One thing about having your opinions recorded on the web is is that it makes it extremely hard to change your mind and not look an ass. This is a good thing, unless it makes me look bad. Here are some bad things.
Note: By linking to this crap, I further disservice myself by raising their Google page rank. Please consider this post penance for past senselessness.
A gem from an October 1997 news.com.com.com.com article entitled “Readers shun browser-OS integration,” where I'm not among the shunners.
Others, like Ryan Tomayko, simply trust that the software giant knows what's best for users: “I have faith that Microsoft knows what it's doing. I'm sure they've thought long and hard about how the shell could be improved for speed, interface, and overall performance.”
Tomayko was one of the exceptions, however. A majority of readers feared the browser-OS integration in IE 4.0 means Microsoft wants to limit their choices with each succession of updates.
Mmmmmm, that Microsoft Kool-Aid sho' tastes good! After seeing this, I was trying to convince myself that I must have been speaking facetiously but the fact is, I was a bit of a Microsoft whore back in 97'.
Next is me being smacked down by one Paul Prescod, who, at the time, annoyed the shit out of me frankly but has since come to have a significant influence on my thoughts regarding web architecture due to his valuable articles on the REST architectural style among other things.
From a January 2002 post to the W3C XForms mailing list (where I contributed a not insignificant number of proposals that may or may not have been useful). I'm arguing that using HTTP GET with parameters is a hack due to browsers not being able to bookmark POST requests. Paul is arguing that I am an idiot.
Subject: Re: GET should be encouraged, not deprecated,in XForms
"Tomayko, Ryan" wrote: > > You nailed it on the head. We're asking a specification to fill a > browser limitation. Why can't the browser's bookmark a post now? > GET is still [mis]used for a POST today because of an ancient > browser limitation. I think this whole thread needs moved to the > IE/Mozzila groups. > > - Ryan Browsers cannot bookmark POST because they are told not to by the HTTP specification. I don't want to be rude but there is no way I can teach you the HTTP specification in emails to this mailing list. http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec9.html#sec9.1 http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec9.html#sec9.3 GET means something different than POST. It has superpowers like bookmark-ability for a reason. Paul Prescod
[Archived Message]
While the quotation about Microsoft is inexcusable, this one is in some senses much worse. At least, it bothers me more because it is technical in nature and my argument is being made in pure ignorance. Those who strive to conduct themselves scientificly understand the folly in arguing outside one's understanding and the shame in realizing you broke the rules.
I also spelted “Mozilla” incorrectly. Oh, the shame!
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