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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 RFC Editor.  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.

Chapin & Huitema [Page 1]  RFC 1438 IETF SOBs 1 April 1993

References

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

 [2] Postel, J., Editor, "IAB OFFICIAL PROTOCOL STANDARDS", RFC 1410,
     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

Chapin & Huitema [Page 2]