[uf-discuss] RFC: Proposal for general purpose microformat

[Dr. Ernie Prabhakar]

Hi Abramo,

On Dec 2, 2005, at 1:18 PM, Abramo Bagnara wrote:
> I think that "general purpose" and "universality" sacrificing  
> simplicity
> is a bad thing, but can we agree that universality *with*  
> simplicity is
> a benefit?

I think the challenge has always been "simplicity for whom."  I think  
many of us would agree that generality has *some* value, but (in our  
experience) i) universality is too ambitious a goal, and ii) even  
generality comes at *some* price.  For example, making things simpler  
for parsers often makes it a little harder for humans, which (around  
here) is considered evil. :-)

If you can come up with something that is more general, but just as  
simple for *everyone* involved, I'm sure at least a few of us on the  
list would be willing to hear it (though we'd obviously be skeptical  
at first :-).

Best,
Ernie P.