Re: Possible BofF question -- I18n (was: Re: Possible OBF question -- I18n)

[Nico Williams <[e-mail]>]

On Thu, May 31, 2018 at 11:28:15AM -0600, Peter Saint-Andre wrote:
> On 5/31/18 11:22 AM, Nico Williams wrote:
> > Lack of expertise is not a problem: we can develop it, 
> 
> We have not yet had success with developing expertise, or even
> competence. However, this is something we could discuss at the BoF.

Once I knew nothing about I18N.  Then I learned (plenty).  I'm not
saying I'm more expert than anyone else here, but I am saying that I
learned.

Can everyone else not??  What lack of faith you are all displaying!

I mean, here's how you do this:

a) you get a couple of ADs with I18N experience,
b) also someone on the IAB with I18N experience,
c) add a mandate for an I18N Considerations section,
d) add an I18N directorate.

Does that not sound familiar?

I mean, this "we lack expertise in field X" thing is remarkably silly.
I bet not that long ago that was said about security...

I'm sure we're still not great, collectively, on security, but we don't
just give up on security.  We didn't, and we won't.

Is anyone here saying I18N is more difficult than security?  Seriously?
Do you think that people who can build complex Internet protocols cannot
figure out I18N even passably well enough?

What areas does the IETF have expertise in?  Please list them.  I bet
none are much simpler than I18N.  The Internet has become critical to
the world's economy and we are responsible for not ****ing that up, but
we can't handle I18N?!

No, please buck up, get a spine transplant, set down some rules, and
watch participants figure it out.  It may not turn out to be fantastic,
but it will mostly get the job done well enough.

Dumbfoundedly yours,

Nico

PS: Really, I'm shocked at this thread.  I don't get it.  What series of
    events is causing the sad, utter despair on display here?  I've not
    been following the IETF all that much, so it's possible I missed
    some disasters.  Can they have been so bad?  Please fill me in on
    them.

    The abdication mood here is depressing.