[ih] This Review is for Everyone

Dave Crocker dhc at dcrocker.net
Sun Mar 22 20:07:04 PDT 2026


On 3/22/2026 7:31 PM, Craig Partridge via Internet-history wrote:
> splitting WGs and/or allowing competing WGs

To add to this choice:

In 1990, Vint pressed for the email folks to add 'international' 
characters to email.  Animated discussed ensued among sub-group for 
about a years, with no convergence.

Or, rather, with two sub-groups emerging.  One wanted to modify the 
email object, to support international characters and the other was 
dominated by the phrase "just send 8-bits" which went in the direction 
of modifying email transport.

Two wgs were created, with what has often been a problematic and 
competitive expectation.  Each had their considerable challenges. Each 
eventually produced (very) useful results.

And I hold this case study up as an unusual example of competitive 
efforts become highly complementary.

d/

-- 
Dave Crocker

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