Website for what?

13 December 2006

W3.org
	Yeah - this is a type of bashing session.  I've tried using your web 
site and all I really get is pis.. UH - upset. I suppose I'm just not 
"modern enough" to appreciate what seems to be a total lack of common sense.
	This may get wordy and ramble a bit but somebody needs to at least 
point out the obvious to the children.

	Point 1) There are really only two types of programming efforts.
		 The 'for fun' and the 'for purpose'. It's fun to see
		 what one can get a computer to do. No real purpose
		 beyond that.  The 'for purpose' includes computing
		 orbital data for mars trips and electronic monetary
		 transfers for purchases. One might also label these as
		 one being Tinker and Dink Time and the other Business.
	Point 2) While cutting edge efforts are what took us from the
		 caves to high-rises, the reality is that "the least
		 common denominator" is what feeds us.
	Point 3) Your web site shows the first half of each of the first
		 two points but totally ignores the reality side.

Let's take a quick look at this: Let's use  Grandma, Jose and the latest 
Russian immigrant family.
	. Grandma wants quilting supples. She usually remembers how to turn the 
computer on and get connected and use her "Favorites" (probably setup by 
one of the grandchildren).
	. Jose probably can check the satellite weather and order farm 
equipment parts.
	. The Russian immigrant family may have brought whatever computer they 
had with them (thus already spouting Russian on the screen) and with a 
little local help are looking for housing in a decent school district - 
preferably among other Russian peoples. He does tool'n'die.

	NOT ONE OF THEM GIVES A DAMN ABOUT HTML 4.0! Probably have no idea what 
that is, but will get pissed as all hell if they can't read the websites 
they need to access. "Least common denominator"  After all, it's them 
that drive the economy.  Jose says no food for you, Grandma yanks back 
her nice warm quilt and the immigrant doesn't make the replacement 
tie-rod you broke on your car. Ever try driving a car that won't steer?

	Each level of HTML, XHTML etc... should have a clear, concise, well 
exampled and fully indexed reference available on page one.  Each
business wants to reach the maximum audience. "Least common denominator"
And the employed programmer doesn't need the hype. Just a good 
reference.  His employer could care less about that "wow-eeee looky at
that awesome thing-a-ma-jiggy". He wants Grandma, Jose and the Immigrant
to see, read, understand and buy his product(s). The programmer has
things to do besides spend his time trying to find clear, concise help.
He is not a student. He is not an academian. He has to make headway or
get fired.

	Those who tink and dink seldom succeed in production settings.

	It is when both act responsibly that life improves.

Either you act for the betterment or the detriment. There is no middle.
If you make something - detail its use.  Links to "Well I think this is 
what they meant" doesn't cut it.  Even the bookshelf comes with an 
assembly diagram and a parts list. It's not academia, it's common sense.


Steve Turner
norseman@firstlight.net

Received on Friday, 15 December 2006 14:54:45 UTC