Re: plain text has its points

There is a guideline about this in the PAGL document. The  basic idea is
that hypertext can extend text. That extension should not be used to cover
for a flawed text - 'click here' is an example of the sloppy way in which
hypertext can be misused.

Charles

On Mon, 7 Dec 1998, Al Gilman wrote:

> to follow up on what Kynn Bartlett said:
> 
> > Actually, HTML is better because it allows for embedding of
> > structure and meta-content that doesn't exist in plain
> > text.
> 
> There are two sides to this coin.  Markup, in use, can become a
> cover for laziness in verbalizing the message.  The tags may
> siphon information out of the text, not just add new information.
> Tags are a little like Cookies in creating a way for programs to
> talk behind the user's back, and possibly abuse this capability.
> 
> The cross-linking between the WAI guidelines and related W3C
> documents is a major benefit.  I don't mean to dispute the upside
> potential of hypertext and multimedia.  But there is more to the
> way people trust plain text than tool obsolescence.
> 
> Al
>

Received on Monday, 7 December 1998 09:46:27 UTC