On 26/06/2013 05:58, Phillip Hallam-Baker wrote:
> On Tue, Jun 25, 2013 at 11:51 AM, Doug Ewell <doug@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> Scott Brim <scott dot brim at gmail dot com> wrote:
>>
>>> 2119 overrides anything you might think you know about what words
>>> mean.
>
> No, 2119 PURPORTs to do that. It can try but it probably isn't going to
> succeed.
>
> The purpose of RFCs is to communicate ideas. In ordinary language there is
> a clear distinction between RECOMMENDED and SHOULD. There is a useful
> distinction between them in the context of writing a standard.
>
> There are in fact standards bodies apart from the IETF.
Yes, and when they explicitly cite RFC 2119, they accept the definitions
therein, one of which equates SHOULD and RECOMMENDED. You can dislike
that equation but it becomes an axiom. They both mean "there
may exist valid reasons in particular circumstances to ignore a
particular item, but the full implications must be understood and
carefully weighed before choosing a different course."
If you don't like this, it's easy to avoid: don't cite RFC 2119.
Brian