Frank and all,
It seems that you are one of several that have thus far expressed
some dismay and concern about this "Code of Conduct" document
and/or idea. I am one of those. I agree with all of your comments
here. The are well stated and I believe accurately express reasonable
concerns. As an old saying goes; "The road to hell is paved with
good intentions". I believe that this saying embodies part of your
concerns as you stated them below....
Kastenholz, Frank wrote:
I dislike this document. I believe that it, as well
as the very notion of written form of "How IETFers
Ought to Behave" should be discarded.
First, I have a global comment. The general tone
of the document is that it is a set of rules which
everyone must follow. Yet as a body of rules, it is
vague. What it "respect"? I know what I mean by
respect, but I do not know what you mean by respect.
What if I act towards you in a way that I deem
respectful, yet you do not?
For example, in some countries, it is a sign of respect
to take a business card from someone and study it, then
place it carefully into a protected and safe spot;
writing a note on it is almost a mortal insult. In the US,
we take them, use them as book marks, scribble on them,
fold them up, put them in our wallet and sit on them where
they get squished, etc, etc. Does that mean that all
Americans are to be censured and so on?
By putting in such vague, weasly, terms, it opens up a
Pandora's box of ill-defined rules, thereby turning the
working group chairs, IESG, IAB, and ISOC BOT into nothing
more than an institutionalized "Miss Manners".
Yes, there will be comments about how this document
is not intended to be used in the manner in which I
am afraid it will be used. But our good intentions can
not force it to be so.
Also, the notion of a "code of conduct" (or whatever other
title you wish to use) institutionalizes the triumph of
style and form over substance and function. One can be a
moron, an idiot, a trouble-maker, obstructionist, etc,
but as long as one is polite about it, it's ok.
The document says
"All IETF participants agree to abide by this Code..."
Will there be loyalty oaths? Tests at the door? Signed pledges?
The document also says:
"Individuals who attend Working Group meetings are prepared to
contribute to the ongoing work of the group."
Does this mean that people who go to a working group and just sit
in the back and listen, perhaps taking notes, are in violation of
the Code? Does that mean that the tourists are to be excluded? Does
that mean that folks who are trying to learn about some things before
they become active participants are to be barred? -- "Sorry, you can't
sit in the back and listen -- you have to be a contributor right
from the start"
Frank Kastenholz
Regards,
--
Jeffrey A. Williams
Spokesman for INEGroup - (Over 118k members strong!)
CEO/DIR. Internet Network Eng/SR. Java/CORBA Development Eng.
Information Network Eng. Group. INEG. INC.
E-Mail jwkckid1(_at_)ix(_dot_)netcom(_dot_)com
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