Comments on: Evolutionary Standardistas

By: steven

steven — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:12:45 +0000

Never did get out that door for those beers… such is the nature of work

By: steven

steven — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 04:23:12 +0000

One of the most influential people in my reassessment of design (with a Big D) was actually Microsoft’s Bill Buxton. Design is the art of compromise… and while I try my best to make all things perfect there just isn’t a perfect to be had. If there was a perfect solution to be had it would come in a box and we’d be out of a job. There’s a business bottom line, and trade-off’s between functionality and technical perfection. CMS’s are a prime example – do we just write our own because something we are forced to use trashes ampersands?

But we get better at understanding, and the more we understand the better we get at providing better solutions. The more different situations we get exposed to then the more options we realise are available “within the spirit of Web Standards”. Zeldman has a lot to say along those lines, too.

Of course, I do know somewhere out there is a fourth and fifth stage but who knows if I’ll get out there Roberto… it’s like Star Trek lol…

~~A cane will do me no good this afternoon. It’s ANZAC Day so off to the RSL Club for some beers, part of which will be donated to Legacy.~~

I’m not sure I’ve exactly sold out though… but yeh maybe. Too old and tired now, picking my fights a little better. Although it frustrates the hell out of me working with anyone who can’t write decent HTML.

I got a lecture from a young guy last year about the way I was treating image links. Actually, yes he was right. And I’ve altered my approach.

By: rb3m

rb3m — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 23:59:46 +0000

Well said, well said. I went through the same stages myself. Being critical of whoever didn’t follow standards rigorously (ideals shall prevail!) to a more pragmatic approach (ok, we need to deliver something on time).

Our world imposes certain limitations on us and we have learned a thing or two about compromise and the all-important revelation that being a kind, patient negotiator achieves better results than being an rude, obnoxious zealot.

I guess this is what youngsters call “selling out,” hmmm… I’d say something about them knowing when they are our age, but I like young people being non-conformist, feisty and rebellious. After all, that’s the only way they’ll be able to walk what we walked and then go further. Plus it gives me a good excuse to shake my cane at them

Not that we need to stop walking now, no way! Just that we have learned enough to be more strategic about the fights we fight. And letting those snotty kids fight the other fights