuasive rather than
> alienating.

I strongly agree with the above,  especially that the goal of a 
technical discussion is persuasion leading to agreement or at least 
grumpy acquiescence.  But for fact-finding and accountability 
discussions, the model probably needs to be persistence when faced with 
answers or explanations that are not forthcoming, that are incomplete or 
that are inconsistent with known facts.

IMO, "Alienating" is a very strange word to compare and contrast with 
persuasion.  Maybe "browbeating" or "intimidating" or "hectoring"?  I 
think that line is probably clear enough on the technical side, but I 
wonder how it gets reconciled on the accountability side? At some point, 
if answers are not forthcoming, persistent questioning can be probably 
be seen as one of those three - especially by those being questioned.  
The question then becomes whether it's the inquirer's fault for keeping 
up the questioning or the target's fault for failing to answer fully and 
truthfully (or for completeness some blend of the two).  I refer you 
back again to the "Organization Dissent" wiki page and the discussion of 
whistle blowers.

In the current discussion I believe I have a reasonable understanding of 
what and when.  I still lack clarity on why, how and who and I expect 
getting answers to those questions to be a substantial part of the 
discussion at the plenary this coming meeting along with understanding 
what remediations need to be done.  In other words - "accountability 
through persistence".

> adjective: *conscientious*
> 1.
> (of a person) wishing to do what is right, especially to do one's work 
> or duty well and thoroughly.

Mike


>
> Melinda
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>