> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.opendemocracy.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Networking Democracy - Asking Difficult Questions - URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/networking-democracy-asking-difficult-questions/ - Published: 2008-03-17T13:03:32.000Z - Updated: 2019-02-14T22:44:04.000Z - Author: openDemocracy Supporters - Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:59 **Opening Statements** - [**The rationale**](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/michael-wills-anthony-barnett-exchange) **\- Michael Wills and Anthony Barnett** - [**The "National Conversation" Conversation**](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/national-conversation-conversation) **\- Tony Curzon Price** - [**Values and Virtual Debates**](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/values-and-virtual-debates) **\- Bill Thompson** - [**Online Engagement in a National Debate**](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/online-engagement-in-a-national-debate) **\- Steve Clift** - [**Building Online Participation into a National Citizens Summit**](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/building-online-participation-into-a-national-citizens-summit) **\- Suw Charman** **Discussion threads** - [**Networking Democracy** ](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/networking-democracy)**(43 responses)** - [**Ensuring Security** ](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/ensuring-security)**(5 responses)**[](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/ensuring-security) - [**Asking Difficult Questions** ](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/asking-difficult-questions)**(3 responses)** - [**How do online and offline interact?**](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/online-offline-interact) **(3 responses)** - [**Building Participation**](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/building-participation) **(7 responses)** - [**Final thoughts**](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/final-thoughts) **(7 responses)** \--------------------------------- ## **Asking Difficult Questions** This page contains the archive of the thread "Asking Difficult Questions" Return to the homepage [here](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy). \------------------------------------------------------------- In this thread we want to consider if it is possible to use the internet to ask certain types of question in a meaningful way, and if so how it can be done. For example: \- Is it possible (and if so how) to get an answer to questions like: o Is "fairness" a British value? o Is "X" a British value? (where X comes from the participants) o Is there such a thing as a "British value"? o What could we use a statement of British values for? o Do we require a statement of British values? The questions here are all for example purposes only and merely invite consideration of methodology. They are the kind of things we think the Ministry of Justice might want to ask in their "online" element - but do not represent firm plans. If you think there are other "types" of question we should be considering, please do raise them as well. **From: Ella** **Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:58:27 -0800 (PST)** **Local: Wed, Feb 27 2008 1:58 pm** **Subject: Re: Asking difficult questions** Hi, Maybe we should also note that it is not the Government's role to ask these questions! OK, I'd better turn that into something more positive. I don't think it is the government's role to ask these questions. I think that these questions are asked by "culture" -e.g. the Arts. They may not be explicit, but I think that the arts provide ways to explore these ideas in various contexts. People think (in terms of learning and making sense of the world) primarily in metaphors. A bold question about values does not provide a sustainable answer in the same that way that a series of thoughts or discussions based on, for example, a film do. So -something like David Newman's example of the Wheel's [http://www.wheel.ie/](http://www.wheel.ie/?ref=opendemocracy.net) use of stories would be a better focus than a blunt Q and A. Other formats I've really liked: Delib's ideas tree: [http://www.delib.co.uk/products\_and\_services/ideastree](http://www.delib.co.uk/products%5Fand%5Fservices/ideastree?ref=opendemocracy.net) Projects which use mobile phones cameras like picture walls. Gallomanor's Lifeswap is also an interesting use of photos in this context. [http://gallomanor.typepad.com/photos/projects/lifeswap.html](http://gallomanor.typepad.com/photos/projects/lifeswap.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) As well as being good for dealing with complicated questions like values, these more innovative projects are good for involving a wide mix of people. In fact, as soon as we start thinking about more innovative formats, I think how useful it would be to have someone from one of these companies here. (e.g. Shane McCracken from Gallomanor or Gez Smith from Delib) \-Ella **David R. Newman** **From: "David R. Newman"** **Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:32:28 +0000** **Local: Wed, Feb 27 2008 6:32 pm** **Subject: Re: \[Networking Democracy\] Asking difficult questions** 1\. An opinion poll or on-line questionnaire. There the respondents are guaranteed that the results will be analysed anonymously, so that they can say what they like. What you get out of it are statistical measures of popularity or agreement with different statements: rather like the academic surveys on identity. A variant that Peter Emerson is trying out, with trust funding, is to get people to rank options (e.g. which of the following is most typical of British attitudes?), then analyse them by a de Borda count. 