- From: Charles F. Munat <chas@munat.com>
- Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2000 15:23:49 -0800
- To: <jim@jimthatcher.com>, <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
Ah, yes... it all sound so... so... reasonable now. The experiences of millions of disenfranchised people worldwide who've watched while their rights, hopes, dreams, aspirations are whittled away by "reasonable" compromises seem so shrill, so uncomfortable. And those who decry these injustices... well, they are just ranting. Their words are like the wind, so much incomprehensible howling... Now, where were we? Oh, yes... these standards. Gosh, these seem awfully strict... I'm sure they didn't really mean that we have to do all this stuff... I'm sorry, Doctor, that my belief in justice seems strident to you. I realize that these views have no place in the comfortable corporate world where anything that doesn't fit the corporate mold simply doesn't exist. But out here in the real world, I wonder about those people with disabilities who, decades after the passage of the ADA, still do not have equal access. How much longer must they wait, Dr. Thatcher? How much longer must their rights be negotiable, while yours are not? In an off-list email, Bruce Bailey pointed out despite a recommendation by the advisory board to include all P2 checkpoints in Section 508, the final version won't even include all P1 checkpoints. And still you think 508 needs to bend over a little farther? "We" may include the members of this list, but if you think that the solution to accessibility on the Web is to further dilute the standards, then you can count me out. Sincerely, Charles F. Munat CEO, Munat, Inc. (and a good thing, too, since it's not very likely IBM will be offering me a job anytime soon...) -----Original Message----- From: w3c-wai-ig-request@w3.org [mailto:w3c-wai-ig-request@w3.org]On Behalf Of Jim Thatcher Sent: Friday, December 15, 2000 2:32 PM To: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org Subject: RE: Politics: Strict Guidelines Considered Harmful Charles F. Munat: In my experience, "realistic" is an industry code word for "requires little effort and costs us nothing." Jim Thatcher: Not True in fact or in my experience or when I use the term. Absolutely not true. Previously Jim Thatcher: "Like you said, we all share the dream of an accessible web. ... Charles F. Munat: I beg to differ. Who is this "we" who share the dream of an accessible web? Jim: I thought it would mean people on this list. Charles F. Munat: What corporations "dream of" are sites that are accessible without any effort or expense Jim: That would be nice. Charles F. Munat: incomprehensibly abstract to Mr. Thatcher, Jim: Dr. Thatcher to you Charles. Charles F. Munat (amongst over ranting): If the members of this list believe that passage of 508 solved anything, they are sadly mistaken. Jim: I certainly don't think 508 solves anything. But it sure is on course to bring about solutions, to bring about substantial change. Jim jim@jimthatcher.com Accessibility Consulting http://jimthatcher.com 512-306-0931
Received on Friday, 15 December 2000 20:10:04 UTC