Consensus
Consensus is a term which describes general agreement among members of a group or community. It also means the theory and process of bringing a group together in agreement.[1]
Not majority rule
The cooperative spirit of consensus is different from the competitive spirit which is brought to a point in majority voting. According to Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales,
We are really strongly focused on consensus. One criticism of Wikipedia is that the majority rules. But majority is not the right way to describe it. We strive for consensus rather than majority rule. If you are in a group of five or ten people working on an article, if 30 percent of those working on the article dissent, then continue to write the article until all but the most unreasonable agree. Those who continue to disagree are typically exhibiting non-collaborative, and sometimes abusive, behavior.[2]
Consensus Media
A general assembly at Occupy Wall Street (2011) where people aimed to establish consensus
Members of the Shimer College Assembly reaching a consensus through deliberation
Poster for the Clamshell Alliance's first occupation of Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant, 1977
Front face, back face and embossing mask for colored consensus cards
Related pages
References
- ↑ Shutt, Randy, "Consensus Is Not Unanimity: Making Decisions Cooperatively," Vernal Education Project; retrieved 2013-1-25.
- ↑ Farber, Dan. "Deconstructing Wikipedia at the Berkman Center," Archived 2012-10-23 at the Wayback Machine CNET, May 15, 2008; retrieved 2013-1-25.
