> From: ietf-bounces@xxxxxxxx [mailto:ietf-bounces@xxxxxxxx] On > Behalf Of Lars-Erik Jonsson (LU/EAB) > > Before I go on, I continue to be fascinated by the > observation that, > > each time the "we really need pictures and fancy formatting > and need > > them frequently" argument comes up, the vast majority of those who > > make it most strongly are people whose contributions to the > IETF -- in > > designer, editor, or other leadership roles-- have been fairly > > minimal. > > This fascinates me too... > > With experience, I believe most people learn that the strict > ASCII format used for RFC's is actually a strong feature of > our ways of working. When I wrote my first drafts, I also > believed non-ASCII graphics were needed and I made multiple > versions (one TXT and one PS) of each draft, but I do not > waste my time on that anymore since I have learned that I can > manage very well without non-ASCII graphics. As the editor of the XKMS 2.0 standard, the core document of the SAML 1.0 standard and a co-editor of WS-Security 1.0 I think I can fairly claim to have made a significant contribution to the security protocol field. I think that what you see there is the result of self-selection. I think it is rather more interesting that of the 20 or so engineers who were at the core of the Web project but did not have a previous history of working with the IETF I am one of the very few who is currently actively engaged in IETF work even though most are still actively engaged in protocol design work. Nor is it very surprising that people who suggest that the workings of the IETF are anything less than perfect have not found leadership positions within it. The NOMCON process is very effective at excluding anyone who might be a squeaky wheel. Either the IETF will become more responsive to the community of Internet users or it will be treated as damage and routed around. The IETF has changed significantly in the past few years and I expect those changes to continue and at this stage it appears to me that the first outcome is the more likely. We still have to face the fact that the Internet does not meet user expectations for safety, security or usability. People who have the uncompromising attitude necessary to succeed in those areas tend to have uncompromising attitudes with respect to other issues that others consider trivial and unimportant such as document formats. _______________________________________________ Ietf@xxxxxxxx https://www1.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf