The IETF is full of people like myself that are more computer knowledgeable than social knowledgeable. That means we are not trained politicians or diplomats. if someone calls me insane or whatever, I skip it, and go to the facts of the debate or issue or email. Some get so involved in their proposal, perhaps implementing, perhaps they need the process over, or for other reasons, that they react before they think about how to say things in pretty ways. Sometimes proposals do not get reviewed until the WG last call, or maybe the IETF last call. Then someone posts something they think is a reasonable concern. Perhaps because they misunderstood something. Perhaps because they found a real issue. And the replies can feel personal and offensive. That is the IETF life. If a reply is snotty, personal, or just over reactionary, ignore the first one or few in the email. If it continues send a private email expressing your feeling about their methods of communication. Most of the time I have found they just wanted to express emotional frustration or it was a misunderstanding. Overwhelmingly, I have found the IETF mailing list and people to be supportive people that I am honored to have communicated with. And definitely and especially after a contentious minor bump in the communications. And if that does not work for you, there are no IETF employees hired to hold anyone's hand during the process. So participate or not. -- Doug Royer - (http://DougRoyer.US) Douglas.Royer@xxxxxxxxx 714-989-6135
