Re: is anyone interested in XHTML?

John W Pierce wrote:
> 
> > On the rare occasion I need to override a rule from my external CSS...
> > Let me <span> the silly thing and be done with
> > it...please?
> 
> This is exactly right. Which, of course, almost without doubt means that the
> spec will wind up disallowing it in some way.

You know, you guys can take a real smart-ass approach to this, but there
are really good reasons and a great deal of discussion from a lot of people
behind these decisions, and we have to satisfy the i18n and WAI requirements,
as well as make this work ineroperably with a myriad of oft-conflicting and 
oft-changing W3C specs we rely on as well. I'd challenge you to do better. 
We take this job pretty seriously and we're all trying to do the web community
a service, despite what you might believe. I could certainly be spending my 
time on something else.

Simply because somebody likes frames or inline styling, or <blink> or 
<barf> doesn't mean we stick it in a specification. We have a responsibility
to produce a product that satisfies many constituencies, not just the 21"
24bit monitor-wielding, fully-sighted, fully-abled English-speaking IE5 users.

XHTML 1.0 is essentially *all* of HTML 4.0, so use it. XHTML 1.1 is a very
functional subset of that, using a modular framework to allow for all sorts
of extensions. Use HTML 4.01, XHTML 1.0 as you need to. Nobody is removing
either from the playing field. XHTML 1.1 will be used for purposes other 
than perhaps than you find valuable. Fine. Don't use it.

And one thing I should make clear: I may disagree with Dan but I like and
respect him, and also know him well enough to know we both want the same 
thing: a better, interoperable web. That we disagree so passionately on
architectural issues is perhaps simply an indication that we both care 
deeply about what has turned into a profoundly important tool for human 
communication. 

Murray

...........................................................................
Murray Altheim, SGML Grease Monkey         <mailto:altheim&#64;eng.sun.com>
XML Technology Center
Sun Microsystems, 1601 Willow Rd., MS UMPK17-102, Menlo Park, CA 94025

   the honey bee is sad and cross and wicked as a weasel
   and when she perches on you boss she leaves a little measle -- archy

Received on Thursday, 17 February 2000 18:44:56 UTC