The web runs on tolerance

#1

Post by speckx » Thu, Dec 04, 2025, 2:45 PM UTC

The web runs on tolerance
shkspr.mobi

Re: The web runs on tolerance

#2

Post by sylware » Thu, Dec 04, 2025, 2:55 PM UTC

There are 2 webs.

web apps and web sites.

web apps require a [java|ecma]script whatng cartel web engine, more and more only the gogol one (blink) will "correctly" work (abuse of dominant position).

web sites are noscript/basic (x)html ("forms" and the elements). Usually a "semantic" 2D table with proper ids for navigation.

Re: The web runs on tolerance

#3

Post by ktpsns » Thu, Dec 04, 2025, 3:20 PM UTC

The older ones among us remember when XML took over the world and everyone was supposed to use strict XHTML. It turned out that the strength of the HTML ecosystem was its fault tolerance. HTML4 was the "sloppy" answer to XHTML. It brought HTML back from a data language to a markup language. Every Markdown parser is similarly fault-tolerant as HTML parsers.

However, CSS and JS are not error-tolerant. A syntax error in a CSS rule causes it to be ignored. An unhandled JavaScript exception is a hard stop. This way, web does not run on tolerance.

Re: The web runs on tolerance

#4

Post by Mathnerd314 » Tue, Dec 09, 2025, 4:08 AM UTC

But in contrast, web communities run on moderation, i.e. a sort of intolerance of bad content. The lesson is that technical issues and social issues really don't mix. You can't conclude anything from one versus the other. Case in point, cryptocurrency was supposed to be the anarchist's dream, but now it's being adopted by some central banks.

Re: The web runs on tolerance

#5

Post by StilesCrisis » Tue, Dec 09, 2025, 4:14 AM UTC

Mathnerd314 wrote: post #4

But in contrast, web communities run on moderation, i.e. a sort of intolerance of bad content. The lesson is that technical issues and social issues really don't mix. You can't conclude anything from one versus the other. Case in point, cryptocurrency was supposed to be the anarchist's dream, but now it's being adopted by some central banks.

Moderation isn't used for filtering out the most tolerant individuals. (Look up the paradox of tolerance sometime.)

Re: The web runs on tolerance

#6

Post by MangoToupe » Tue, Dec 09, 2025, 4:15 AM UTC

ktpsns wrote: post #3

The older ones among us remember when XML took over the world and everyone was supposed to use strict XHTML. It turned out that the strength of the HTML ecosystem was its fault tolerance. HTML4 was the "sloppy" answer to XHTML. It brought HTML back from a data language to a markup language. Every Markdown parser is similarly fault-tolerant as HTML parsers. However, CSS and JS are not error-tolerant. A syntax error in…

> It turned out that the strength of the HTML ecosystem was its fault tolerance.

I don't think this was a "strength" of html so much as a necessity to not break the internet. I certainly preferred the formal nature of xhtml to html 5. But, we're stuck with needing to render obviously formally-broken documents.

Re: The web runs on tolerance

#7

Post by didgetmaster » Tue, Dec 09, 2025, 4:18 AM UTC

This guy lost me when he started talking about diversity issues instead of tech. I couldn't care less about the race, gender, or sexual orientation of the person(s) who created the hardware or software that I use. Does it work? Is it easy to understand and use? These are the things I am interested in.

I am reminded of an early cartoon of a dog sitting at a computer saying 'On the Internet, no one knows you are a dog!'

Re: The web runs on tolerance

#8

Post by N_Lens » Tue, Dec 09, 2025, 4:23 AM UTC

I think the Author diverges from the main point - that web standards and browsers' interpretation rules are loosely held (tolerance), towards indirectly attacking the current US administration which is allegedly trending towards intolerance and isolationism. Bit of a weird tangent (Though not inaccurate).

Re: The web runs on tolerance

#9

Post by tclancy » Tue, Dec 09, 2025, 4:25 AM UTC

didgetmaster wrote: post #7

This guy lost me when he started talking about diversity issues instead of tech. I couldn't care less about the race, gender, or sexual orientation of the person(s) who created the hardware or software that I use. Does it work? Is it easy to understand and use? These are the things I am interested in. I am reminded of an early cartoon of a dog sitting at a computer saying 'On the Internet, no one knows you are a dog!…

Two paths diverged in a wood. You took one and the Whole Point took the other here.

Re: The web runs on tolerance

#10

Post by shakna » Tue, Dec 09, 2025, 4:26 AM UTC

N_Lens wrote: post #8

I think the Author diverges from the main point - that web standards and browsers' interpretation rules are loosely held (tolerance), towards indirectly attacking the current US administration which is allegedly trending towards intolerance and isolationism. Bit of a weird tangent (Though not inaccurate).

Allegedly...? They're quite explicit about it.