[thelist] Why smart tags are no big deal...

[Ryan Finley]

Here's why I think the whole smart tag controversy is overhyped:

1. Smart tags are OFF by default.  Users have to turn them ON.  Therefore,
they want them on.  If they are annoying, they will turn them back OFF.

2. Smart tags are not installed by default.  Users must download them from
Microsoft or any other website that decides to make smart tags available.
If Microsoft puts in a bunch of marketroid bullshit, then users will
UNINSTALL them.  They must be compelling.

3. Webmasters can override user's decision to have smart tags with a simple
one line metatag.  If you think Microsoft is arrogant for requiring
webmasters to do this, read point 4.  If you think that Microsoft is making
your life harder...well so do Netscape issues, new browsers, cookie
paranoia, disabled javascript, etc, etc, etc.

4. Users should have control over how they want webpages displayed.
Webmasters who want to force users to view their content THEIR WAY come off
as arrogant, just like designers who say "best viewed at 800x600".  If users
want to see your competitors appear on your pages as a smart tag, why not
let them?  Who's in control?

5. The capacity of smart tags to be evil is limited by #1 and #2 above.  The
capacity of smart tags to be useful has no limits other that people's
creativity and imagination.  People's inability to find good uses for smart
tags signals a lack thereof.

	Ryan Finley
	President - SurveyMonkey.com (http://www.surveymonkey.com)