[thelist] Re: Why code for standards

Arlen.P.Walker at jci.com Arlen.P.Walker at jci.com
Tue Feb 5 10:40:00 CST 2002


>Your assumptions prove your ignorance and prejudice.

Interesting that You're the one talking about My assumptions. Follow:

>> No one's motives are pure. Doesn't matter if the group is 5 BigCo's or
500
>> SmallCo's or 1000 students. Everyone brings their own agenda to the
table.
>> And claiming to be acting for the good of all is the height of
arrogance,
>> because implicit in that claim is that the claimant knows what's best
for
>> everyone.
>
>So you are asuming the standards orgs are claiming to know whats best for
>everyone

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.

You still haven't produced a scintilla of evidence to support your
assumption that the standards are bad because of the BigCo's influence,
BTW. Precisely why is the W3C bad because you can't afford a membership? I
can't afford one, either, but I haven't reached the same conclusion as you
have from that starting point. Take me down the path of reasoning that
leads to your conclusion.

>I agree, it is the height of arrogance,  especially when they do
>not communicate with a diverse demographic,

Hmm, I haven't sensed a lack of communication from the W3C. Transcripts are
on the website, discussion lists are open. Seems the recent patent policy
brew-up serves as a great counter-example for that.

>Your assumptions are interesting and amusing.

So are yours. Now shall we return to the facts under discussion?

>  In my experience,  from the
>small businesses I work with,  I have found many business owners,  and
small
>businesses to have far more time that your typical corporate employee.

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?

Don't look now, Bev, but your own prejudice is showing.

Have fun,
Arlen
Chief Managing Director In Charge, Department of Redundancy Department
DNRC 224

Arlen.P.Walker at JCI.Com
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