Re: [wg-review] Consensus

[Kent Crispin <kent@songbird.com>]

On Sat, Dec 30, 2000 at 10:21:48PM +0100, Michael Bracker wrote:
> 
> how do you define end-user? Do you define an end-user as a user not having
> a domain, not being interested in ICANN and just surfing once or twice a
> week? Is a "real end-user" someone who is interested in ICANN, the DNSO
> and to make this ICANN a better one? Is an end-user everyone who just
> accesses the NET (=> everyone)?

A definition used for membership in many of the constituencies is "a
domain name holder with X characteristics".  In particular, this is
implicit in the notion of an "individual domain name holders
constituency".  This requirement of having a domain registered, however,
is bogus in the extreme.  To very loosely paraphrase Ben Franklin:

"On monday Sam is a member of the IDNOC.  On tuesday Sam loses his
domain through a UDRP action.  Sam is no longer a member of the IDNO
constituency."

Clearly, individuals who would like to have a domain but can't get one 
for some reason are legitimate stakeholders in any discussion of domain 
policy.  I believe it is illegitimate for *any* constituency to make 
registration of a domain a requirement for membership.  In practice, of 
course, many who become involved in domain name policy issues have 
registered at least one domain.  But it should not be a requirement for 
full participation in the DNSO.

-- 
Kent Crispin                               "Be good, and you will be
kent@songbird.com                           lonesome." -- Mark Twain