You are assuming that the truth value of statements can be decided by an impartial, technically-competent observer. In some of the recent discussions, many of the claims were "X is (not) going to do Y in the future" or "Using X may cause Y do to something". Unless the observer has a crystal ball, such statements are hard to evaluate objectively. In that case, predictions made by a larger number of (reasonably-informed) individuals may well have more weight, under the not-unreasonable assumption that conventional wisdom is often right.
Henning On Feb 17, 2012, at 2:14 PM, Pete Resnick wrote: > On 2/17/12 11:59 AM, Noel Chiappa wrote: >> > From: Pete Resnick<presn...@qualcomm.com> >> >> > We do need to make sure that the folks evaluating consensus know >> > that "voting doesn't count" and that their decisions are made by >> > consensus on the technical issues, not the number of people speaking. >> >> Yes, but how do you tell where the consensus is if 97% of the people in the >> 'room' haven't expressed an opinion? > > Condensing part of my unfinished essay to a few sentences: You decide > consensus based on open issues, not on number of voices. If folks have > brought up unanswered objections, there's not consensus yet (rough or > otherwise). If all objections have been answered (even if the answer is > simply a well-reasoned, "We understand that that is an issue, but for these > other reasons, we're not solving that problem", and there is not significant > objection to dismissing the issue), then the presumption is that there is at > least rough consensus. > > If the 97% haven't expressed an opinion, you presume that they are not filing > objections and are therefore consenting. Consensus is all about consent, not > expressed agreement. Objection is the only way for there not to be consensus. > >> The 'me too' posts do serve a purpose in >> giving a larger sample size (provided, of course, that they are from >> long-time >> IETF partipants). >> > > Not to me. I don't see what they add. > > pr > > -- > Pete Resnick<http://www.qualcomm.com/~presnick/> > Qualcomm Incorporated - Direct phone: (858)651-4478, Fax: (858)651-1102 > > _______________________________________________ > Ietf mailing list > Ietf@ietf.org > https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf > _______________________________________________ Ietf mailing list Ietf@ietf.org https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf
