Confusing the Parliamentarian

[Timothy]

What is the proper procedure for the chair to adopt when he needs to confuse with the parliamentarian during a meeting?

 

This question was previously asked by mistake, but I'm curious to know what people think would make a parliamentarian's job most difficult.

[jstackpo]

When the chair, innocently, asks how to do something that is totally improper.  And then does it anyway.

[jstackpo]

Perhaps "pains the parliamentarian", not "confuses" is better.   When this sort of thing happens, and chaos ensues, in one case people blamed me (after the meeting) for the chaos.

[Guest Penny]

The question was how does the chair "confer" with the parliamentarian drying a meeting, sorry for the confusion, interesting response.

[jstackpo]

I think we all knew what you meant  --  just having a little fun.

 

Please keep asking questions and we'll do the best we can.

[Gary Novosielski]

When the chair, innocently, asks how to do something that is totally improper.  And then does it anyway.

Albeit no longer innocently.

[Gary c Tesser]

Still, it's an intriguing, challenging question.  Thank you, Mr Fish.  In my own case (as an aspiring parliamentarian, albeit) I certainly don't need any help achieving this state from the chair, or anyone else.

 

But it's an envelope-stretcher.  Thank you again, Mr Fish.  And forewarned is forearmed.

 

[Edited to insert italicized phrase, as, without it, the reverse meaning could be inferred]

[Timothy]

Though I was not serving as parliamentarian, I had a confusing moment a few weeks ago, or at least a frustrating moment. We had received information that circumstances prevented a motion adopted in a previous meeting from being carried out. The chair turned to me and asked how it should be handled. Another gentleman, who is somewhat knowledgeable of Robert's Rules of Order, spoke up and said, "What we need is a substitute motion." (This without there being a main motion.) He then proceeded to say, "I move that we substitute, the substitution of the substitute, to substitute the substitution."

[Gary c Tesser]

Well, what do you think, frustrating or confusing?  I'd vote for both.  Or shoot him.

[Gary Novosielski]

It reminds me of an old-timey computer system manual that explained what would happen if you entered the time command with no parameters:

 

Typing time causes the typing of the time since the last time the time was typed.

[Edgar Guest]

It reminds me of an old-timey computer system manual that explained what would happen if you entered the time command with no parameters:

 

Typing time causes the typing of the time since the last time the time was typed.

 

I was always fond of "This page left intentionally blank".