On 10/11/2016 08:24, Melinda Shore wrote: > On 11/9/16 10:16 AM, S Moonesamy wrote: >> Could you please send some feedback about whether it is useful to have >> Facilitators for ietf@xxxxxxxx? > > The experiment appears to have had minimal impact. It's perhaps > most helpful to consider the role of the facilitators during the > lengthy and occasionally acrimonious Singapore discussion, where > facilitation was unhelpful. Which I don't think is intended as criticism of the facilitators, but rather of ... human nature? I would say that the notion of a truly opinion-neutral facilitator will not work in most cases, especially during a debate on a divisive topic. People who are being non-constructive, repetitious or off topic aren't likely to take much notice of neutral messages or to calm down as a result. I think it's only more Chair-like interventions (summarise opinions and suggest a possible way forward) that will work in such cases. The facilitator approach may work in less contentious cases (such as the IPv10 thing that floated past a few days ago). But for those cases, back-channel communication is often better. Brian