Russ Housley wrote: > In summary, email discussion has less tendency toward "group think" than > face-to-face gatherings. Interesting. I hadn't connected with that term, for this, but it's really quite apt. The Wikipedia article on the term, at: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthink> is useful for considering working group processes that lead to bad decision-making. Notably: > Symptoms of groupthink > > In order to make groupthink testable, Irving Janis devised eight symptoms > that are indicative of groupthink (1977). > > 1. Illusions of invulnerability creating excessive optimism and encouraging > risk taking. > > 2. Rationalising warnings that might challenge the group's assumptions. > > 3. Unquestioned belief in the morality of the group, causing members to > ignore the consequences of their actions. > > 4. Stereotyping those who are opposed to the group as weak, evil, disfigured, > impotent, or stupid. > > 5. Direct pressure to conform placed on any member who questions the group, > couched in terms of "disloyalty". > > 6. Self censorship of ideas that deviate from the apparent group consensus. > > 7. Illusions of unanimity among group members, silence is viewed as > agreement. > > 8. Mindguards — self-appointed members who shield the group from dissenting > information. Would that email discussion were enough to guard against these weaknesses. d/ -- Dave Crocker Brandenburg InternetWorking bbiw.net _______________________________________________ Ietf@xxxxxxxx https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf