RFC 2323 (rfc2323) - Page 2 of 5
IETF Identification and Security Guidelines
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
RFC 2323 IETF Identification and Security Guidelines 1 April 1998
this author's own experience the average amount of men with long-term
facial hair is less than 20%. Long-term versus short-term facial
hair is a very important distinction as short-term facial hair, also
known as the temporary illness "goatee universitis" (which symptoms
range from full goatees to the less popular chin-goatee) is a common
affliction for university-based males. Per capita (temporary) facial
hair can go as high as 40%. However, among the males of the IETF the
per capita long-term facial hair is as high as 60% [2].
Ordinarily, this abundance of long-term FHE would not require that an
RFC be written. However, increasingly there have been issues
regarding mistaken identification. For security purposes as well as
ease of identification, this RFC will serve to clarify these issues
and hopefully provide a solution for them.
4. Mistaken Identification Syndrome (or "Are you --jon. or Scott?")
I was speaking to a very well-known network researcher, I'll call him
--jon., who tells me that he is often mistaken for a SOBbing Harvard
person. --jon. says, "People tell someone to look for me or him and
say that I'm about so-tall with a big white beard, and suddenly
people are coming up to me and saying, 'Hi Scott' and he often tells
me that he is mistakenly hailed as, '--jon.'. Often the mistake is
made solely on the appearance of our facial hair."
Another story --jon. told me is that once a woman called looking for
a computer researcher but only having a first name and physical
description. The receiptionist asked for the description and the
woman said she was looking for an older Caucasian man with a beard.
The receptionist reportedly blurted out, "they all have beards!!!!"
On a more personal note, two researchers who were both employed at
USC/ISI shaved their very famous facial hair and were both
unrecognizable to friends and co-workers alike. If it weren't for
B.M.'s Grateful Dead T-shirts and lack of shoes, or R.V.M.'s voice I
would have never recognized them.
5. Security Considerations
It is obvious to this researcher that facial hair of any variety is a
very recognizable characteristic. Indeed, when giving a description
of a male who has facial hair, it is always one of the first
characteristics given. Ordinarily this would not be a problem, since
facial hair in the world at large is below 20%. However, when used
as a description at IETFs, disaster can insue.
Ramos Informational