[uf-discuss] Authority (was: Text::Microformat - a uf parser for Perl)

Sat Apr 28 12:19:25 PDT 2007

On Apr 27, 2007, at 9:54 AM, Keith Grennan wrote:
>> I agree. I really hope "microformat" won't turn into just another
>> term for "semantic HTML." Clear communication is difficult enough
>> already without additional ambiguity.
>> I think it already has.

Of the mentions of "microformats" I see outside this community, I 
think those that mean "semantic HTML" are probably around 20% and 
those that mean "semantic HTML standards developed through the 
microformats process" (i.e. what we generally mean around here) are 
closer to 80%. So I'm still hopeful that we can retain a term that 
means the latter in common use.
> It's like Adobe trying to control how people use the word 'photoshop'.

I'm confident "Adobe Photoshop" will still work when I need a term to 
refer to that particular piece of software, regardless of how often I 
use "photoshop" as a more generic verb. I'm not as confident 
"microformat" will still work when I need a term to refer to 
standards created through the microformats process. So I think the 
latter is actually a problem, whereas the former is just trademark 
lawyers with too much time on their hands.
> You end up with single interest group that keeps repeating "That thing
> your refer to is not actually FooBar - these are the real FooBars over
> here". But no one else cares, because people will use language to 
> suit
> their needs.

I completely agree that language can't be controlled, but as the 
community most actively using the term "microformat," I think we're 
in a good position to influence what people understand it to mean, if 
we care to try.
> As the popularity of the term microformat grows, you might have to 
> look
> for higher ground that's easier to defend.

We may. Unfortunately there are enough people who interpret 
"microformat" to mean more than Semantic HTML, that even high ground 
would still leave a lot of room for confusion.
> Because really, who wants to
> spend their time and energy being language police?

Not me. But if someone is using a term in a way that doesn't make 
sense to me, and I want to communicate with them, I don't see 
alternative to saying "This is what I understand 'microformat' to 
mean. You seem to be describing something different." I can't 
prevent people from calling cats "dogs" either, but I'm certainly 
going to say something when it happens.
Peace,
Scott