Re: software-keyholes Digest, Vol 3, Issue 12

I no longer know what you are arguing, Attilla.

I will make my point as clear as I know how:

My Argument (some of which was implicit):
i) Scott's recommendations concerning web-page keyholes are good ones.
ii) One of Scott's arguments in support of that recommendation is a bad one.
iii) Logically, one bad argument doesn't spoil many good arguments.
iv) Rhetorically, however, one bad argument can spoil all the good 
arguments.
v) Therefore Scott is best advised to revise or remove the offending 
argument.

My characterization of Scott's argument to which I object:
i) The issue is about control: who controls the web page, the author or the 
viewer.

Why I reject the argument:
i) The author actually has, and should have, control over the web page 
content.
ii) A viewer has and should have control over the resources released to the 
web page (although in practice, this control is operating system and browser 
limited).
iii) The real issue then is that a well designed web page will respond 
gracefully to a variety of platforms and resources, just as we expect well 
designed software to respond gracefully to a variety of platforms and 
resources.

Now, I may be wrong about what Scott's argument is.  And I may be wrong 
about whether or not it is a bad argument.  And I may be wrong that it is a 
rhetorical error to let weak or bad arguments stand prominently in the 
chapter.   However, I admit I don't understand the last post on the subject 
at all:

>Exactly.  So the argument is somehow goes to the direction that since the
>Web designer is in full control of the Web experience he should not make 
>the
>mistake to make a decision about certain things, otherwise he will
>(unnecessarily) limit the users abilities to use the Web page - thereby
>creating a keyhole.
>According to my father there was a Frenchman who said something like this:
>Sir, I do not agree with your opinion, but I am even ready to die to make
>sure that you can express it. :-)

Usually, the quote (misattributed to Voltaire) precedes "But this time, 
you've gone too far...."  In this case, I don't understand it at all.  I 
can't figure out what it is that you disagree with.

                  -Tim

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