- From: Matt May <mcmay@bestkungfu.com>
- Date: Sat, 5 Nov 2005 19:42:00 -0800
- To: WAI WCAG List <w3c-wai-gl@w3.org>
The current debate over validity is the definition of a religious war. We have one faction which expresses a strong objection to validity as a Level 1 requirement; and one faction which expresses a strong objection to anything else. The debate has caused the participants on both sides to become more deeply entrenched in their own positions, rather than trying to find middle ground. If this is the case, the discussion has gone as far as it will go, and so we don't waste time going over this until the end of time, we should follow the process that is laid out for us. The W3C Process Document states[1]: "In some cases, even after careful consideration of all points of view, a group might find itself unable to reach consensus. The Chair MAY record a decision where there is dissent (i.e., there is at least one Formal Objection) so that the group may make progress (for example, to produce a deliverable in a timely manner). Dissenters cannot stop a group's work simply by saying that they cannot live with a decision. When the Chair believes that the Group has duly considered the legitimate concerns of dissenters as far as is possible and reasonable, the group SHOULD move on." I think that it is clear by now that all points of view have been carefully considered over the last five or so years I've been a part of the WG. I encourage the chair to continue to pursue compromise positions, as he has done, in an attempt to maintain WCAG 2 as a consensus document. However, if and when it becomes clear that a consensus position is not achievable, we should move on as soon as possible, because there is too much work left to do, and this point has derailed us too many times. I would then ask chair to call for a vote on the level at which HTML validity is placed, note that dissent exists among the participants, and instruct dissenting parties to file a Formal Objection[2] consistent with the rules set forth in the W3C Process Document. The Formal Objection must be noted in the document, and must be reviewed by the W3C Director at the next time the WG requests to advance the document (i.e., to Last Call WD). Once the Director makes a decision on this point, the matter is considered to be settled, and future debate on the topic will be allowed only at the chair's discretion. - m [1] http://www.w3.org/2005/10/Process-20051014/policies.html#managing- dissent [2] http://www.w3.org/2005/10/Process-20051014/ policies.html#FormalObjection
Received on Sunday, 6 November 2005 03:42:08 UTC