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September 29, 2002

How can you oppose auto-discovery? By calling it something else.

Ray Ozzie and John Robb have argued against the need for pingback auto-discovery. Robb: "If I wanted to host a discussion group, that is what I would have instead of a weblog." Ozzie: "So, how long before someone implements a blog UI that resembles a standard topic/response outline/tree discussion format?" (Uh, Ozzie, ever heard of Slashdot and all it's clones? Sheesh.)

Two incorrect assumptions by these guys:

1. "Auto-discovery = discussion." If your blog posting auto-discovers other blog posts that reference it, one outcome could be discussion. But it's still up to you whether you respond or not.

2. "Auto-discovery is for the blog author." Even if the author isn't interested in engaging the referring blogs, auto-discovery providers the *readers* with an opportunity to explore the various other thoughts on the blog posting.

Posted September 29, 2002 01:49 PM