Ok, talk about how Brainstorming is failing is scattered around here so I thought I'd see if we could discuss in this thread and reach some sort of consensus. Suffice to say I think I get where Quim is coming from but I'm still not sure it's a disaster and if it is, what we need to do to fix it.

So I'm going to construct a fictional scenario here to see if Quim and those thanking him can get the issues through my thick skull. The scenario will have nothing to do with Maemo so we can avoid getting caught up in some of the real proposals here. I will intentionally add solutions that may seem silly since we really get those.

Proposal:

Randy's house is old and could use many improvements

Solution 1: Randy should replace all of his windows with new ones
Solution 2: Randy should better insulate his attic
Solution 3: Randy should replace his antique air conditioning system
Solution 4: Randy should abandon the house and get an apartment
Solution 5: Randy should accidentally drop a match and collect insurance after the damn thing burns to the ground
Solution 6: Randy should sell the house as-is and try his luck on the depressed housing market
Solution 7: Randy should take out a loan for life, hire an expert and let them have at it
Solution 8: Randy should only insulate critical areas of the attic AND replace over-exposed windows for now

See how the proposal is at a very high level and can be attacked in many ways?

Now, some of these solutions are mutually-exclusive based on type and scope... but most are mutually exclusive based on resources (time, funds, help, etc). Some do not relate directly to the proposal (4, 5, 6) at all but are in fact alternatives. I see these as issues facing current Brainstorms.

So here's what I suggest: let the proposal creator manage this. Give them the ability to deprecate solutions, even popular ones, if he/she feels there's a conflict of any sort. Let them mark alternatives as Inappropriate (for no action) OR change the nature of the original proposal IF he/she feels the solution provider has introduced something not originally considered but highly useful.

Let proposal creators take ownership. Let them have the ability to edit and/or combine solutions. Let them manage their portion of the process. Let them prune, weed, nurture, whatever it takes to move the process forward.

Granted, this could cause some ill will... but, so can inaction (which we have now). Ultimately, I'd like to see proposal creators collaborate with solution contributors and start shaping the "mess".

I'd also like to have those of us participating in moderation have some sort of offline dialog so we can get on the same page. Starting soon.

I'm just... brainstorming here though. I'm starting to think I'm at odds with the general idea here based on responses to recent comments so maybe I should just shut up and let everyone else sort it out...