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RE: RDF and the new releases

• To: "Elliotte Rusty Harold" <elharo@m...>,<xml-dev@l...>
• Subject: RE: RDF and the new releases
• From: "Danny Ayers" <danny666@v...>
• Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2002 20:35:28 +0100
• Importance: Normal
• In-reply-to: <p04330106ba06bf01b80f@[192.168.254.4]>

>I've heard those voices too. However, my point is that the voices in
>opposition should carry more weight than the voices in support. If
>opinions are divided 50/50, don't issue the spec. People can continue
>to work with, develop and experiment with the technologies in order
>to convince the doubters. However, it is not appropriate to
>standardize over substantial opposition.
>
>In the past, I've seen two specs that got to recommendation stage
>against substantial dissenting voices: schemas and namespaces. In
>both cases, it turned out that the dissenting voices had very good
>points, there were fundamental flaws in the specs, and those flaws
>are now causing growing problems for everyone.  Recommendations
>should require consensus, (and consensus beyond the working group),
>not simple majority vote.

Hmm - I don't disagree with your sentiments...but there are two points worth
bearing in mind. The recommendation/standardization of a spec by the W3C
isn't any more binding than that of anyone else, and if the spec is half
useful then people will develop & experiment with it not matter what its
'official' status. The other point is probably more pertinent - you're
unlikely to get consensus on *any* spec, no matter what its merits there'll
always be plenty of naysayers. Even with the best will in the world, it's
practically impossible to be accurate when predicting the potential for
*future* problems. Erring on the side of caution too much means getting
nothing done. So the great wheels of technology grind to a halt, the soup
kitchens fill with tech authors and journalists, and xml-dev gets back to
that unresolved angels/pinhead issue...

Cheers,
Danny.

• References:
  • RE: RDF and the new releases
    • From: Elliotte Rusty Harold <elharo@m...>

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