Combining decision methods¶

Some questions cannot be answered in one go. Rhizome offers two ways of dealing with this: four built-in processes that kick in automatically, and the free combination of several decisions within a single topic.

What happens naturally¶

Four processes are hard-wired. You don’t need to start them – they arise from what someone does.

Each of these steps begins as a draft. Rhizome creates it, but does not launch it – there is always a moment in between when you can talk.

The issue does not move on. A thread may go through several decisions without the issue being considered resolved; you decide this manually.

What you put together yourselves¶

Furthermore, within a single topic, several decisions may run concurrently. This is the actual possibility of combination – not one mode merging into the next, but a second question alongside the first.

The pulse check is the most useful tool here: a decision that isn’t binding, but simply shows where you stand. Afterwards, you make a binding decision based on what you now know.

Examples¶

• Sort first, then decide: A ranking as a pulse check puts the twelve proposals in order. You then make a binding decision on the top three via a majority vote.
• Gauge opposition, then formulate: A resistance poll as a gauge of pulse check shows where the concerns lie. The proposal with the least opposition is revised and then moves on to the consent.
• Quickly gauge the general trend: A majority vote serves as a pulse check, clarifying within an hour whether the effort involved in a dot poll is even worthwhile.