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Hi Ben,</div>
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The similarity is not mysterious. We addressed the same phrase, and drafting assistance can produce similar wording. I reviewed my message, agree with it, and stand behind it.</div>
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Your profile provides context, but it does not confer a higher status in an open PDP. If affiliation disclosure is to be required, it must be a clear rule applied equally to everyone.</div>
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I will not engage further in authorship speculation.</div>
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Regards,</div>
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Tshepo</div>
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<span style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Get
</span><a href="https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg" style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Outlook for Android</a></div>
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<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size:11pt" color="#000000"><b>From:</b> Ben Roberts - AfriNIC <ben.roberts@afrinic.net><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, 21 July 2026 17:47:59<br>
<b>To:</b> Tshepo Masuku <TshepoMasuku26@hotmail.com>; Gugu Dhlamini <gugudhlamini343@gmail.com><br>
<b>Cc:</b> rpd@afrinic.net <rpd@afrinic.net><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [rpd] Policy supremacy</font>
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<div dir="auto"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Gugu and Tshepo,</span>
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</span></div>
<div><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Perhaps you can explain to us how you ended up thinking of near identical opening sentences to your emails ? </span></div>
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<div><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">“Introductions can be helpful, but they are voluntary. They should not become an informal test of who qualifies as a “genuine” community member.”</span></div>
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<div><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">“</span><span style="font-family:Aptos,Aptos_MSFontService,-apple-system,Roboto,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:12pt"> introductions can provide context, but they should not become a test of whether
someone is a “genuine” community member.”</span></div>
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<div><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">By way of introduction, my profile can be found here. </span><a href="https://btw.media/en/governance/rir-watchdog/afrinic/benjamin-mark-roberts">https://btw.media/en/governance/rir-watchdog/afrinic/benjamin-mark-roberts</a><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><br>
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<div><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Kind Regards</span></div>
<div><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Ben</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div>
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<blockquote type="cite">On 21 Jul 2026, at 17:15, Tshepo Masuku <TshepoMasuku26@hotmail.com> wrote:<br>
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<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px"><span style="font-family:Aptos,Aptos_MSFontService,-apple-system,Roboto,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">Hi Ben,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:Aptos,Aptos_MSFontService,-apple-system,Roboto,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">Introductions can provide context, but they should not become a test of whether someone is a “genuine” community member.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:Aptos,Aptos_MSFontService,-apple-system,Roboto,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">An open process cannot presume that familiar participants belong while newcomers must prove themselves. If affiliation disclosure
is important, it should be a clear and equal rule covering everyone, including employers, clients, funding, and organisational interests.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:Aptos,Aptos_MSFontService,-apple-system,Roboto,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">Until such a rule exists, contributions should be judged by their substance and conduct, not by whether the established
circle recognises the sender.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:Aptos,Aptos_MSFontService,-apple-system,Roboto,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:12pt; color:rgb(0,0,0)">Regards,<br>
Tshepo</span></p>
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