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: [email protected]


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

  Phone: +33 93 65 77 15
  EMail: [email protected]
















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