[theme-reviewers] Why the bias?

[Otto]

On Tue, Feb 15, 2011 at 1:07 PM, Rahul Bansal <rahul.bansal at rtcamp.com> wrote:
> Otto, you must have felt bad because of Satish's attack on WPTRT but I feel
> your following statements is equally irresponsible...
>
>> the ability for any reviewer to completely disregard any given guideline
>> for a review if they choose to do so.

I disagree. Theme review should not be a mechanical process.
Guidelines are there to guide, not to enforce. Rules that cannot be
bent or broken are useless and unfair to everybody. The principle of
"zero tolerance" is morally unsound at best, and downright unethical
and inhuman at worst.

Humans judge. We're good at it. We do it all the time. Rejecting that
principle is wrong. Human beings cannot be, and should not be,
excepted to behave like robots.

> This is like leaving it to the jury to make judgement based on their
> personal choice rather than law & order of the country.

Yes, in point of fact, I am a firm believer and proponent of the
principle of jury nullification. I will not enforce "laws" that I
consider to be unjust. I have said so, in court, under oath, on more
than one occasion. I have flat out told a judge that I would be unable
to follow any orders to the contrary on that point too. Needless to
say, I'm usually able to get out of jury duty. ;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification

-Otto