Re: Against 'start' and 'value' attributes

On Sun, Dec 14, 2003 at 09:00:00PM +0700, Etan Wexler wrote:
| The typical argument for the 'value' attribute states that the
| list numbering is an essential part of the content and is not
| merely style. 

It sometimes *can* be an essential part of the content. For example, say I 
create an HTML version of the GNU General Public Licence (you should be 
able to find a copy somewhere at http://www.gnu.org/) numbering the legal
clauses using an ordered list.

You'll notice that in the GPL, the first clause is numbered "0", the 
second "1" and so forth. If I acheive this numbering merely using style 
sheets, then a user agent that doesn't support style sheets will number 
them from "1" onwards.

Later, on the same page, I am writing a criticism of the GPL and refer to 
"clause 1". Somebody using a user agent that supports style sheets will 
see which clause I am referring to correctly. Somebody using a user agent 
that doesn't support style sheets will think I am referring to clause 0.

You see, sometimes numbering ordered lists can be too important to leave 
to style sheets. The numbering can form a part of the content.

Of course, other times numbering can happily be left to style sheets, as 
it isn't important to the content.

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