An IETF consensus call is judgement as to rough consensus. There is no mechanical set of rules that can substitute for judgement. WG Chairs judge the consensus of the Working Group. It is reasonable for them to take into account discussions at WG meetings as well as WG mailing list discussions. The IESG judges the consensus of the IETF. It is reasonable for them to take into account discussions on the WG mailing list and on any area mailing list or the like, as well as on the IETF mailing list and discussions at WG, area, and IETF plenary meetings. If polls at area meetings with 100+ people at them at three successive IETF meetings on different continents consistently show, say, a 3 to 1 preference for some proposal but the IETF Last call email has 6 people speaking against and only 4 in favor, what do you think the right judgement would be as to the consensus of the IETF community? Of course, I'm not saying that's what happened hear. But a narrow rules that the IESG is required to put on blinders and only consider the IETF discussion list IETF Last Call email, ignoring previous discussions on other relevant IETF mailing lists and ignoring WG, area, and IETF plenary meeting discussions they have attended, is just arbitrary nonsense. Thanks, Donald ============================= Donald E. Eastlake 3rd +1-508-333-2270 (cell) 155 Beaver Street Milford, MA 01757 USA d3e3e3@xxxxxxxxx _______________________________________________ Ietf mailing list Ietf@xxxxxxxx https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf