As far as I am concerned there is only one correct context in which the word "professional" should be used at the IETF, which is to qualify the documents we produce.
On 10/30/21 04:39, S Moonesamy wrote:
Hi Keith,
At 03:53 PM 20-10-2021, Keith Moore wrote:
The aggregate effect of such efforts is to make IETF more like an echo chamber, in which everyone is expected to "know their place" - i.e. know to not express views that might conflict with the views of those in power, or otherwise know the unwritten "rules". This is, after all, often what is expected of "professionals" in their workplaces, which is yet another reason why "professional" is a poor criterion for describing which behavior is appropriate or not in IETF discussions.
I read comments about the word "professional" in a RFC over the years. Here is another comment [1] (translated with Yandex):
"Unfortunately, this RFC feels obliged to add that it is necessary to behave
in a professional manner as if amateurs were avinee brutes and that it is
only in the context of work that one can be civilized."
The sentence with that word was the "IETF Consensus" when the RFC was approved for publication. The "know their place" was removed during the revision of the document. There isn't anything in the RFC which prohibits a participant from expressing his/her disagreement with an Area Director's decision.
One of the points which you raised is about "a system in which people are placed in a series of levels with different importance or status". The RFC does not establish a system with different levels of importance or status.
The underlying value for some participants is most likely related to https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/about-educational-outreach/activity-resources/what-does A participant residing in another country might not have the background information to understand those participants. It takes many years to understand all that.
Regards,
S. Moonesamy
1. http://r.elandsys.com/r/86822
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Marc Petit-Huguenin
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