Re: ACTION-78: Suggestion text for 1.5.4

Ian Hickson <ian@hixie.ch> wrote on 01/19/2009 06:04:35 AM:
>
> On Sun, 18 Jan 2009, Sam Ruby wrote:
> >
> > So let me ask this: Is there *anybody* who *can't* *live* *with* this
> > proposal (namely removing section 1.5.4)?  If so, why not, and what do
> > you propose instead?
>
> I think the points Henri made in this e-mail regarding the "can live
with"
> design model are very apt:
>
>    http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html/2009Jan/0158.html
>
> I have experienced first-hand the "race to the bottom" effect of this
kind
> of compromise-by-committee design in other working groups. I think the
> "what's the best possible answer" method is more effective than "is there

> anyone who can't live with this".

And I think that there are very real problems with having a despot model,
benevolent or otherwise.  Larry's email vividly illustrates how such an
approach significantly damages the overall credibility of the overall
effort.

The current text in 1.5.4 meets neither the "best possible answer" nor the
"can live with" criteria.

> (This is a non-technical issue, though; if the HTMLWG has a strong desire

> to remove this section, I can certainly remove it from the HTMLWG draft.)

That would be acceptable to me.  Which reminds me, are there plans for
refreshing the HTMLWG draft[1], along with an associated publication note
[2]?

- Sam Ruby

[1] http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/WD-html5-20080610/
[2] http://dev.w3.org/html5/pubnotes/