Re: Hum theatre

[Dave Crocker <[e-mail]>]

> You’re entitled to your opinion, but I entirely disagree.

I was not offering an opinion.

Survey methodology is an arcane and difficult technical specialty with a 
long, colorful and very problematic history.  Research on its challenges 
is extensive and consistent. By way of a brief example, here's something 
from the survey professionals at Pew:

 
http://www.people-press.org/methodology/questionnaire-design/question-wording/



 > I sense a fair degree of process omphaloskepsis here.

To the extent that it does not matter whether questions are asked 
ambiguously, responses are interpreted inconsistently and results used 
inappropriately, yes, I suppose these concerns represent idle reflection.

To the extent that we care whether the IETF really does provide an 
environment that supports careful, meaningful consideration of issues, 
encourages the inclusion of differing opinions, and is judicious in its 
interpretation of comments, it is quite basic to the nature of the IETF.

The point behind my including a single, alternative question at the end 
was to note that indulging in the exercise as theatre would have been 
fine if it hadn't purported to do more than that. From many of the 
comments that have been posted, it's quite clear that many folk think it 
was more than a closing bit of theatre.

d/
-- 
Dave Crocker
Brandenburg InternetWorking
bbiw.net