Re: Diversity of candidates was Re: NomCom 2020 Announcement of Selections

[Fernando Gont <[e-mail]>]

Hi, Michael,

On 26/1/21 17:59, Michael StJohns wrote:
> On 1/25/2021 5:06 PM, Andrew Sullivan wrote:
[...]
> 
> Another point is that the IETF is more about getting good technical 
> stuff out, whereas the ISOC is all about "... promot[ing] the open 
> development, evolution, and use of the Internet for the benefit of all 
> people throughout the world".  Those have some points of intersection, 
> but as has been pointed out - the IETF tends to be a bit parochial.  

I will not challenge that. But I'd say that the inclusiveness problem 
has a lot to do with organizations claiming that the topic is not and 
must not be part of their agenda. And the problem is not fixed by simply 
getting a more diverse management, but rather by solving structural 
problems (if any).

I'd also note that most of the times I've "lurked" this list, many of 
the most heated debates didn't have a lot to do with getting good 
technical stuff out.

Consider, for example, the somewhat recent thread about "inclusive 
language", where most of the debate was triggered by a movement about a 
racism problem in one specific country, that many other countries  don't 
even experience. And, indeed, most of the discussion was around, again, 
one particular of form of "inclusive language", so to speak. (i.e., 
mostly only those terms relevant to such movement).

Additionally, we have (had?) a diversity list, and we *are* having a 
discussion on diversity. So, in this respect, "diversity" does seem to 
be part of the IETF agenda.


I'd note that I support the underlying causes (e.g. blm), and appreciate 
many of these discussions and associated efforts. I also believe that 
they have been pursued in good faith.

However, if the IETF is going to address the diversity issue, it should 
probably seriously consider many axis, rather than cherry-pick a few of 
them that seems relevant to some of its participants -- particularly 
when we start from the assumption that the community is not very diverse 
in the first place.

Just my two cents.

Thanks,
-- 
Fernando Gont
SI6 Networks
e-mail: [e-mail]
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