🚀 go-pugleaf

Marc Bissonnette (dragnet@internalysis.com) wrote:
: In article <EvqLDK.EF.0.bloor@torfree.net>, quirk@torfree.net says...
: >

: >As long as our actions are based on the inerpretation of *OUR* rules, not 
: >interpretations of the law.

: That's really splitting hairs, since we can simply regurgitate any relevant 
: section of the criminal code and adopt them as *OUR* rules. 

Actually I can see Dmytri's point. It may be splitting hairs but they're 
very consequential hairs.

If we state that someone must break the law before we take action, we put 
ourselves in the position of second-guessing the judicial system's 
handling of such a case. While I don't see this in quite the extreme way 
that Dmytri does, I do see problems with it.

On the other hand, if we create a set of guidelines which mirror and 
reflect key points in our justice system that apply to our little corner 
of the world, and call them our own policies, then we have drawn a 
boundary around what is acceptable within our walls without necessarily 
linking ourselves to any outside legal process.

This does not mean that seeking outside legal action is not an option --
on the contrary. TFN can choose to refer a complaint to the greater legal
system, or to handle it regardless within its own organisational
boundaries, or both. By creating a set of guidelines (called whatever you
want) that reflect Canadian laws, we draw our organisational boundaries in
a way that is in sync with our containing community, which makes a lot of
sense to me. 

Drawing up our own set of guidelines also enables TFN to more easily and
fairly take action when deemed necessary by our Board according to the
circumstances, rather than waiting to find out what the outside legal
system decides -- something you told me you support. 


Wendy

-- 
/^^^\^^^/^^^\^^^/^^^\^^^/^^^\^^^/^^^\^^^/^^^\^^^/^^^|^^^\^^^/^^^\^^^/^^^\
     Conservative: n. A statesman who is enamoured  |
      of existing evils, as distinguished from the  |  Ambrose
  liberal, who wishes to replace them with others.  |  Bierce