Re: FAQ format

L. Detweiler (ld231782@longs.lance.colostate.edu)
Sat, 27 Nov 93 17:23:11 -0700

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scs@eskimo.com (Steve Summit)
>Come to think of it, the fact that a proposal for a standard
>format has come up again (and is likely to keep doing so)
>suggests that Jon might want to put explicit language in one of
>the news.answers meta-FAQ's along the lines of:
>
> There is explicitly and deliberately NO STANDARD for the
> form, formatting, or presentation of the content (body)
> of periodic informational postings. This lack is neither
> accidental, nor the result of an as-yet-incomplete
> attempt at formulating such a standard -- any standard
> would do more harm than good, by alienating volunteer FAQ
> list maintainers, creating more work for them, and
> constraining their options. Please do not make the
> mistake of assuming that the lack of an FAQ list
> formatting standard is a void that needs filling.

I'm in favor of a statement in the J.Kamens FAQ writer guidelines on
the subject too if you can successfully twist his arm into putting one
there (speaking from experience, it is quite difficult to do so! <g>),
but this one is far too hostile.

We should say, in contrast

Currently there is no Universal FAQ Format among FAQ authors for the
form, formatting, or presentation of the content of FAQs and `periodic
information postings.' Many FAQ authors are interested in developing
such a standard, many others are opposed to one, and many are adopting
a `wait and see attitude'. Most recognize that a standard would be very
valuable and ideal but the conversion work to one is quite Herculean,
and many FAQ authors already believe they are spending far more time
than they can justify in their maintenance. If you are interested in
contributing to the UFF standard, subscribe to mailing list [x] and
determine where you can help contribute. The most important tools are
those that convert existing FAQ formats to UFF and those that convert
UFF to the formats that everyone requests, such as hypertext and otherwise.

Everyone, if someone gets a mailing list together for this I will
volunteer to write the UFF FAQ that tracks the development of the project.

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