Why I am not running for DPL, pusling

Every year, at least one person asks me to run for DPL. I don't remember quite when this started, but it was more than five years ago.

I have some standard responses: I don't have time to do a good job, and why commit if you know you can't do a good job? That's just irresponsible. Usually I get some feeble relativism back for that one. Oddly enough, this is the one year that I could actually make the time for it, but it is still not a good idea.

Also I do not wish to self-nominate. I am told that everyone is too autistic to understand why, so I assume that by observing the timing of nominations (in specific, who stands at the beginning of the nomination period and who waits until close to the last minute), no moro-ethical conclusions will be drawn. To belabor this point: if the culture of self-nomination were fixed, I would actually nominate people I think would do a good job. At present, I cannot, and I resent that.

Furthermore, you do not really want me as DPL. There are oodles and oodles of things I think are fundamentally flawed and I would try to fix them. I would not take advice from predecessors because I think that only perpetuates years of flawed DPL behavior. I would not entertain requests in private because there is far, far, far too much backroom discussion right now, and unfortunately it is actively encouraged and promoted by many people in power. Such departures would be extremely unpopular.

I would be pleased if Stefano runs unopposed. I think that there is a good chance he will do a decent job.

Posted on 2010-03-08
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