From: mitra@path.net (Mitra)
Subject: Re: URN: wrapper and URLs
Message-Id: <CF5p6s.Jr@pandora.sf.ca.us>
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1993 18:11:15 GMT
Kevin,
Simon's rule stuff is just a typical misleading distraction. IETF
committees dont run by Robert's or Simon's rules of order, they work by
"rough consensus and working code" and by the mutual respect that the
members have for each other, even when they disagree.
Having said that ... I believe that voting becomes appropriate when
the rough consensus is that any decision is better than no decision. For
example we in effect took a vote on the character set issue, because while
we couldnt agree on it, and werent going to no matter how long the debate,
we were all in agreement that it was crucial to make a decision and move
on.
I think this wrapper issue comes under that category - if we decide in
favour of "url:" then NCSA and other WWW developers have to retrofit
existing code and get the new versions out to users BEFORE "url:" starts
appearing in documents. If we decide against then other developers have to
handle scanning for things other than "url:". Personally I'm going
to write code that recognizes both the naked and wrapped forms anyway, but
I believe its important to nail this question down and move on to things
which are (IMHO) much more important.
So I'll ask a question of the voters (on both sides). Do you think a vote
is an appropriate way to decide this issue and are you willing to
abide by (and implement) the decision of the vote whichever way it goes.
My own answer - YES and YES.
- Mitra