standards?

[David Carter]

-----<snip of a snip of a reply to a reply>  Original Message ----- 
From: 
To:  kclug at kclug.org    
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2002 8:32 AM
Subject: Tridirectional standard

> But, once having a taste of freedom, openess, and the utter 
>insanity of a 2/1 (distros/blades-of-grass) ratio, I don't think many will wish 
>to return to the intellectual oppression of standards. 8^P

". . . intellectual oppression of standards . . ."  Interesting.

Some people feel it important to teach children/youths that some basic rules of society are 
essential to a non-self-destructive enjoyment of the freedom available in the U.S.A., and other 
reasonably free countries.  We teach that appropriate rules that restrict improper (criminal or 
reckless) behavior actually maximizes our freedom.

The basic idea is that "total freedom" is anarchy - and history and contemplation inform us that 
anarchy is not a good environment to live and work in.
-  On the other hand, a small set of "basic values and rules" can, in a society that is not 
otherwise bent on self-destruction (via indivudual selfishness and "might makes right" conduct), 
promote a reasonably happy and productive community.

I think the same applies to the software community.  There are standards of all types - HTML, 
communications protocols, etc.  It sounds that the proposal for the particular standards being 
discussed should be embraced - the community should be able to keep them "basic", not "onerous".

David Carter