Re: IETF Participant Behaviour

[Harald Tveit Alvestrand <harald@alvestrand.no>]

Mike,

I have discussed the matter of T-shirts with the ADs. There are multiple 
issues here.

- You seem to misunderstand the role of the IETF Area Directors. Our job is 
to have opinions, based on our best judgment of the technology and 
situation of the community. And our job is to change those opinions when 
new facts become apparent.

- Differences of opinion in the IETF sometimes become quite pointed, and 
may cause working groups to lock up. When someone is sufficiently upset by 
the situation to start printing T-shirts, this is often an effective means 
of calling attention to the fact that this has happened. See "SIG happens. 
What NXT?" for one example from a different WG.
Leadership people wearing T-shirts is also a means of saying "I hear your 
concerns" to those who make the T-shirts.

Notwithstanding the above, I have reminded the IESG that they need to be 
conscious of the message they are sending on stage. It's not their job to 
be neutral, but it is their job to listen to everyone's argument, and be 
ready to change their opinion when this is the right thing for the IETF and 
the Internet - and to make sure that the community knows they are ready to 
listen.

The response from the IESG was "that's obvious".

                     Harald