IETF Discussion List Charter
RFC 9245
BCP 45
Lars Eggert
NetApp
Stenbergintie 12 B
Kauniainen
02700
FI
lars@eggert.org
https://eggert.org/
Susan Harris
June 2022
mail list
mailing list
The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) discussion mailing list furthers the development and specification of Internet technology through the general discussion of technical, procedural, operational, and other topics for which no dedicated mailing lists exist. As this is the most general IETF mailing list, considerable latitude in terms of topics is allowed, but there are posts and topics that are unsuitable for this mailing list. This document defines the charter for the IETF discussion list and explains its scope.
This document obsoletes RFC 3005 and updates RFC 3683.
Introduction
The IETF discussion list [IETF-DISCUSS] furthers the development and specification of Internet technology through the general discussion of technical, procedural, operational, and other topics for which no dedicated mailing lists exist. As this is the most general IETF mailing list, considerable latitude in terms of topics is allowed. However, there are posts and topics that are unsuitable for this mailing list. This document defines the charter for the IETF discussion list and explains its scope.
The IETF Note Well [NOTE-WELL] applies to discussions on the IETF discussion list and all other IETF mailing lists, and requires conformance with the IETF Guidelines for Conduct [RFC7154] and the Anti-Harassment Policy [RFC7776], among others.
This document obsoletes [RFC3005], as it documents the use of other mailing lists for discussions that were previously in scope for the IETF discussion list, refers to applicable policies such as the Guidelines for Conduct [RFC7154] and the Anti-Harassment Policy [RFC7776], and clarifies moderation procedures. It also updates part of Section 1 of [RFC3683], which copies the list of "inappropriate postings" from [RFC3005]. The list in [RFC3683] is hence updated by the new list in Section 2.
Charter for the IETF Discussion List
The IETF discussion list is meant for discussions for which a more appropriate list does not exist, such as discussions that do not fall within the scope of any working group, area, or other established list. When there is an existing venue for discussion, this should be noted and discussion should be moved there.
When no dedicated mailing list exists for a topic, it may be preferable to request that one be created [NON-WG-LISTS] rather than discuss it on the IETF discussion list. Availability of the new list may be announced on the IETF discussion list and on other related lists, such as area lists.
Appropriate postings to the IETF discussion list include:
- Initial discussion of technical issues that are candidates for IETF work, but appropriate mailing lists have not yet been identified.
- Questions and clarifications concerning practical aspects of IETF meetings, although most of these topics are better brought up on the discussion list for IETF LLC administrative issues [ADMIN-DISCUSS] or the attendee discussion list for a given IETF meeting.
- Announcements of conferences, events, or activities that are sponsored or endorsed by the IETF, IRTF, IAB or the Internet Society, although the IETF announcement list [IETF-ANNOUNCE] is the preferred list for these.
- Discussions of IETF direction, policy, and the standards process in general, when a more suitable list (such as the discussion list for IETF LLC administrative issues [ADMIN-DISCUSS], the IAB discussion list for architectural issues [ARCH-DISCUSS], a meeting attendees list, a process-oriented WG list, etc.) cannot be identified.
These topics used to be in scope for the IETF discussion list, but have since moved to dedicated lists:
- Last Call discussions of documents now take place on the IETF Last Calls mailing list [LAST-CALLS].
- Discussion of IETF administrative policies now takes place on the discussion list for IETF LLC administrative issues [ADMIN-DISCUSS].
Inappropriate postings include:
- Advertising and other unsolicited bulk e-mail
- Discussion of subjects unrelated to IETF policy, meetings, activities, or technical topics
- Uncivil commentary, regardless of the general subject, per the IETF Note Well [NOTE-WELL]
- Announcements of conferences, events, or activities that are not sponsored or endorsed by the IETF, IRTF, IAB, or the Internet Society.
Moderation
The IETF Chair appoints Moderators (previously known as the "sergeant-at-arms") for the IETF discussion list that are empowered to restrict posting by a person, or to an email thread, when the content is inappropriate and represents a pattern of abuse. They are encouraged to take into account the overall nature of the postings by an individual and whether particular postings are typical or an aberration.
Moderation of the IETF discussion list, including the handling of any appeals, is guided by the IETF discussion list charter specified in Section 2, and the related guidance from Section 1 that applies to all mailing lists. The moderators are selected from within the community to moderate the community. Because the IESG and IAB are in the appeals chain for moderator decisions (see below), the IETF Chair therefore should not appoint a moderator who is serving in such a role. If a moderator is selected for the IESG or IAB, they will step down from the moderator team.
Apart from appointing moderators, the IETF Chair should refrain from the day-to-day operation and management of the moderator team. The moderator team will independently define, publish, and execute their role; see the current set of operating procedures [MOD-SOP] and abuse patterns [MOD-UPC]. The moderator team should reach out to the IETF Chair for any conflict resolution in a timely manner.
Because a moderator serves at the discretion of the IETF Chair -- even if the IETF Chair is not otherwise involved in the operation of the moderator team -- any moderator decision can be appealed to the IETF Chair, per [RFC2026]. Decisions by the IETF Chair can be appealed to the IESG as whole, again per [RFC2026].
Security Considerations
The usual security considerations [RFC3552] do not apply to this document.
Potential abuse of the moderation process for the suppression of undesired opinions is counteracted by the availability of an appeals process, per Section 3.
IANA Considerations
This document does not request any IANA actions.
References
Normative References
Informative References
[MOD-SOP]

Sergeant-at-Arms Standard Operating Procedures
IETF
09 October 2019
commit c1abcb0
[MOD-UPC]

Unprofessional commentary
IETF
08 October 2019
commit e120305
[LAST-CALLS]

last-call -- IETF Last Calls
IETF
[IETF-DISCUSS]

ietf -- IETF-Discussion
IETF
[IETF-ANNOUNCE]

IETF-Announce -- IETF announcement list. No discussions.
IETF
[ADMIN-DISCUSS]

admin-discuss -- Discussion list for IETF LLC administrative issues
IETF
[NOTE-WELL]

Note Well
IETF
[NON-WG-LISTS]

Non-Working Group Email List Guidelines
IETF
[ARCH-DISCUSS]

Architecture-discuss -- open discussion forum for long/wide-range architectural issues
IAB
[RFC7154]
[RFC7776]
[RFC3005]
[RFC3683]
[RFC2026]
[RFC3552]
[RFC3184]
[RFC3160]
Acknowledgements
Susan R. Harris authored [RFC3005], which this document replaces. In addition to many technical contributions to the IETF, Susan authored a number of other foundational documents, such as the original "IETF Guidelines for Conduct" [RFC3184] and the original "Tao of the IETF" [RFC3160]. Susan R. Harris passed away in early 2022. This document is dedicated to her memory, as a small token of appreciation of her many contributions.
The following people have made other contributions to this document:
- Adrian Farrel
- Barry Leiba
- Ben Kaduk
- Brian Carpenter
- Carsten Bormann
- Christian Huitema
- Dhruv Dhody
- Eric Rescorla
- Eric Vyncke
- Francesca Palombini
- John Scudder
- Lloyd Wood
- Martin Thomson
- Robert Wilton
- Subramanian Moonesamy
- Stephen Farrell