Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Turning Discussion into Action
There are clearly some issues discussed here which people have very real feelings about. Already this site has been taking a leading role in action against the betting shops, the CPZ and giving people the information to take action for themselves on other issues.
Some recent discussion, like Gating the Ladder and Crime on the 29 seem to resonate quite widely. Should we seek to move this discussion from healthy debate to positive action?
Some recent discussion, like Gating the Ladder and Crime on the 29 seem to resonate quite widely. Should we seek to move this discussion from healthy debate to positive action?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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I think something along these lines as a feed-in to the LCSP and others ought be helpful. Precisely how it's done needs some thinking through. Perhaps we might start by asking some of those groups if it would be preceived as being of value to them and what would be the most helpful way of doing it. (I'm not provaricating here. I have learned that sometimes a slowly-slowly-catchee-monkee approach pays more long-term dividends than going in all guns blazing).
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Permalink Reply by matt on
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Yes I agree.
I'm happy to put this to the police ward panel once it's decided exactly what system of communication is being put forward. Or indeed if you want their ideas/feedback. Just say when, if at all.
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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I am happy to suggest this at the LCSP meeting on Thursday and get their feedback as to its usefulness to them.
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Good idea. Look at that, things are moving forward! That's two forums covered Hugh.
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On the "Some of the items that are discussed on here take a life of their ... discussion today, Liz wrote:
.......I thought Rhys was implying that when people take action (letters etc) following discussion on here they are no more representantive of the views on here than 'real life' groups.
I think we should be clear that when people announce that they are going to take actions as a result of what has been discussed on here that they are doing so on their own behalf and not presuming to talk for the members on here.
That is certainly true in my case. I have taken up the parking bays issue as part of a group around the school not as a rep of the website and people are free to disagree with the action, as indeed people have done.
I now intend to ask the LCSP to challenge estate agents through Trading Standards on their flyboarding. I am acting entirely on my own behalf as is my right, others have shown support but if there are people who like estate agents sign everywhere they are of course free to express that opinion and oppose my proposal.
As to free and frank exchange on the site, provided it is not personally hurtful or libelous, then it is to be supported and encouraged. We are aware that people have many different viewpoints and they must start sharing those instead of feeling agrieved that they are not being represented.
I've brought the discussion here to pick up a previous thread.
I completely agree Liz that the principles I outlined in the "Some of the items that are discussed on here take a life of their ... discussion about groups having a mandate apply equally to this site. No person or group should claim to speak on behalf of the residents when it has no such mandate - exactly why I recently refused to see Haley (See the Carolyn Baker Responds to the Resident's Survey post).
As to how action gets taken, I think there's a case for taking action through different mediums on different occasion. First and foremost, it's clearly important that some action gets taken, ratherthan just discussing. As to the best route, that's where I think we need to co-ordinate.
In my opinion, in some instances, it's best for an individual to take the bull by the horns and just get something done. In other circumstances the best way may be in discussion and in co-operation with others, whether that be through the LCSP or elsewhere; or, it may be effective to accomplish some things on-line.
The common thread is that action should be taken, but careful consideration should be given as to what form that action should take to offer the best chance of success.
Make'a'de sense, or am I talking claptrap?
(None of this, by the way, is meant to refer in any way to what you're doing with the parking bays)
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One problem in moving forward from discussion to action is how readily a person who 'takes the bull by the horns' may be identified as the spokesperson for that issue cf your experience with Haley,Hugh, and find themselves caught between politicians who prefer to deal with one person and members of the community who become aggrieved with someone who they believe is representing them without a mandate.
The website can never claim to have a mandate nor would it want to and 'real life' groups suffer from being physically incapable of canvassing thousands of households on a monthly basis to find out what they want dealt with and are therefore left to assume that the things they bring to the table are the 'right' issues.
I have a thought, however, put into my head by something that John McMullan said with relation to his dog owner group and the fact that dog poo issues would transfer to it.
Where a post becomes particularly active and lots of people begin to ask for action, a group is formed (using the groups function of course). This group may be very short term..'Help get HOL some money' or long term 'Campaign for decent housing action group' / 'Friends of Harringay passage' etc. Aims would be agreed, targets for action set and information/opinions shared. There should be real life meetings but with an understanding that not everyone can attend. Communications from the group are signed by all members of the group and it is understood when you join the group, it is assumed that you are happy for this to happen. You may leave if you are not happy or ask for your name to be removed from something you are not happy with. The group is easily identified and posts are stored/accessed without a long search. The same issues do not clog up the main forum.
It would be purely experimental, no idea if it would work but I'm putting it 'out there' for comment...
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I think that's the foundation of something eminently sensible and workable Liz. Right on the money. What we need is a small project to see if/how she flies.
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Done and on the activity board. Could it be featured until the deadline at the end of the month?
Hey, Think I have my first member!
You know me, fast as I think it, I do it!
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Sorry Liz. I've been in broken link hell. Thank you for setting up the Nominate this site for a Making the Difference award group. That's most kind of you.
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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"eminently sensible" - seconded.
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The drawback to this is, that there may be splintering into smaller groups talking to each other and less robust discussion on the forum. I suppose some discussion related to the action groups could be started in the main forum with a link to the action group as I did in the 'I wish to nominate this site...' posting.
Any other ideas /comments?
I really think this is an important issue. The website as a whole cannot take action as it represents too many different viewpoints and, like the 'real life' groups, cannot ask each and every person every time if they agree to something (unlikely you would have one hundred percent agreement on anything anyway). Yet we cannot spend our days and evenings having discussion and doing nothing more. Individual actions such as Matt's on the 29 bus and Alison in the passage are great but are not enough to make the politicians sit up and take notice and admit that it is pressure for here that is making them sit up.
Councillors are already resisting the idea that the people on here are 'members' (are they not, Hugh?) in the sense that they regard Resident's groups and so real names are needed on real letters and emails etc to get action.
Another thing that concerns me is why so few people are joining in the discussion in this post. We are debating important issues around mandate and representation, just the sort of thing that David Smith and Rhys were getting so exercised about in their posts and yet neither they or others are coming up with what they do want with regard to local democracy and representation...surely they are not content to do nothing and have no way to talk to the politicians in a meaningful way that gets results?
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