Dean Anderson wrote:
For the time being, I am withholding release of my response pending advice of my attorney.
As I see it, there are some simple requirements for "joining" the IETF. You must be human, or at least a convincing facsimile when using email. As far as I can tell, Dean meets this rule.
However, to provide any useful help to the IETF, there are some more difficult requirements. You must be able to accept email in English, and any output must be comprehensible to others who read English. It seems to me that Dean meets this minimum, also.
Last, however, in order to _remain_ in the IETF, you have to have a personality that accepts that you aren't always right, and that others may occasionally wish to discuss things that aren't your first priority. In other words, you have to be able to allow others to carry on their conversations and work without hindrance. You don't have to help, but you DO have to let others work. It seems to me that Dean fails this "cooperative spirit" test. I.E., he is unwilling to accept that he won't always be the center of attention, and won't always get his way. This is not a court. This is not a legal jurisdiction, trying to execute him or put him in jail for some crime. This is simply a volunteer organization that is wondering if Dean is so disruptive that it should ban him from the organization. All of us have the "right" to be here - Dean can still "lurk", if the PR-Action goes against him. We don't, however, have the "right" to be disruptive. The IETF, on the other hand, like any organism, has the "right" to defend itself from attack. And, there is a PR-Action in progress because a particular volunteer's actions can reasonably be interpreted as an attack on the IETF. We _volunteered_ to be here, and most of us either want to help, or selfishly use the IETF for our own education (personally, I'm in both groups). And, if the group arrives at a consensus that any particular volunteer is more trouble than he's worth, then the IETF will decline to accept that volunteer's input in the future. I think that offering to call in lawyers is just more demonstration that Dean will never be willing to let others work without interference.
IESG, please add the referenced "threat to call in lawyers" message to the PR-action case against Dean Anderson.
Dean, there's a simple solution to your needs. Simply register the domain "DeanAndersonIsWonderfulAndAlwaysRight.org", and start your own fan club. You'll get to write the charter and bylaws, and you can put in them whatever clauses you want, like "Dean always has the floor", "Whatever Dean wants to talk about is, by definition here, the proper subject of discussion", and "Dean is always right". You'll be happy talking to yourself and never being disagreed with or asked to shut up or get back on the subject at hand, and the IETF can get back to it's business of documenting and improving the 'net.
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