[ppml] Directory Services - Take 2

[Michael.Dillon at btradianz.com]

> It's inefficient to require the office to be able to handle
> each and every exotic media request. Specifying them makes
> sense for both them and the customers and sets a reasonable
> expectation.

The office already has to handle each and every exotic media
request and changing policy will not change this.

RRRRing...

Hello, ARIN help desk.

Hi ARIN person. I would like a copy of the whois database
on bananaskins.

Sorry, we can't do that. We have no bananaskin writers in
the office.

But... Hey, what if I lend you my writer?

I have a better idea, how about we send you a DVD+R and you
can copy it onto bananaskins yourself.

--Michael Dillon

P.S. I'm really asking for that bit of the policy to be less
prescriptive and let the wise ARIN help desk people negotiate
media types as above. If the policy says that ARIN will 
provide the database via FTP or on recordable media, that
is all that needs to be said.

And if you accept that, consider how many other bits of the proposed
policy could be shortened or discarded.