RE: [xml-dev] Political opinions and this list

["Len Bullard" <cbullard@hiwaay.net>]

History will deal with Rove.   But we are making the same point.  The abuses
of semiotics have become epidemic and the result will be widespread cynicism
about the values of open honest debate.  In our business, we are seeing the
effect on standards making moving away from technical foundations and into
the arena of charges and allegations.  Where offered with proof, they are an
acceptable topic here and elsewhere.  Those made uncomfortable can learn as
others have not to listen until events cannot be changed by open honest
debate.  World events and events in the meeting rooms of the international
standards organizations have shown the folly of not having a better
tolerance for such topics.

Personally, neither of the standards has much interest for me professionally
and I am also a project leader.  But as a citizen and as a professional in
an industry that had begun to turn to standards making as a professional
activity again after the aberrations of the last decade, I am appalled by
the OOXML vs ODF affair.  When a third choice becomes available, I'll be
glad to use it.  Otherwise, HTML and CSS seem to be the choice for those who
would like to keep their hands clean.

len


From: Dennis Sosnoski [mailto:dms@sosnoski.com] 
 
I personally apologize for dragging Karl Rove in on the OOXML thread,
which I gather was the cause of this plea. From my standpoint it was a
succinct way of suggesting that the types of political practices which
have become common in U.S. politics over the last 8 years or so now seem
to be expanding into the area of XML standards.

As for the rest of the thread, I think it's entirely appropriate. We
have a case where a new XML standard is being considered, and the
processes that are being used to establish that standard are certainly
germane to this list.