But isn't this almost always how these things happen? There's maybe 20
people who have direct and continuous input into SGML, DSSSL, etc. It must
be the same for things like HTML, internet standards, products, laws, etc.
Certainly a large number of people will influence the decisions of these
small groups, but ultimately it comes down to a few people making critical
decisions. No matter how open a process is, it always comes down to what
the people who do the work do.
The US constitution was framed by no more than about 50 people, of whom
maybe 10 were involved in the bulk of the decisions made, with the core
ideas coming from just two or three people (Jefferson, Madison, etc.). The
decisions of that small group of people working largely in secret in 1789
have profoundly affected world history.
I would like to think that, as a body and as individuals, that the members
of the XML WG take their resposibility very seriously--my experience is
that we do--it's one of the reasons that I'm willing and proud to
participate in the process. It doesn't mean we'll always make the best
technical decision--we're only human, but we certainly don't make any
decisions lightly. And of course, we have to play the hand we're dealt,
whether we like it or not.
Cheers,
E.
-- <Address HyTime=bibloc> W. Eliot Kimber, Senior Consulting SGML Engineer ISOGEN International Corp. 2200 N. Lamar St., Suite 230, Dallas, TX 95202. 214.953.0004 www.isogen.com </Address>