[r6rs-discuss] r6rs is perfect

[Thomas Lord]

William D Clinger wrote:
> Some folks are trying to convert the upcoming vote into
> a vote on the R6RS process instead of a vote on whether
> a particular draft is ready for prime time. 

    /In order to be sure that the new revised Scheme standard enjoys
    wide support among the Scheme community - both implementors and
    users - we will hold a vote on the question of whether the draft
    should be ratified.
    /

                            http://www.r6rs.org/ratification/



Please contemplate the phrase "whether the draft should be ratified."   
It draws no boundary that would exclude consideration of the process.

If the *process* in and of itself seems (retrospectively) prone to have 
adverse effect on the community, and if the *process* is outside the 
egalitarian norms of the community, then we have reasons why *no draft 
at all should be ratified*.

So, the political question for potential voters who accept that the 
process is, in and of itself objectionable, especially given the ready 
alternative of SRFIs -- the political question, for those "folks" who 
think that way, is only between voting "no" and, in addition or in the 
alternative, advocating to delegitimize  the vote.

Shifting gears a bit:

a) I don't think I have much traction on my dissent and the outcome of 
the vote will be pretty random, in my view.

b) In terms of the realpolitik of progress:  I'd say go for the SRFI 
route.   It's a more interesting story compared to all other conceivable 
scenarios.   It makes no difference, probably, in terms of what 
implementations will provide which features and it is at least no worse 
(and arguably better) as a marketing tool.   And it's the principled, 
right thing to do.   (And, if done sooner, rather than tediously playing 
out the now sacred "R6 process" -- probably accelerates practical 
progress on the ground.)


-t
 


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