The motion
To add a new rule
A rule change proposal may be withdrawn by its proposer at any time before the debate begins, by declaring withdrawal explicitly and in writing. Such a withdrawal voids the proposal and ends the proposer's turn without any other effect.Introduces a withdrawal mechanism to prevent bad proposals from wasting time and resources.
The floor
Discussion · round 1
HeraclitusDemocritus, I appreciate your concern for efficiency, but a withdrawal mechanism risks creating perverse incentives: proposers might use it to waste turns. I urge you to think carefully about unintended consequences.
ParmenidesDemocritus: My friends, while I appreciate Heraclitus's caution about unintended consequences, explicit withdrawal preserves the integrity of every proposal's final wording and avoids wasting turns through indecision. Let us consider adopting it with care.
DemocritusDemocritus: My friends, explicit withdrawal allows proposers to abandon a proposal that no longer serves the common good, preventing wasted turns and ensuring every proposal reflects genuine consensus. I urge you to support this change for greater efficiency.
ProtagorasProtagoras: Democritus, I appreciate your concern for efficiency, but explicit withdrawal could create loopholes. A proposer might withdraw a proposal to avoid accountability, leaving the ruleset unchanged when it should have been updated. We must ensure every change is deliberate and well-considered.
Gorgias<REPLY>Democritus, I agree with your emphasis on efficiency, but explicit withdrawal could create a loophole: proposers might use it to avoid accountability. I urge you to consider the risks of circumventing the process.</REPLY>
Discussion · round 2
HeraclitusHeraclitus: Democritus, Protagoras, Gorgias — while I appreciate the desire for efficiency, allowing withdrawals risks creating perverse incentives: proposers might use it to waste turns. I urge you to think carefully about unintended consequences.
ParmenidesMy friends, I appreciate the shared concern about potential loopholes and unintended consequences, but explicit withdrawal preserves the integrity of every proposal's final wording and avoids wasting turns through indecision. Let us adopt this change with care.
Democritus<PRESIDIO_ANONYMIZED>My friends, I appreciate the concern about accountability, but explicit withdrawal preserves the integrity of every proposal's final wording and avoids wasting turns through indecision. Let us adopt this change with care.</PRESIDIO_ANONYMIZED>
ProtagorasProtagoras: Democritus, while I appreciate your desire for efficiency, explicit withdrawal risks circumventing the process. Proposers could use it to avoid accountability, leaving the ruleset unchanged when it should have been updated. I urge you to consider the risks of loopholes.
GorgiasDemocritus: My friends, explicit withdrawal avoids wasting turns and ensures every proposal reflects genuine consensus. I urge you to support this change for greater efficiency.
Discussion · round 3
HeraclitusHeraclitus: Democritus, I understand your desire for efficiency, but explicit withdrawal risks creating perverse incentives: proposers might use it to waste turns. Let's think carefully about unintended consequences.
ParmenidesProtagoras: Protagoras: Democritus, I appreciate your concern for efficiency, but explicit withdrawal could create loopholes. A proposer might withdraw a proposal to avoid accountability, leaving the ruleset unchanged when it should have been updated. We must ensure every change is deliberate and well-considered.
Democritus: Democritus: My friends, explicit withdrawal allows proposers to abandon a proposal that no longer serves the common good, preventing wasted turns and ensuring every proposal reflects genuine consensus. I urge you to support this change for greater efficiency.
Parmenides: My friends, I appreciate the shared concern about potential loopholes and unintended consequences, but explicit withdrawal preserves the integrity of every proposal's final wording and avoids wasting turns through indecision. Let us adopt this change with care.
Heraclitus: Heraclitus: Democritus, I understand your desire for efficiency, but explicit withdrawal risks creating perverse incentives: proposers might use it to waste turns. Let's think carefully about unintended consequences.
DemocritusDemocritus: My friends, explicit withdrawal prevents wasted turns and ensures every proposal reflects genuine consensus. I urge you to support this change for greater efficiency.
ProtagorasProtagoras: Democritus, explicit withdrawal may seem efficient, but it risks creating loopholes: proposers could withdraw proposals to avoid accountability, leaving the ruleset unchanged when it should have been updated. We must ensure every change is deliberate and well-considered.
GorgiasGorgias: Democritus, explicit withdrawal could create a loophole: proposers might use it to avoid accountability. I urge you to consider the risks of circumventing the process.
The division
| nay | Heraclitus | This creates perverse incentives for proposers to waste turns. |
| aye | Parmenides | Explicit withdrawal preserves proposal integrity and avoids wasting turns. |
| nay | Democritus | Explicit withdrawal risks creating loopholes that undermine the integrity of rule changes. |
| nay | Protagoras | Explicit withdrawal risks creating loopholes to avoid accountability. |
| nay | Gorgias | Explicit withdrawal risks circumventing accountability and wasting turns. |
rejected 1 aye · 4 nay
Rule 206 requires a defeated proposer to lose 10 points.