No, Carlos, we don't have an explicit rule. We have debated this among the leadership for some time. Some favor such limits, others oppose them. 

That is why I made a statement - I was not suggesting that we should "ban" the +1s (and neither was Niels or Carlos Afonso, I think), but I was also explaining why I was not going along with it. I think it was Stephanie Perrin who put it best - we don't want these acclamations to intimidate newer or less popular people out of nominating themselves or others. 

--MM

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Carlos Raúl Gutiérrez G. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 3, 2016 10:25 AM
> To: Mueller, Milton L <[log in to unmask]>
> Cc: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: +1's and support
> 
> Dear Milton.
> 
> I agree that this is a very fine procedural point, that should be managed clearly
> by the people responsible for the process, from the first mail on, so as to
> allow for others to consider participating.
> Maybe it should even become a written rule of internal netiquette.
> 
> But in the meantime, coming from a Hyperdemocratic and Hyper-freedom-of-
> expression rights country like Costa Rica (and the re-election being a
> possibility for some incumbents)  I done´t see anything wrong in feeling the
> temperature of the room early on as a way to recognise how hard some of
> them have worked in the past. We might have chosen the wrong place to
> make this type of comments, but space should be available for making them
> in the list anyhow. Maybe just under a different heading, like “I don´t like the
> re-election of incumbents” for example.
> 
> Now, do we have an explicit rule as suggested by Niels and you? How and
> where do we express our support for that rule? Should we draw a redline and
> asked for a renewed call for the election process with the new rule and forget
> the past? Lets be practical and move forward ASAP.
> 
> Best
> 
> Carlos Raúl Gutiérrez
> +506 8837 7176
> Skype: carlos.raulg
> Current UTC offset: -6.00 (Costa Rica)
> On 3 Aug 2016, at 8:11, Mueller, Milton L wrote:
> 
> > I second Niels's views. I have refrained from expressing any opinion
> > about the nominations until the nominations are closed and we are
> > discussing candidate statements. I have always done so.
> >
> > --MM
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: NCSG-Discuss [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> >> Of Niels ten Oever
> >> Sent: Tuesday, August 2, 2016 10:30 AM
> >> To: [log in to unmask]
> >> Subject: +1's and support
> >>
> >> Dear all,
> >>
> >> Even though I think the regular display of +1's is a signal of mutual
> >> support and camaraderie. I have the feeling that sometimes it is
> >> drowning out other discussions about content on the list.
> >>
> >> May I also remind people that the voting happens later, so the
> >> candidates need your support is even more then.
> >>
> >> I'm greatly looking forward to the statements of the candidates.
> >>
> >> All the best,
> >>
> >> Niels
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Niels ten Oever
> >> Head of Digital
> >>
> >> Article 19
> >> www.article19.org
> >>
> >> PGP fingerprint    8D9F C567 BEE4 A431 56C4
> >>                    678B 08B5 A0F2 636D 68E9