2\. As prompts to spark off an on-line asynchronous discussion. These need not be neutral. In fact, you can use projective questions, either outraging readers so much that they jump in, or striking a personal, emotional chord, so that they bring in their experiences. But they must not be too insulting (no worse than Northern Irish comedy club material, not as bad as Bernard Manning's). The idea is to spark of banter, not fights. (On-line examples: [www.sluggerotoole.com](http://www.sluggerotoole.com/?ref=opendemocracy.net) and www.thedailymash.co.uk). 3\. As labels to attach to user-generated content. If we want people to submit stories, drawings, photographs, videos or other art, then we need to make clear what we are looking for. The web forms, help pages and so on need to make clear what the subject and issues are, providing a clear focus. They might be variations of: show us what you like best about living in: your community; your region; in the UK; or this point on the map. What are people like there? (I could imagine an overlay on Google maps of selfishness in the UK, with peaks in Virginia Water and London Docklands, and troughs in rural Scottish and Cornish communities.) 4\. As prompts at different points in a synchronous discussion. If you can get people in an environment in which they can map out (or at least list) ideas, then you could ask questions inviting people to come up with examples and lists, such as a) What makes one country better than another? followed by b) Which of the values you listed in (a) apply to Britain. \-- Dr. David R. Newman, Queen's University Management School, Belfast **From: "Suw Charman-Anderson"** **Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2008 22:16:50 +0000** **Local: Tues, Mar 4 2008 10:16 pm** **Subject: Re: \[Networking Democracy\] Asking difficult questions** \> In this thread we want to consider if it is possible to use the \> internet to ask certain types of question in a meaningful way, and if \> so how it can be done. For example: \> - Is it possible (and if so how) to get an answer to questions like: \> o Is "fairness" a British value? \> o Is "X" a British value? (where X comes from the participants) \> o Is there such a thing as a "British value"? \> o What could we use a statement of British values for? \> o Do we require a statement of British values? Again, I think there has to be an interrogation of the questions - some are less suitable than others for online answering. It's not a cae of "is it possible to get an answer on a question about values", but "how meaningful would those answers be?". Many online polls are statistically meaningless, because they are answered by a self-selected group, and are non-representative. These sorts of questions need to be posed in a rigorous and meaningful manner, and internet polls are not it. You can answer any question with a poll online. Question is, does that answer mean anything? Regarding the more creative questions, such as "What do we use X for?", those sorts of questions are far better ones to ask of an online community. People can be very imaginative, given the chance. Selecting the right questions to ask is essential to getting a successful outcome, and being aware of the limitations of online polling (i'm not even going to the minefield that is internet voting) is also key. Suw \-------------------------------------- *Comment and discussion on Networking Democracy is taking place on OurKingdom -* [*click here*](http://ourkingdom.opendemocracy.net/2008/03/24/networking-democracy/?ref=opendemocracy.net#comments) *to join in.* \--------------------------------- **Opening Statements** - [**The rationale**](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/michael-wills-anthony-barnett-exchange) **\- Michael Wills and Anthony Barnett** - [**The "National Conversation" Conversation**](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/national-conversation-conversation) **\- Tony Curzon Price** - [**Values and Virtual Debates**](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/values-and-virtual-debates) **\- Bill Thompson** - [**Online Engagement in a National Debate**](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/online-engagement-in-a-national-debate) **\- Steve Clift** - [**Building Online Participation into a National Citizens Summit**](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/building-online-participation-into-a-national-citizens-summit) **\- Suw Charman** **Discussion threads** - [**Networking Democracy** ](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/networking-democracy)**(43 responses)** - [**Ensuring Security** ](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/ensuring-security)**(5 responses)**[](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/ensuring-security) - [**Asking Difficult Questions** ](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/asking-difficult-questions)**(3 responses)** - [**How do online and offline interact?**](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/online-offline-interact) **(3 responses)** - [**Building Participation**](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/building-participation) **(7 responses)** - [**Final thoughts**](https://www.opendemocracy.net/networking-democracy/final-thoughts) **(7 responses)** \---------------------------------