Re: [syndication] Why characterize at all?

[Eric van der Vlist <vdv@dyomedea.com>]

Dave Winer wrote:
> 
> OK, but xml-hack is supposed to be practicing something like journalism,
> right? It's not fiction is it? Why not disclaim that right at the top. This
> site practices fantasy.

English isn't my native language and I have preferred to check in the
dictionary (Merriam-Webster) :

Main Entry: jour·nal·ism
 Pronunciation: 'j&rn-&l-"iz-&m
 Function: noun
 1 : the collecting and editing of news to be presented in
 newspapers or magazines or over television or radio
 2 : writing designed for or characteristic of newspapers or
 magazines 

Main Entry: fan·ta·sy
 Variant(s): or phan·ta·sy /'fant-&-sE, -&-zE/
 Function: noun
 Inflected Form(s): plural -sies
 1 : IMAGINATION 3, FANCY
 2 : something imagined; especially : ILLUSION 2
 3 : FANTASIA
 4 : a work of literature set in an unreal world often with
 superhuman characters and monsters 

The XML community and industry does sometimes look like "an unreal world
with superhuman characters and monsters", but I wouldn't characterize my
writing as "a work of literature" and think "journalism" is a better fit
for xmlhack.
 
> Anyway, I guess that's your point of view? That anyone who disagrees with
> you is cold and threatening? Hmmm. If so, this is going to be a very
> immature conversation!

Again, it can be a matter of different meanings given to the same words,
but for me, saying to someone that his initiative is "dry and
uninteresting" is not only cold but also harsh and to conclude a
proposal by "is a fair compromise, if not, then we can fork" is a threat
to fork.

This discussion is becoming both useless and out of topic, and I don't
plan to continue.

Best regards,

Eric

> Have a nice day! (Seriously, that's not cold or threatening, is it??)
> 
> ;->
> 
> Dave
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Eric van der Vlist       Dyomedea                    http://dyomedea.com
http://xmlfr.org         http://4xt.org              http://ducotede.com
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