1. What are the RIPE Community’s Values?
Process vs Substantive values
Substantive
Everyone can use the Internet
Interconnected networks
Stable and reliable Internet
RIPE has a defined scope
Process Values
Open, transparent, bottom-up decision making

2. How do we Define Consensus?
Consensus vs Rough Consensus
Invalid objections
Lack of good faith
Out of scope
Asked and answered
Silence as consent and “rational ignorance”

3. What is the Role of Chairs?
Chairs perform a crucial role within almost all RIPE community structures
Sorting input and determining what can be included in a discussion and what can be disregarded (out of scope, or in bad faith, etc.)
Determining whether enough input has been included in the discussion
Making consensus calls

4. Is the Community Safe From Capture?
Capture in key positions
Separation of powers as a self-controlling mechanism
Capture “from the floor”?

5. How Does the Community Retain Trust Over Time?
Many aspects of RIPE are not currently documented
Trust maintained because community members perform roles according to values of community
Over time, newer community members may come to fill these roles without an understanding of the community’s values
This could erode the community’s trust over time