[uf-discuss] Microformats search engine: virel

[Christian Heilmann]

... This is about unearthing information we already publish and
>> make easier to access and re-use it, which is the opposite of
>> obfuscating.
>>     
>
> OK, so there's an implicit challenge here. For users who are unwilling to
> expose their email address through hCard, what alternative mechanisms can
> microformats support? Many website owners use mail forms instead of
> publishing their email addresses. Is there a need for something like a
> simple 'rel=contactform' microformat to signal the availability and
> location of a mail contact form?
>
> Angus
>   
Again: we are marking up content that is already published. If that 
person is taking steps to prevent the email or contact form to the 
available there is nothing microformats (or well, hcard for email) can 
do for that person.

I love people that use email forms to make sure spammers can't get their 
mails, especially those that don't protect their forms against XSS and 
SQL injection and thus become a spam hub themselves :)

Microformats are nothing that needs to be "sold". A person that is 
unhappy to disclose information on the web will certainly not get them 
anyways.