[CCWG-ACCT] Mission Statement

[Malcolm Hutty]

On 08/01/2016 20:06, Avri Doria wrote:
> I think testing the assertion can be done using a stress test.

At first sight, stress testing accidental changes to the Mission sounds
sensible and prudent. However, on reflection I think it would be
completely destructive of the possibility of achieving consensus in this
group.

Let me explain.

Milton thinks that when Fadi launched Netmundial he was acting outside
ICANN's Mission at the time, never mind now. Avri thinks this was within
the scope of the Mission. Nor is this just Milton and Avri: each of them
have quite a lot of people who agree with them of this point.

At the moment, Milton and Avri can agree to disagree: nothing can be
done about Netmundial now, so the argument is moot. We can move on.

"Stress testing" for inadvertent changes to the Mission by assessing
past actions against the proposed text means going back over old
arguments like this, and seeing who is shown to be right when the
proposed text is applied. Essentially, this means either (a) proving
that Milton is unequivocally wrong or (b) accepting that Milton may have
an arguable point under our proposed text, and so amending it so as to
remove any opportunity for him to argue his point.

How could Milton possibly support the outcome of such a process?

This is not just about this one instance either: stress testing implies
that we then going on to do the same analysis and text-"correction" for
any other area where there is a disagreement, or an identifiable
potential disagreement, as to whether ICANN's past action were within
the Mission.

Personally, I happen to agree with Avri on the legitimacy of ICANN's
involvement in launching Netmundial. But I don't want to prove it at a
cost of forcing Milton to oppose transition - along with everyone who
agrees with Milton on this, and everyone else who thinks the Board has
ever acted improperly in the past.

Malcolm.
-- 
            Malcolm Hutty | tel: +44 20 7645 3523
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