xml-dev - RE: standards body parallel

[Joshua Allen <joshuaa@microsoft.com>]

> Fact is, in spite of the fact that mistakes are the fastest 
> way to learn
> (as long as you don't kill yourself or take down the company), most
> people are extremely reluctant to make them and even more reluctant to
> air them.

My motto used to be "I learn from mistakes, so I want to make as many as
possible."  Now I like to read every bit of research, publication, etc. that
I can get my hands on -- I prefer to learn from other people's mistakes as
much as possible.  And of course I still make lots of my own.

Perhaps another reason for people not wanting to air their mistakes is to
prevent others from short-cutting past the school of hard knocks and
benefitting from those mistakes.  Probably not as powerful a motive as the
others you cite, though.