On Sat, 4 Oct 2014, Mark Nottingham wrote:
I have mixed feelings about remote participation. I think we can do a lot better on tools, but at the end of the day there's huge value to having people in the same room (and in the hallway, and going out to dinner). Often, it makes the difference as to whether an effort can be successful. So, I want to make it as easy as possible to get as many of the active participants in the same physical place at least a few times as is possible. Making them expend an entire week to do so doesn't help.
Getting people in the room only benefits the people already active, or people who have a specific agenda they want to discuss with someone. As a new person, you're very possible none of these, or you don't have the confidence to assert yourself.
I started subscribing to IETF mailing lists back around IETF70 or so, my first IETF was IETF75 (because it was held in Stockholm where I live), and frankly I didn't get much out of that meeting, more than having experienced it in person. I even went up to the mic in the plenary and spoke about something that is (still) a real problem. Now afterwards, I learn that this is not how things are done. If you're not already an active participant on the mailing lists etc, the physical meetings are not very useful.
Otoh for me as being a fidonet person from the 80ties, remote participation in the IETF is great. It's super easy to start participating remotely, formal barrier of entry is extremely low and the medium fits me perfectly. I can imagine others not thinking it's as easy as I do, but unfortunately I have no idea how to make it easier.
I am sure there can be more done on scheduling so some people don't have to be there the entire week, but I attend so many WGs that I already have plenty of conflicts each meeting, so please don't condense it even more.
-- Mikael Abrahamsson email: swmike@xxxxxxxxx