> So lets be explicit. This is a standards-setting body, which is discussing
> outreach, inclusiveness, wider participation outcomes, and the cost
> consequences on attendance where the core motivation is standards setting.
Yes, let's be explicit, we need to discuss the IETF meeting not
discuss the IETF business, IMHO, meetings are for establishing better
connection between the IETF and the Internet-Community.
The primary purpose of meetings is to solve problems that cannot be solved by e-mail.
IMHO, IETF is
not just a standards-setting body, please read what it says about
itself:
IETF> The mission of the IETF is to make the Internet work better by
producing high quality, relevant technical documents that influence
the way people design, use, and manage the Internet.
IETF> The IETF is a Large open international community of network
designers, operators, vendors, and researchers concerned with the
evolution of the Internet architecture and the and the smooth
operation of the Internet. It is open to any interested individual.
Yes and the way that concern is expressed is through technical problem solving and documentation. The IETF also _assists_ in outreach but that is not the primary mission of making the Internet work better.
Don't forget that the Internet is changing and that the Internet
Community is changing, the IETF SHOULD follow thoes changes :-)
I don't know what the smiley is supposed to connote, but the IETF responds to changes in the community by changing its engineering goals and the problems it works on.