[Bp_multistakeholder] Bad Actors - what is meant by this term

[Avri Doria]

hi,

First apologies for the tardiness of this note.

At our last note, we came to a question of what we mean by bad actors in
the sense of a multistakeholder practices.  I indicated I would start
the discussion with some initial personal thoughts.

Let me start with one thing I do think it does _not_ mean. 

- it does not mean people who disagree with the prevalent view point
- if does not mean people who argue passionately for some view point
they support

Some of the elements that might contribute to a definition

- people who participate in a process with the effect of scuttling the
process.
- people who persist in arguing a position after it has been discussed
in detail and found to not be part of the consensus, and use that
position to block the continuing work of the rest of the group.
- people who persist in bringing up out-of-scope issues that act as road
blocks to a group making process.
- people whose primary form of argument is personal attack, intimidation
and bullying.

It is notoriously difficult to ascertain motives and intents to people's
behavior, hence, unless there is evidence of intentionality in a
person's or group's writings or public statements, any judgement of 'bad
actor' must be taken on practical evidence.  Also, it is often difficult
for a single person to judge the behavior of others, and such judgements
should be taken with care and with the consensus of the group if
possible.  Care must also be taken to not use claims of 'bad actor' to
inflict a tyranny of the majority on a minority that has not had
adequate opportunity to make and explain its case.

Also, great care must be taken to not confuse passion with bad
behavior.  A single action of bad behavior should not be confused with
being a bad actor, people sometimes lose their cool under the stress of
discussion and negotiation.  Judgement should be based on behavior
trends and long lasting patterns.

Finally, accusations of 'bad actor' should not be used to prevent a
minority from including dissenting statement in relation to any
consensus position taken by a group.

avri

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