Decorum and questioning the motives of a committee rather than a person by name

[Guest Peter Deg]

I assume that if one cannot question the motives of another member, that includes attacking the motives of a committee or board?  43:21.  At a recent member meeting the a member said in debate that he "felt like the board of directors didn't act in good faith."  Does this language violate decorum even though it doesn't use any person's name?

[George Mervosh]

On 5/2/2023 at 6:32 PM, Guest Peter Deg said:

I assume that if one cannot question the motives of another member, that includes attacking the motives of a committee or board?  43:21.  At a recent member meeting the a member said in debate that he "felt like the board of directors didn't act in good faith."  Does this language violate decorum even though it doesn't use any person's name?

In my opinion it does not violate the rules of decorum, but I suppose this might be a case where I can see disagreement on whether or not it is.

[Gary Novosielski]

On 5/2/2023 at 6:32 PM, Guest Peter Deg said:

I assume that if one cannot question the motives of another member, that includes attacking the motives of a committee or board?  43:21.  At a recent member meeting the a member said in debate that he "felt like the board of directors didn't act in good faith."  Does this language violate decorum even though it doesn't use any person's name?

It does, if the people present at the time think it does, and it does not if they think it does not.  I don't think it rises to a particularly objectionable level, but I wasn't there.

[Josh Martin]

On 5/2/2023 at 5:32 PM, Guest Peter Deg said:

I assume that if one cannot question the motives of another member, that includes attacking the motives of a committee or board?

Yes, I think so. If it is out of order to attack the motives of an individual member, I think it is also out of order to attack the motives of a group of members.

On 5/2/2023 at 5:32 PM, Guest Peter Deg said:

At a recent member meeting the a member said in debate that he "felt like the board of directors didn't act in good faith."  Does this language violate decorum even though it doesn't use any person's name?

In my view, yes.

[Rob Elsman]

I do not understand how the remark would be germane. Maybe we need some context.

[Guest Peter Deg]

Thanks all.  

Briefly the comments were germane because the member was on one of the committees which normally received an allocation of general bequests but the board has the authority to change the allocation percentage in consultation with the committees.  The committee thought the consultation was continuing and was surprised to hear that the board had already made the decision. Comment was made in debate on motion: "direct board to restore full allocation to committee X."  

[Rob Elsman]

I do not really understand what is meant. While members might have motives and thoughts, committees are impersonal, neither motivated nor thinking.

[Guest Zev]

Question: And if that particular committee had been a committee of one person would that detail change anything?

[Rob Elsman]

No.

[Atul Kapur]

I agree with Mr. Martin that

On 5/4/2023 at 10:46 AM, Josh Martin said:

If it is out of order to attack the motives of an individual member, I think it is also out of order to attack the motives of a group of members.

While Mr. Elsman may be correct that, in sad reality, the vast majority of 

On 5/5/2023 at 8:59 AM, Rob Elsman said:

committees are ... neither motivated nor thinking.

I disagree that they are impersonal, as they are composed of persons.

[puzzling]

On 5/5/2023 at 6:45 PM, Atul Kapur said:

I agree with Mr. Martin that

While Mr. Elsman may be correct that, in sad reality, the vast majority of 

I disagree that they are impersonal, as they are composed of persons.

Personally I agree with Mr Kapur, 

And I do think you need to be a bit relaxed if it all happened only once and in the heat of debate.