Re: A contribution to ongoing terminology work

[Vittorio Bertola <[e-mail]>]

> Il 02/04/2021 05:20 Benjamin Kaduk <[e-mail]> ha scritto:
> 
>  
> [obligatory disclosure: this is not a statement of the IESG, and I did not
> consult with any of my fellow ADs on its content before sending.  It is
> shaped in part by some discussions we had, but the opinions expressed are
> my own.]

[similarly, what I said and will say in this thread is entirely in personal capacity]

Thank you for the comprehensive reply and the willingness to explain. Personally, if I had been the IESG, I would just have ignored Wood's draft, recognizing his right to free expression and the right of other people (including IESG members) to think poorly of him. This is a subjective judgement; in doubt, I tend to err on the side of free speech, but I see why the IESG could rather think that the IETF as a whole should officially condemn the document.

Given what you say on the unproductivity of satirical tones within the IETF's context of technical standardization, if I were the IESG, I would consider discontinuing the April 1st tradition for the future or constraining its scope much more clearly. If all contributions must be serious, respectful and useful, satire - which is offensive by definition - has no place among them; satire on the IETF can be published elsewhere. I would however not put the IESG in the position of telling "acceptable", authority-sanctioned satire from "offensive" satire; that is typically the role of censors in non-democratic regimes. Again, this may be a matter of my subjective sensitivity.

Also, I have no idea of what was in the two drafts that have been censored, but if they contained hate speech, it was absolutely appropriate to remove them. I am actually happy to see the IETF recognize that there must be limits to free expression on the Internet and that, sometimes, mechanisms for removing or blocking content must exist. This, if one, is the positive effect of this incident.

I think that we should just move on and continue with the work on terminology - which, notwithstanding the different methodological views on how to intervene, is an important piece of the picture - and with the work on all other obstacles against diversity, for which I hope we will soon get to a working group.

-- 
   - vb.