On Wed, Jul 22, 1998 at 10:40:03PM -0700, Chuq Von Rospach wrote:
> I was having some discussions on the user validation aspect of lists
> the other day, and with the growing prevalence of web-based
> subscription interfaces, we got into a talk about ways to move the
> validation out of the list server and into the web -- while still
> keeping the security of the mailback validation.
I strongly oppose any method which requires use of the web. It raises
the bar for participation in mailing lists -- which are the *only* part
of the 'net accessible to many people, for a variety of reasons -- by
requiring that they use a software component (a web browser), a data
transport (IP connectivity, either directly or by proxy), and an application
layer (HTTP) which may not be accessible to them in order to participate in
mailing lists. ALL mailing list operations should be accessible in-band,
and using the same software/data transport/application layer that's used for
the mailing list itself.
To require use of the web needlessly disenfranchises large number of
people who are handicapped, behind firewalls, on very low-bandwidth
connections, on non-IP networks, or in situations where they don't
control the software the use. To bar these people from participation
in mailing lists by placing additional hurdles in their way seems to
me to be capricious and cruel, doubly so because I do not see that it
solves any problem which cannot be equally solved by use of mail itself.
To put it another way, it should not be necessary to have web access to
use mailing lists, or mail access to surf the web. The fact that these
disparate bits of technology *can* be integrated is not sufficient
argument to demonstrate that they *should* be integrated.
---Rsk
Rich Kulawiec
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
