Re: [Pesci-discuss] "ADs are the central focus of technical expertise"

I'm sure I've seen a quote about Jon Postel as RFC Editor being the arbitor 
of technical matters for the Internet - ah, here it is, at 
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jon_Postel

He worked quietly for years as keeper of the RFCs and final arbiter in 
technical matters when consensus couldn't be reached. Postel believed that 
decisions he had made in the course of his work over the years had been for 
the good of the community and that starting a company to profit from those 
activities would have amounted to a violation of public trust. ~ Where 
Wizards Stay Up Late (1996) by Katie Hafner and Matthew Lyon

I guess I could argue that that's what we ask the ADs to do, today.

- from www.webster.com

1 : a person with power to decide a dispute
2 : a person or agency having the power of deciding

with only one thesaurus entry, for "mediator" - some of the related words 
were quite amusing, in the IETF context...

Entry Word: mediator
Function: noun
Text: one who works with opposing sides in order to bring about an agreement 
<if you two cannot resolve this argument on your own, we'll have to bring in 
a mediator>
Synonyms arbiter, arbitrator, conciliator, go-between, intercessor, 
intermediary, interposer, middleman, peacemaker
Related Words moderator; bargainer, negotiator; appeaser, pacifier, 
reconciler; broker; agent, attorney, deputy, factor, procurator, proxy; 
liaison; ambassador, emissary, envoy, messenger; delegate, representative; 
busybody, interferer, meddler; judge, referee, umpire; adviser (or advisor), 
counselor

Spencer

> On Fri, Oct 21, 2005 09:12:51AM -0500, Spencer Dawkins allegedly wrote:
>> I'm quite a bit more comfortable with "central arbitrators of technical
>> expertise", and think the statement is probably even true - others?
>
> Can you find a phrase that sounds a little more natural and less like
> George Will?
>
>> >2. I believe a more accurate statement is the the ADs are the central
>> >arbitrators of technical expertise. They get to appoint WG chairs,
>> >expert reviewers, and the like. That's at least as important as their
>> >own technical skills, imho. 

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