Vernon Schryver wrote: [some lines re-wrapped] vs> Please credit some of us with understanding the meaning of vs> "escalate" in the intended sense of "evoke to an authority that vs> will issue a writ of mandamus." *I* certainly did not intend such a meaning. Maybe I used the wrong word; if so I apologise. I meant something along the lines of "refer". My understanding of the purpose of the IETF/W3C Liaison group is, precisely, liaison over issues of importance to both the IETF and the W3C. There can be differences of emphasis in the two groups, due to the different (though, I hope, complementary) nature of the work being done by both. For example, the W3C is very concerned about the longevity of data and metadata. I don't know what is the prevailing IETF position, but quite a few of the contributors to the langtags discussion have treated longevity of data and metadata as being of no importance (cf the debate over how to handle changes to ISO 3166 Codes for the Names of Countries). I consider this to be a fundamental issue. vs> Other words in Mr. Wolf's message including "any course of vs> action which would cause a parting of the ways" were not lacking vs> in forcefulness. Indeed. It would, self-evidently, be bad for the Internet were these various standards bodies not able to agree on a common course of action. The danger of such an outcome requires forceful language. vs> Then there was the awesome list of authorities that the IETF vs> list members is ignoring at its peril. vs> See http://www1.ietf.org/mail-archive/web/ietf/current/msg33563.html Ignoring at its peril? I was simply demonstrating that standards bodies and individuals with long and respected track records have been involved for some years in the langtags work. I was responding to mails which claimed that there is no support for this work. vs> When I read Mr. Wolf's message the first time, I was reminded of vs> an IETF slogan about rejecting kings and presidents as well as vs> ancient friction between the DDN protocol designers and users vs> and the ISO. I see. The IETF embodies participation and democracy and all other standards groups are the preserves of hierarchical posturing? An interesting point of view. -- Misha Wolf Standards Manager Chief Architecture Office Reuters -------------------------------------------------------------- -- Visit our Internet site at http://www.reuters.com Get closer to the financial markets with Reuters Messaging - for more information and to register, visit http://www.reuters.com/messaging Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, except where the sender specifically states them to be the views of Reuters Ltd. _______________________________________________ Ietf@xxxxxxxx https://www1.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf