On Monday, June 9, 2025 10:00:08 AM CEST Benson Muite wrote:
> Some terms used in English and considered inappropriate in
> English as used in the USA are used in other languages and do not carry the
> same connotations.
This is an argument I see being made quite often, but I think it deserves some nuance. Specifically, I would like to distinguish physical presence and a digital organization like the IETF, whose borders are fuzzy or don't exist at all (the LLC appears to be under Delaware's jurisdiction, but that's about it).
https://www.ietf.org/media/documents/IETF-LLC-Agreement.pdf
When it comes to the day-to-day activities, I think it's worth acknowledging that every member comes in with their own package of personal experiences, that are inherently shaped by the location they live in. In an international context, we should strive for all those nations to be able to exist in harmony, rather than appealing to any one of them. That includes the US.
Let's take some examples from contemporary media, outside the IETF. The first one I want to mention is when Rammstein performed a very controversial song of theirs, titled "Buck Dich", in Worcester, Massachusetts. They were arrested for the night, on account of having performed a sexual act in public, in a state where that is punishable by law.
Similarly, if, let's say, Elon Musk were to have performed that particular salute in either Belgium or Germany, he too would've been arrested. Doesn't matter how rich or powerful he is, it's illegal here. People like Pavel Durov (Telegram's founder) have also had such incursion in France recently.
The point I'm trying to make here, is that national laws can be enforced on the nation's own soil. And when we go to another nation, we do so as a guest that also needs to follow that host nation's laws. But outside of that, none of that can be enforced -- at least not without geopolitical constructs like extradition treaties.
So, if we participate within the IETF, do we do so as citizens of our own respective nations? Or do we do so as submissions to Delaware HQ? Or do any of these geographical constructs even apply?
Or to put it differently: rather than asking "should this be enforced", can we even enforce it? And why is that?
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Met vriendelijke groet,
Michael De Roover
Mail: ietf@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Web: michael.de.roover.eu.org
