Re: China venue survey

On Tue Sep 22 22:02:05 2009, Peter Saint-Andre wrote:
> I think we draw the line at restrictions on our freedom of speech.
There are a huge number of locations where freedom of speech is  
restricted. Arguably, depending on how precisely one defines it, the  
UK and much of the EU falls into this category, since many places  
will prosecute for "incitement" of various flavours.
I'm generally unfussed by these things, since I'm quite happy to live  
in the UK, and don't consider inciting people to violence, terrorism,  
or racial hatred a thing I want to do or permit others to do. I admit  
that incitement to democracy is, at the least, something I'd want to  
permit others to do, but probably not in the IETF, where, after all,  
we reject voting, right?
Indeed, our own meetings are scoped and moderated, and disruptive  
influences can be, and are, removed from mailing lists. (I have no  
clue if there's an equivalent to PR actions for physical meetings,  
but I can imagine that we might make one up if we needed to).
So if you're going to take a moral stance, I think you need to be  
careful about exactly what morals you're standing on. Or possibly  
for. To avoid getting as muddled as me on that front, it seems safer  
not to argue on that basis. Or for it.
On the other hand, I can accept as valid the suggestion that some  
people have made that the particular restrictions of speech that the  
PRC impose may restrict the scope of discussion that the IETF  
typically engages in. I suspect that it may not be so, and would hope  
that this can be determined, clearly, and in advance of any decision.
However, I would note that I'm still concerned about the possible  
effects by and on remote participation. But you'll all have read my  
other comments, right?
Dave.
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