i thought that was understood as the design technique there is a
difference between going dark and turning off.
the term "go dark" has a long-standing meaning of "shut down". i'm used to
hearing it about theatres and other performance venues, but it certainly
has been the standard meaning for at least the last 50 years...
if i might interject a little from the arts into an engineering group...
even in the theater 'going dark' does not mean that the performance
functions cease. the stage goes dark usually for a scene change which is
a time of intense production activity. the actors are groping their way
off stage and stage crew are scurrying about changing the set pieces. i
have done this many times when i worked in theaters. there are some
dramatic effects when actors continue to speak lines in the dark and the
actual performance does not even pause. the signal when the show actually
does shut down are the house lights coming up, not the stage going dark.
even backstage, the stage lamp is lit when the show shuts down so it is not
dark there either. 'going dark' is only when a performance is in full
operation.
i think most web designers should have known what jim mcmurry meant by
'going dark'. i certainly did.
now, that we have the terminology cleared up, does anyone recall other
events when web sites went dark? besides the telecommunication act of
1996, i have a vague recollection about AIDS awareness, but do not recall
when any event would trigger this response on the internet. i think a
sorrow or sympathy reaction is generally tied to time-specific condition.
the acceptance of the twisted red ribbbon for AIDS was recognized as an
icon for an academy awards ceremony after rock hudson died if i remember
right.
if there are so few web designers on the ietf, perhaps this is the wrong
forum to collect this information. where else might we go?
stan
.
stankuli(_at_)etherways(_dot_)com
=== qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit
| | who not is today, tomorrow less suitable will be
--- -- Ovid _Remedia Amoris_ i 94