John C Klensin wrote:
"Four" is in the spec because it is a plausible compromise without getting bogged down in the details of multiple countries and cultures and because, if one does get that involved, one will often come up with four anyway.
As I recall, there was also an empirical basis for this, based on thinking about the notification "spikes" that were observed over some years.
For obvious and reasonable reasons, one can strongly argue for the time-out to be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and even 10 days. The latter are too long for effectiveness and the first few cause too many false notices.
That leaves, perhaps, 3, 4 and 5 to debate about and 4 does jump out as a reasonable compromise, doesn't it?
d/ -- Dave Crocker Brandenburg InternetWorking bbiw.net
