Network Working Group L. Chapin
Request for Comments: 1438 BBN
C. Huitema
INRIA
1 April 1993

Internet Engineering Task Force
Statements Of Boredom (SOBs)

Status of this Memo

This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does
not specify an Internet standard. Distribution of this memo is
unlimited.

Discussion

The current IETF process has two types of RFCs: standards track
documents and other RFCs (e.g., informational, eXPerimental, FYIs).
The intent of the standards track documents is clear, and culminates
in an official Internet Standard. Informational RFCs can be
published on a less formal basis, subject to the reasonable
constraints of the RFCEditor. Informational RFCs are not subject to
peer review and carry no significance whatsoever within the IETF
process.

The IETF currently has no mechanism or means of publishing documents
that express its deep concern about something important, but
otherwise contain absolutely no useful information whatsoever. This
document creates a new subseries of RFCs, entitled, IETF Statements
Of Boredom (SOBs). The SOB process is similar to that of the normal
standards track. The SOB is submitted to the IAB, the IRSG, the
IESG, the SOB Editor (Morpheus), and the Academie Francais for
review, analysis, reprodUCtion in triplicate, translation into ASN.1,
and distribution to Internet insomniacs. However, once everyone has
approved the document by falling asleep over it, the process ends and
the document is discarded. The resulting vacuum is viewed as having
the technical approval of the IETF, but it is not, and cannot become,
an official Internet Standard.

References

[1] Internet Activities Board, "The Internet Standards Process", RFC
1310, IAB, March 1992.

[2] Postel, J., Editor, "IAB OFFICIAL PROTOCOL STANDARDS", RFC1410,
IAB, March 1993.

Security Considerations

Security issues are not discussed in this memo, but then again, no
other issues of any importance are discussed in this memo either.

Authors' Addresses

A. Lyman Chapin
Bolt, Beranek & Newman
Mail Stop 20/5b
150 Cambridge Park Drive
Cambridge, MA 02140
USA

Phone: 1 617 873 3133
EMail: Lyman@BBN.COM

Christian Huitema
INRIA, Sophia-Antipolis
2004 Route des Lucioles
BP 109
F-06561 Valbonne Cedex
France

Phone: +33 93 65 77 15
EMail: Christian.Huitema@MIRSA.INRIA.FR