In <200202040242(_dot_)g142gd901668(_at_)astro(_dot_)cs(_dot_)utk(_dot_)edu>
Keith Moore <moore(_at_)cs(_dot_)utk(_dot_)edu> writes:
If we can come up with a review process to assign such a rating,
I'd be willing to have the registry accept almost everything.
But I still think there would be a need for the review process
to be able to refuse a registration - for instance
- because the person was registering the name in an attempt to
prevent someone else from using it,
- because the field name was misleading, performing a different
function than it claimed,
- because the proposer wanted a header name registered for
no other purpose than to say he had one (vanity names),
- because the proposer was using the process for the sole purpose
of wasting people's time,
Yes, these are the Trolls. In uk.*, we are currently battling against
trolls in our config group, and having to deal with troll RFDs which have
nothing to do with the creation of wanted newsgroups.
Yes, there must be a mechanism for dealing with these. Graham's present
draft allows the IESG to require an entry to be removed from the
provisional register. Maybe we need more than that.
It might sound silly that people would do such things, but I've
seen all of these things done or attempted with other registries.
There's a second class of things that are bad technically -
for instance
- things that belong in the envelope rather than the header,
- things that would cause security or privacy violations,
- things that would impair the functionality of the mail system,
- things that would cause mail loops or sorcerer's apprentice
syndrome
I think those things would be rather easier to deal with than pure trolls,
especially if we insist on the existence of a discussion forum associated
with each entry. Moreover, there is time for the forum to discuss the pros
and cons and it will likely resolve the issue before ther IESG needs to
step in. But in the case of the trolls, you want them out fast (OTOH, it
would take a really eager troll to take the trouble to create a spec AND
set up a forum).
--
Charles H. Lindsey ---------At Home, doing my own thing------------------------
Tel: +44 161 436 6131 Fax: +44 161 436 6133 Web: http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/~chl
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