Prior to the day pass experiment (and I would guess even during)
companies would pass around badges for folks that wanted to attend
-
especially local first timers, but didn't need to be there for
more
than a day or a meeting. As far as I know we (IETF) have no
policy on
this."
Exact! I know some guys, they are surely the local first timers, they love
internet and have huge interest in IETF. They (I guess) will not submit draft,
will not give comments, they just want to understand IETF, want to know what is
IETF, what is the function of IETF, how does IETF boost development of
internet, and how IETF works.
Yes, they can find these information/answers in internet, at IETF website, or
by reading some guideline RFCs/drafts, but I think they just want a live
experience, that's all.
By the way, I don't know well, whether the Sunday aftertoon education is
available for those who didn't register IETF meeting?
Answer (my own opinion): We may not have a policy that states you
cannot pass around a badge to a number of people, but I think it
violates the spirit of "no free lunch" particularly now that the
meeting fees are a significant source of income to balanace the
meeting expenses. Ditto (obviously) for day passes. Buying one and
sending 5 people clearly defeats the purpose.
This is a difficult problem, imho, it's surely unfair to those who have paid
meeting fees. But on the other hand, I think the internet is designed for "free
lunch" in fact. I wonder, does the inventor of HTTP protocol feel unfair when
billions of internet users use HTTP browsing? does the companies feel unfair
when millions of internet users freely download their software (e.g. browser
client)? does the open-sourse-software developers feel
unfair when thounds of internet users run their products? They surely paid
their great effort on all of these, and I guess they din't feel unfair, because
they are continuing their work actively, or even more actively because they get
positive feedback from the internet users. And here, I didn't feel unfair when
I see some guys come to IETF meeting without paying fees while I paid hundreds
of dollars. There are also many volunteers in IETF,
I don't think they feel unfair when they contribute to IETF.
As to IETF registration and badge, I would like to suggest (maybe this is
crazy), IETF should design another type participant, I mean Guest Participant,
they are free and more limited than one day pass. For example, the Guest
Participant can only attend one session (half day or 2 hours), for the given WG
seesion. And, the amount of Guest Participant should be strictly limited.
This is a challenge to IETF, the first question is how can we select the Guest
Participant? I think there may be a application portal at IETF website, or host
website, so interester may go to there and the applicant should explain why
he/she should be issued the guest badge there. The second question is who can
make the decision? I think IESG/WG chair/host can do this, separately or
together. In many session, there are many redundant seats
in the room (most time the WG chairs know/forecast this well), I don't think it
would harm IETF or WG session if some guest are seated there. There are of
course many other problems, but I believe we can resolve them, and I believe
this may advance IETF.
Thanks and best regards,
Xiangsong
c00111037.vcf
Description: Card for Xiangsong Cui <Xiangsong.Cui@huawei.com>
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