> In addition to the moral and social issues involved, diversity of > leadership across several axes (race, geographic location, gender > and corporate affiliation) is important for three practical reasons: > > - It is a well-established fact that diverse groups are smarter > and make better decisions than less-diverse groups. I would really like to see this statement either backed up by peer-reviewed apolitical scientific research or withdrawn by the signatories of the open letter. It is highly offensive. While it should be self-evident that a group whose homogeneity was of corporate affiliation might not make the best decisions for the IETF as a whole, to say that a racially homogenous group is somehow dumber than a racially diverse group smacks of racism. The group comprised of winners of the Nobel Prize for Physics is overwhelmingly north american and european males. Just the makeup that is being asserted as a "problem" here in the IETF. But it is not viewed as a problem, and for good reason because science would suffer if it was subordinated in any way to any other consideration. > - Lack of diversity in our leadership becomes a self-perpetuating > problem, because people who are not represented in the IETF > leadership are less likely to dedicate their time and effort to > the IETF. Another ipse dixit fallacy! A mere assertion masquerading as a sociological fact. As if we are just sheeple who are motivated to only join groups whose makeup resembles us. We are supposed to be individuals here engaging in consensus-based work to get the best technical solution to the Internet's problems. Disparate impact theory has no place in the IETF. Dan.