[Bug 8827] Inappropriate spec text and advice where images are not known

http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=8827


Ian 'Hixie' Hickson <ian@hixie.ch> changed:

           What    |Removed                     |Added
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Status|NEW                         |RESOLVED
         Resolution|                            |WONTFIX




--- Comment #5 from Ian 'Hixie' Hickson <ian@hixie.ch>  2010-02-14 10:12:07 ---
EDITOR'S RESPONSE: This is an Editor's Response to your comment. If you are
satisfied with this response, please change the state of this bug to CLOSED. If
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Status: Rejected
Change Description: no spec change
Rationale:

> The spec state:
> 
> <q>
> "In some unfortunate cases, there might be no alternative text available at
> all," 
> </q>
> 
> The use of the word 'unfortunate' is inappropriate. The issue being outline is
> merely and edge case, and should not be defined using such language as
> 'unfortunate' - as that has other connotations regarding disability that should
> not be inferred. More neutral and objective language should be used in a
> technical specification.

I disagree. This is author-facing text, and it's critical that we repeatedly
convey that not having alternative text is bad. Using the word "unfortunate"
here is a good way of doing this subtly.


> <q>
> or because the author does not himself know what the images represent (e.g. a
> blind photographer sharing an image on his blog).
> </q>
> 
> This last example is misleading. A blind photographer /will/ know the context
> within which pictures are taken, and therefore will be able to provide a
> suitable alternate description (contrary to what the spec text currently
> states).

This example is actually taken from a blind accessibility expert. See section
1.4 of:

  
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2008Aug/att-0829/image-alt.html


Comments 1-4 appear to be about a different issue, so I haven't replied to them
here. Please keep each issue to its own bug. Thanks!


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Received on Sunday, 14 February 2010 10:12:09 UTC