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[rpd] RPD Digest, Vol 222, Issue 133
Thandeka Mseleku
mselekuthandeka80 at gmail.com
Tue Jul 21 13:47:41 UTC 2026
Dear Mark,
Respectfully, joining the mailing list around the same time or reaching
similar conclusions does not, by itself, demonstrate a coordinated agenda.
It is equally possible for participants to independently arrive at similar
positions after reviewing the same proposal.
The focus should remain on the substance of the arguments presented. If an
objection is factually or technically incorrect, it should be addressed on
its merits rather than by drawing conclusions based on when someone joined
the mailing list or assumptions about their motivations.
An open Policy Development Process should encourage participation from both
long-standing and new contributors, with every contribution evaluated
fairly and objectively.
BR,
Thandeka Mseleku
On Tue, 21 Jul 2026, 14:58 , <rpd-request at afrinic.net> wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
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> 1. Re: Writing tools (Mark Elkins)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2026 14:57:26 +0200
> From: Mark Elkins <mark at posix.co.za>
> To: rpd at afrinic.net
> Subject: Re: [rpd] Writing tools
> Message-ID: <714681da-4556-4366-9629-0e07de63871e at posix.co.za>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"; Format="flowed"
>
> +1
>
> They all joined the mailing list around the same time +/- a week.
>
> They all seem to have the same agenda
>
> Hmm...
>
>
> On 2026/07/21 14:28, Andrew Alston wrote:
> > Personally it is not the use of AI that I find objectionable - it is
> > clear coordination to attempt to derail consensus using an objection
> > which is not based on fact or evidence.
> >
> > Necessity is not a requirement for policy - never has been - and
> > objections should raise issues that show the policy would do harm or
> > is out of scope, they should be evidence based, and not purely
> subjective.
> >
> > At this point what I am seeing is a bunch of coordinated posts
> > generated by AI and sent by random individuals who when looking at
> > LinkedIn profiles seem to have no relation to the industry.
> >
> > While anyone is free to participate in the PDP and I strongly support
> > that, such participation needs to be done in good faith, and I am
> > starting to seriously doubt that element exists here
> >
> > Andrew
> >
> > On Tue, Jul 21, 2026 at 14:08, Gugu Dhlamini
> > <gugudhlamini343 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Sami,
> >
> > The concern is not reasonable moderation. It is that AI use is
> > being raised mainly against participants who oppose these
> > policies, as though the tool makes their objections illegitimate.
> >
> > If anyone floods the list, moderate the flooding. Apply that rule
> > equally, regardless of viewpoint or drafting method. A real
> > participant using AI to translate, edit, or organise their own
> > position is not grounds for exclusion.
> >
> > An open PDP cannot embrace technology for registry operations
> > while condemning it when unfamiliar participants use it to speak.
> > That would be gatekeeping, not consensus.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Gugu
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tue, 21 Jul 2026, 10:48 am Sami Ait Ali Oulahcen via RPD
> > <rpd at afrinic.net> wrote:
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> > It's been really difficult to follow the list this past 2/3
> > days. And I imagine I'm not alone.
> > I fully agree on moderating the AI madness. Otherwise, it'll
> > dissuade many folks from following/participating.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Sami
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Mike Silber" <silber.mike at gmail.com>
> > To: "rpd >> AfriNIC Resource Policy" <rpd at afrinic.net>
> > Sent: Monday, July 20, 2026 4:40:55 PM
> > Subject: Re: [rpd] Writing tools
> >
> > A useful discussion - thank you
> >
> > On Mon, Jul 20, 2026 at 5:17?PM Mike Burns via RPD
> > <rpd at afrinic.net> wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Rob,
> > >
> > > Yes, the language is a clear tell of AI? usage, but flowery
> > language alone
> > > is not swamping the list.
> >
> > I don't want to hijack the AS-SET discussion, so thank you for
> > the new
> > > subject line.
> > >
> >
> > Agreed
> >
> > >
> > > Now, sometimes? and unfortunately, I can use vague and
> > flowery language
> > > myself, so I would advise you to treat the AI stuff like the
> > human stuff.
> > > Ignore it if it's too vague or flowery to serve as a good
> > argument, and
> > > you have clearly laid out the two arguments in your last two
> > lines.
> > > Hopefully the list will show judgement and treat clear and
> > concise
> > > arguments better than vague ones.
> > > And then the AI posts, if they want to be successful, will
> > avoid the
> > > purple prose.
> > >
> >
> > I think it goes beyond flowery language.
> >
> > I am concerned that this is a precedent for AI generated DDoS
> > attacks on
> > the PDP and I do think we should have some light touch
> > guidelines. I
> > suspect that one of the reasons for the AI-slop flood is not
> > just to try
> > convince anyone of the value or legitimacy of their views but
> > rather to
> > overwhelm and frustrate other participants and cause them to
> > withdraw from
> > participation.
> >
> > Accordingly, I suggest we don't simply leave this to the
> > co-chairs to
> > determine on a case by case basis, but rather set some
> > guidelines under
> > which measures can be taken to avoid AI DDoS.
> >
> > Anyway - just my ZAR0,02 which is not worth much
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Mike S
> >
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> --
>
> Mark James ELKINS? -? Posix Systems - (South) Africa
> mje at posix.co.za?????? Tel: +27.826010496 <tel:+27826010496>
> For fast, reliable, low cost Internet in ZA: https://ftth.posix.co.za
>
> Posix SystemsVCARD for MJ Elkins
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