I propose the following rules for these sessions …
First, this is a forum for members to ask questions and for the candidates to answer them; it is not intended to be a debate, nor is it intended to be a discussion. To that end, members are asked to refrain from commenting on or discussing (in this forum) questions asked by other members. Remember, you (members) aren’t the ones running in the election.
Second, to maintain some semblence of order, members should indicate their desire to ask a question – by typing a single question mark (“?”) – and then wait for the moderator to indicate the member should ask his/her question. The moderator will take questions in order. One question per member, and no follow-ups or replies to the candidates.
To keep things moving along as efficiently as possible, candidates are encouraged to respond to members’ questions in parallel. That is, once a member has finished asking his or her question, all candidatea should reply at the same time. In a verbal forum this would not work but I believe the mechanics of IRC make it acceptable.
Next, candidates should limit themselves to answering the questions, and not responding to the answers from their fellow candidates. Again, this is a question-and-answer forum, not a debate.
Last, the moderator may, at his discretion, disallow a question, cut off further answers to a question, allow a question out of order, or take any other action necessary and appropriate to keep the forum civil, orderly, and informative.