[thelist] Re: Why code for standards

[Bill Haenel]

> How different would this be to http://www.webstandards.org/ ?
>
> Cheers
> Martin


Well, so far, in its infancy, it is different in the sense that I wasn't
thinking so much of an 'activist' group as an contributory group. To my
knowledge, WaSP currently holds no membership in any of the standards groups
we've been discussing, or at least not so they've published that I can see.

It seems WaSP's intention has always been to have influence on the
public/user/browser level, not on the establishment/development/directive
level. They get involved by encouraging adherence to standards, but we would
get involved on the end of determining what those standards would say, and
how they might be implemented. We actually would have involvement with the
W3C, ISO, etc.

WaSP says they're currently taking "a gentle leave of absence". According to
their site, they've accomplished a great deal of what they set out to, and
so are apparently able to take a break. Where their mission is concerned,
that's appropriate. If you're involved in the standards development process,
the job is really never done.

Sounds like a mission statement would be in order. Oh, Jeez - what have I
done. As this is intended to be a group thing, not a me thing, I would defer
in part to my peers who may be interested in participating. So I put it to
the future members: If a group of evolters (and others) were to form a group
such as the one discussed here, what should it hope to accomplish, and how
would it differ from other similar organizations already in existence?

Anyway, I think it needs to be done. It only stands to reason that one of
the greatest groups of designers and developers on the planet should have
some collective input in the determination of what rules we'll have to
follow and how, right? We certainly all do spend a lot of time discussing
and complaining about the issue here, so must be there's some concern we
should be addressing, right? "Don't just stand there complaining, do
something".

BH