> > Why would those who don't care or don't > > know be more important? > > They are more important if they're the majority or target audience. >
You may like to read "Utilitarianism" by John Stuart Mill ;D The "majority argument" may sound fine on the surface but, ethically speaking, it is riddled with holes: For example, if "the majority" want to commit an unethical act does that make it ethical? If the majority victimise and persecute a minority ... or refuse to try and understand and accommodate their differing requirements ... then, I would argue, the majority is _still_ wrong. > "For hundred upon hundreds of years, there have been accessibility > problems with design. So how have they dealt with historically? I’ll > tell you how. The designer, using his expert knowledge of these > things, made logical, educated decisions that allowed things to be > usable (or readable, or accessible) by the vast majority of people > while still allowing him or her a level of control and aesthetic > freedom that he or she was comfortable with..." I think the gist of "the principle of least interference" argument is that, with the web, we are dealing with a _fundamentally_ different animal which turns the tables on inherited design procedures. With a book, for instance, the designer _has_ to make the decisions Jeff Croft mentions in the above quote. However, on the web, this is not necessary. On the contrary, the end user is able (and often willing) to overrule the "expert knowledge" and "educated decisions" of the designer. Of course - it is perfectly reasonable for the designer to try and continue as with more traditional media. Questions such as 'What precise fonts can I use?' indicate the presence of this approach. However, I would like to suggest that design for the web is more successful when some or, indeed, most of those decisions which used to be in the purview of designers are delegated to the end user. As I implied before, the skill is in achieving something that balances the wishes of the designer (or client) and the ultimate authority of the user. Chris ******************************************************************************** DISCLAIMER: This e-mail is confidential and should not be used by anyone who is not the original intended recipient. If you have received this e-mail in error please inform the sender and delete it from your mailbox or any other storage mechanism. Neither Macmillan Publishers Limited nor any of its agents accept liability for any statements made which are clearly the sender's own and not expressly made on behalf of Macmillan Publishers Limited or one of its agents. Please note that neither Macmillan Publishers Limited nor any of its agents accept any responsibility for viruses that may be contained in this e-mail or its attachments and it is your responsibility to scan the e-mail and attachments (if any). No contracts may be concluded on behalf of Macmillan Publishers Limited or its agents by means of e-mail communication. Macmillan Publishers Limited Registered in England and Wales with registered number 785998 Registered Office Brunel Road, Houndmills, Basingstoke RG21 6XS ******************************************************************************** ******************************************************************* List Guidelines: http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm Unsubscribe: http://webstandardsgroup.org/join/unsubscribe.cfm Help: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *******************************************************************
