Re: [idn] Traditional-simplified, yet again

[Paul Hoffman / IMC <phoffman@imc.org>]

At 9:56 PM -0500 10/29/01, ben wrote:
>Hi Paul,
>
>>  This discussion has an undercurrent of Chinese vs. non-Chinese, and
>>  that is really ugly. The problems faced in traditional-simplified
>
>>  The people who say "the IETF cannot move forwards with IDN until it
>>  is better for my language than for other people's language" are
>doing
>>  a disservice to everyone, including the people who use their own
>>  language.
>>
>>  --Paul Hoffman, Director
>>  --Internet Mail Consortium
>>
>
>Although I generally like to stay out of discussions on TC<->SC (due
>to my lack of technical knowledge compared to most people in this WG),
>I must correct you on the above.  To blame the Chinese people in this
>WG for delaying the progress of the IETF is so unfair.  How is it
>possible for people to delay the progress of the IETF by simply
>posting up messages and writing drafts?

Ben, that is both absurd and deeply offensive. You purposely put two 
unrelated quotes together and then misquote me. I never said "the 
Chinese people" did anything because I know that "the Chinese people" 
don't all agree on everything or do the same things. There have been 
folks from a number of different countries who have exhibited the 
behavior I was complaining about. Further, all of us together are 
responsible for the advance and delay in this Working Group.

Right now, we are waiting for a draft from a group of people that is 
comprised of both Chinese and non-Chinese folks who have a deeper 
understanding of an important topic that many of the rest of us do. 
The nationality of the people writing that document is mostly 
irrelevant: their knowledge of the topic is what most important here. 
Trying to draw nationalistic lines is not helpful, and is 
particularly silly in a body like the IETF.

--Paul Hoffman, Director
--Internet Mail Consortium