Re: Proposal volume

[Sam Ruby <rubys@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tim Bray wrote:
> Speaking as a veteran of a few standards processes, I observe the recent 
> flurry of proposals for this, that, and the other with considerable 
> concern.  One of the best ways to kill a new standards technology is to 
> add just a few too many good ideas so that the spec takes longer to 
> build, is harder to understand, and harder to implement.  At some point, 
> to get this sucker out the door, we're going to have to drop a sharp 
> pointy blade that will cut off a few ideas that might have been real 
> good.  It would be good for our mental health to all acknowledge that 
> this will happen and that occasionally, less is more. -Tim

I agree with this.

In addition to a sharp pointy blade, we need occasionally need a sharp 
pointy stick to prod people with.  For example, while one of the first 
orders of business for the IETF working group will certainly be to cull 
the list of proposals, one set of ideas that is surely to be cut: those 
for which no volunteers can be found to actually write up the necessary 
spec text.

No matter how "shocked" they may claim to be. [1]

- Sam Ruby

[1] http://www.imc.org/atom-syntax/mail-archive/msg04564.html