[arin-ppml] Regarding consensus-based policy development (Re: ARIN-2012-3: ASN Transfers - Last Call)

[John Curran]

On May 8, 2012, at 8:27 AM, David Farmer wrote:
> 
> John is right consensus isn't unanimity; I've been doing some reading on consensus based decision making, paradoxically, dissent is part of a healthy consensus.
> The lack of dissent can be "evidence of intimidation, lack of imagination, lack of courage, failure to include all voices, or deliberate exclusion of the contrary views," rather than actual consensus.

Regarding deliberative consensus-based policy development, it's essential that 
folks take the time to explain the benefits or concerns that they foresee with 
any given policy change in addition to simply expressing if they are in support 
or opposed.  It is through the expression of these concerns or benefits that the 
community as a whole improves its understanding.  As various policy proposals may 
only directly affect a subset of the community (e.g. web hosting policy, residential 
privacy policy, etc), it is the elaboration on the concerns and benefits through
simple explanation that brings us all to common understanding, if not agreement.

The Advisory Council has the challenging job of considering this reasoning (both
in favor and opposed) when making sure that proposed policy is technically sound 
and supported by the community.

Thanks!
/John

John Curran
President and CEO
ARIN