Balisage Paper: All of us: thoughts on technology and community in the words of Michael Sperberg-McQueen

Abstract

Balisage is a gathering of people who are interested in, and users of, markup in many forms. We have diverse backgrounds, work in many environments, and use a mixture of tools including polished commercial products, mass-market software, bespoke one-use wonders, and rusty antiques. We generally value declarative markup, reusability, longevity, and separation of content from form and tools.

The markup community is generally supportive of each other, respectful of the requirements of others, and willing to step up to provide for edge cases. It is these attitudes, and this community, that have made declarative markup, and SGML/XML in particular, so ubiquitious that many see it as a given and see no need for conferences to discuss it.

For many years the closing talk at Balisage (and Extreme Markup Languages®, Markup Technologies, the XML Conference, and before that the SGML Conference) was one of the highlights of the event. In a tour de force of last minute writing, Michael Sperberg-McQueen wove patterns of the various talks and conversations of the week. He consolidated the conference into a coherent narrative. In his view all speakers were important, all presentations significant, and the investment of time and energy participating in Balisage worthwhile. An ongoing theme in those conference closings is the health, strength, and importance of the markup community.

Michael is no longer with us, and it seems not only impossible but inappropriate to try to replicate this rhetorical feat. So we are not going to try. This year we will close Balisage with a short review of some of what Michael said about us, the markup community.