Search RFCs

RFC Editor

File formats:

Status:

INFORMATIONAL

Authors:

D. Crocker
N. Clark

Stream:

INDEPENDENT

Cite this RFC:TXT  | XML  |  BibTeX

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.17487/RFC7704

Discuss this RFC: Send questions or comments to the mailing listrfc-ise@rfc-editor.org

Other actions:Submit Errata  | Find IPR Disclosures from the IETF  | View History of RFC 7704

Abstract

The process of producing today's Internet technologies through aculture of open participation and diverse collaboration has provedstrikingly efficient and effective, and it is distinctive amongstandards organizations. During the early years of the IETF and itsantecedent, participation was almost entirely composed of a smallgroup of well-funded, American, white, male technicians,demonstrating a distinctive and challenging group dynamic, both inmanagement and in personal interactions. In the case of the IETF,interaction style can often contain singularly aggressive behavior,often including singularly hostile tone and content. Groups withgreater diversity make better decisions. Obtaining meaningfuldiversity requires more than generic good will and statements ofprinciple. Many different behaviors can serve to reduce participantdiversity or participation diversity. This document discusses IETFparticipation in terms of the nature of diversity and practicalissues that can increase or decrease it. The document represents theauthors' assessments and recommendations, following generaldiscussions of the issues in the IETF.

For the definition ofStatus,seeRFC 2026.

For the definition ofStream, seeRFC 8729.