[thelist] Re: Why code for standards

[Bev Corwin]

My comments follow:

----- Original Message -----
From: <Arlen.P.Walker at jci.com>
To: <thelist at lists.evolt.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2002 8:42 AM
Subject: Re: [thelist] Re: Why code for standards



> Um, in a word, no. You're claiming that the W3C and its ilk can't be doing
> a good job because you (and small companies like you) can't afford
> membership. Implicit in that is that somehow the presence of BigCos at the
> table will prevent them from doing a good job, which also implies that the
> presence of SmallCos at the table will not. My assumption is that elements
> of both will do their level best to prevent a good job from being done,
and
> will try to do the best job possible; you'll get an imperfect result no
> matter what the membership make-up is. It's the people, not who they work
> for, that matters. Jasc Software has no more and no fewer votes than
> Microsoft.

I'm saying that the W3C excludes a *huge* segment of the public, private and
small business global sector by requiring *outlandish* membership fees.  In
addition to the expensive costs to join,  they also go to very little
trouble to recruit any real communications or input from this *huge* segment
of public, private and small businesses, etc.   You, yourself stated that it
is arrogant to try to make a general rule for everyone. The facts here are
very clear.  There is an organizational bias against this *huge* sector.
You see in in the operations too,  with attitudes that claim small
businesses have nothing to offer these orgs.   I can only laugh at the
outlandishness,  and see what I see as an organizational flaw which creates
policy flaws.

>
> And this pertains to what, exactly? Whether person A has more time than
> person B doesn't have a bearing on the question I asked, which was a
> request for a single concrete example of something that is being left out
> of consideration because some particular SmallCo's are not members. As you
> yourself aren't a member, that should be easy. Have we an example of a
> single good idea that was dismissed because it didn't come from a BigCo?

I believe it pertains to the general prejudice that prevails in the minds of
people that for whatever reasons,  government / corporate employees are
better suited,  or have more time,  to be the only choice for positive
contributors to the www development guideline efforts.

Again,  I have no personal issue with large corporations.... I work with
some very large corporations too.  For a good number of years,  I was, also,
an employee.  I do not, personally, have anything against corporate /
government employees.  I just think its silly to restrict an organization to
such a small demographic,  especially something that is as diverse as the
www and supposed to serve a much larger and diverse demographic.  Seems
myopic to me.

Pax,
Bev