Re: [xml-dev] Towards XML 2.0

[Michael Sokolov <sokolov@ifactory.com>]

I think I 'm convinced by the argument that a comment is not an element;

an element is a first-classed parsed language construct with internal 
structure

a comment is almost by definition something out of band and essentially 
not part of the language (or contains something not part of the language)

Making comments well-formed is a bit weird, although the restriction 
could be workable. However, the idea that special rules are required to 
prevent comments from being processed (just like any other element) 
gives me the willies.

I really don't think having a "special" syntax for comments is something 
that gives newbies any pause whatsoever - every language has that.  I 
guess I would just hope that we could allow nesting of comments:

<!-- disable all of this:

<unwanted>
<!-- once upon a time we thought this was a good idea: -->
<stuff />
</unwanted>
<not well -formed -- so what...
-->

Would this break something fundamental that I don't understand?

-Mike Sokolov