> From: Andrew Sullivan > > On Sun, Aug 21, 2011 at 01:08:29AM +0200, jefsey wrote: > > However, the Internet MUST be supported by a > > network/human oriented universal semiotic system. > > I would like a defence of that claim. Speaking entirely personally, I > don't believe it. Hmmm, my opinion is that I would be pleased if I understood the demand. But in my social context, when someone argues for a universal communication system, they usually continue with a demand that everybody speaks English. And I don't think that's what we intend. (<-- this is a joke) But there is a similar danger with any "universal semiotic system", in that the more systematic we make it, the less well it aligns with many of the thousands of human cultures (<-- this is not a joke) (In critiques of the Pioneer plaque it was noted that the "arrow" as a textual convention depends on a cultural history of bow-and-arrow use. So much for universal symbols.) Dale _______________________________________________ Ietf mailing list Ietf@xxxxxxxx https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf