I disagree with your analysis todd.
The strength of the IETF is not in the number of unique e-mail address
on its e-mail lists (define unique - I have subscribed from probably 10
e-mail addresses over the years - many people I know are subscribed with
multiple "unique" addresses - many address in reality point to archiving
services, other reflectors, peoples inboxes that don't look at the
e-mail
So I don't think you can even count the number of unique e-mail
addresses - but if you could -
Peoples technical content/quality very widely, some input is worthless
(or close to it) and many just monitor what is going on... Other e-mail
is critical - either in technical content, providing an alternative
viewpoint etc.
The strength of the IETF is that it is a gathering point for all of
these people. Not a quantity of e-mail addresses that can be spammed or
something else
Bill
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-ietf(_at_)ietf(_dot_)org [mailto:owner-ietf(_at_)ietf(_dot_)org] On
Behalf Of todd
glassey
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 5:09 PM
To: Bruce Campbell
Cc: Harald Tveit Alvestrand; Christian Huitema; ietf(_at_)ietf(_dot_)org;
problem-statement(_at_)alvestrand(_dot_)no
Subject: Re: Proposed statement quotes wrong numbers
Bruce -
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Campbell" <bruce(_dot_)campbell(_at_)ripe(_dot_)net>
To: "todd glassey" <todd(_dot_)glassey(_at_)worldnet(_dot_)att(_dot_)net>
Cc: "Harald Tveit Alvestrand" <harald(_at_)alvestrand(_dot_)no>; "Christian
Huitema" <huitema(_at_)windows(_dot_)microsoft(_dot_)com>;
<ietf(_at_)ietf(_dot_)org>;
<problem-statement(_at_)alvestrand(_dot_)no>
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 1:59 AM
Subject: Re: Proposed statement quotes wrong numbers
On Mon, 27 Oct 2003, todd glassey wrote:
What was the attendance of the last meeting then? and also what then
is
the
sum total of unique EMail Addresses in the Lists then too? I.e. what
is
the
total size of the Vetting Community Resource that the IETF brings to
the Party as an enterprise/org???
Are you sure that you can count the (large) number of subscribers that
are on the main IETF lists, and the umpteen WG lists, as participants?
participants as far as meetings are concerned? no - obviously not, but
this pool of good email addresses constitute the core value of the IETF,
that being its Vettig Pool. So yes indeed, and also remember that the
IETF is a voluntary particpation standards process and platform, and
that the reliable email addresses for this "Vetting Pool" is what the
core of the IETF's ideas are vetted against. So put on your
"organizational leader's" hat and then ask me the same question -
There
seem to be a lot of people who are subscribed to various IETF-related
lists who do not seem to participate in the IETF discussions.
But the point is that they have the option. Its their choice as to
whether to participate of not.
( But theres still a lot more than just 700 people who participate in
the
IETF )
I agree - so lets ask the question again, how many unique names are
there in the lists - what's the total 'verified email addresses' that
make up the total of the vetting pool? - 5000 - 10000 - 50000? what is
it? Harald? - this seems like a number that you as the Chair of the IETF
would not only be proud of, but would also have on the top of your head
on a monthly basis... Any ideas as to the number?
Todd
--==--
Bruce.