Re: [idn] UTF-8 as the long-term IDN solution

["James Seng/Personal" <James@Seng.cc>]

> I believe that the IDN WG has consensus on the following point: ``The
> long-term IDN solution will encode Unicode characters as UTF-8 on the
> wire.'' I find the other possibilities absurd, and I am dismayed at
the
> amount of time that has been wasted discussing them on the IDN list.

I speak for myself in this note. (Marc may have different opinion)

The working groups works based on ideas documented in internet drafts
and not a broad statement/claim.

> On 2001-05-29 I requested that the the IDN WG chairs run a poll to see
> whether we do, in fact, have consensus on this point.
>
> ``I would like to hear some support on this before we run this poll,''
> James Seng said, speaking as chair.
>
> He promptly heard some support, but he did not run the poll. I asked
why
> the chairs were not running the poll. There was no response.

First, there is a response: I requested you to point to an internet
draft which you are referring or write a draft yourself.

Secondly, strawpoll are not fun events which we conduct -- it is very
time-consuming. Surprisingly, I still have a day-time job.

Thirdly, strawpoll are useful, but not neccessary, when the chairs wants
to know if there is a consensus on a particular *draft*.

And last, but not the least, there is a existing announced process to
split the wg drafts into Pool W for drafts with 7 supporters and Pool T
for others. If you strongly feel about your idea, please write a draft,
gather 7 supporters, then come back to the working group with your
draft.

> I accuse the chairs of bias in their selection of polls. They appear
to
> be running polls that they believe will promote their personal
agendas,
> and refusing to run any other polls. Does the IETF have any procedures
> to fix this problem?

You are free to form any conspiracy theory you like in your personal
thoughts. But making these theory into public statement requires
substained evidences.

If anyone feels the wg chairs is act inappropriatly, a private note to
IESG would usually do the job. Given that a number of IESG and IAB
members are on this list, any wrongdoing would be note almost
immediately.

Once in a while, certain individual in the wg have louder voice than
others and repeat his opinion often enough. Fortunately, the IETF
process does not guage consensus based on decibel level or number of
emails sent. Instead, we work on Internet Drafts and consensus, ie. each
and every wg members' views are taken into consideration. A louder voice
does not make anyone more important than others.

And the wg chairs are here to assist the process, not to conduct
strawpoll for individual whims. Thank you.

-James Seng