Re: [syndication] Re: Forking, the name game, the politics of naming

[Ken MacLeod <ken@bitsko.slc.ut.us>]

"Mark Ketzler" <mketzler@bizslice.com> writes:

> [Ken MacLeod writes:]

> > "Mark Ketzler" <mketzler@bizslice.com> writes:
> >
> > > Ken,
> > >

> > > > > The real question is who is forking? That is the name change
> > > > > regardless of stakeholders' prior interest.

> > If Group B is not planning any future revisions (status quo), then
> > there's a clear version path, no name grab, no requirements to
> > upgrade, nothing.  RSS 0.91 won't change and RSS with RDF+NS is
> > available as a new version of the same thing, and backwards
> > compatible (tested) with all aggregators and clients.  That was
> > the intent, if you read back, of why everyone is told to make a
> > *proposal* for improving RSS.
>
> You forked Ken, why should you be telling the other group what they
> can or should do? But by status quo I meant that Group B continues
> with RSS and it's devlopment path, whatever they see fit. That is
> what a fork is right, the existing RSS users (Group B)continue on
> their path, the group wanting change (Group A) goes their way -- but
> picks a new name.

RSS has no development path outside of what the existing RSS users
choose to do with it.  Both Group A and Group B are from the same
Group RSS.  You're presuming, as far as I can tell, that Group A came
out of nowhere, as non-RSS users, which is not true.

Group RSS has, and had, ideologically split into still largely
overlapping groups A and B with equally valid approaches to the needs
of RSS users and equally valid claims to the name.

What has been said before is, "let the market decide".  It seems
reasonable that for the market to decide, in *this* case, both groups
must have equal time, status, history, and a chance.

The suggestion on the table is that both get to keep the name, and
have seperate designators as to which approach they take.  This
suggestion recognizes that both approaches have far more in common,
including their history, participants, user base, and intent, than
they do any real differences.

  -- Ken