as,
I am new to the IETF. I would like to contribute any way I can, but the
learning curve seems steep indeed. I am from an LCD country. I have the
necessary resources but I just don't know where to start.
Some guidance would be welcome. I am reading on stuff and hope that one day I
will be able to make some meaningful contribution.
Nthabiseng Pule
On 27 May 2013, at 1:52 PM, Arturo Servin wrote:
> John,
>
>Good summary.
>
>I would add a "steep learning-curve" to start participating. It takes time
> to get conformable in participating in mailing list and reviewing drafts for
> I think two reasons. One is to get know how the IETF works, and another to
> catch-up in knowing the topic in relation with other WG participants.
>
>About the remote hub I think it would be good to give it a try.
>
> Regards,
> as
>
> On 27 May 2013, at 02:52, John Levine wrote:
>
>> I think this is a summary of the issues people have mentioned that
>> discourage participation from LDCs, in rough order of importance.
>>
>> * People aren't aware the IETF exists, or what it does, or that it has
>> an open participation model
>>
>> * People don't read and write English well enough to be comfortable
>> participating
>>
>> * People are unaccustomed to and perhaps uncomfortable expressing
>> overt disagreement
>>
>> * People don't think they have anything to contribute to an organization
>> that is mostly people from rich countries
>>
>> * People don't have adequate Internet access for mail, or to use the
>> remote participation tools
>>
>> I have to say that I don't see one or two meetings in South America
>> addressing any of these. Given that the incremental cost to the
>> participants, compared to meeting in North America, would likely be on
>> the order of a million dollars, it seems to me very likely that there
>> are better ways to spend the money.
>>
>> For example, if language and net access is a problem, it might be
>> interesting to set up a remote participation center in B.A. during one
>> of the North American meetings (it's one time zone off from Toronto)
>> with screens and cameras, paid interpreters, and a few volunteers to
>> help explain what's going on.
>>
>> R's,
>> John
>
