The Internet that we all love and hate and that which brought us all
together in this magical fantasy world derives *all* its rules,
regulations, standards and everything else through very few bodies.
Two of these bodies are the Internet Society (ISOC) and the Internet
Engineering Task Force (IETF) and its Working Groups.
Anybody can be a member of ISOC (I am) and the WGs of IETF.
All Internet standards start their life as an RFC (Request For
Comments). RFCs are commented upon by everybody and anybody world-wide.
The IETF has never, in its entire history, voted on anything.
To quote one of its distinguished members:
"we don't believe in kings, democracy or (....). We believe in running
code and rough consensus".
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Now, "rough consensus" would be too hard for the apparatchiks to
swallow, yes?
Empires are not built on "rough consensus", they are built on fear,
greed, coercion and brute force!
Peter Wilson: do not fear or allow yourself to be intimitated. There
are few of us who still believe in "Good, Right and Beauty" :-)
Ahmad
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Dr Ahmad Risk
http://www.cybermedic.org
Chairman British Healthcare Internet Association <http://www.bhia.org>
Director Internet Healthcare Coalition - USA <http://www.ihc.net>
Home: +44 1273 724866/748198
Work: +44(1737)240022 Fax: +44 1737 244660
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