Non-Latin web addresses approved!!!!!!!!!!

[alexandral]

Hurray - this is one of the best news of this week. ICANN approved the use of no-Latin characters in the internet addresses. I am happy because - YAY! The world doesn't just consist of Latin-alphabet-compliant languages!!! The workarounds to this problem have existed already (I think at least in China and Russia) but they weren't internationally reciognised and approved so they haven't worked everywhere.

But at the same time - this might present some technical problems. :D

I am totally gobsmacked by the comments I seem to be reading to these news, like this one: "Adopting non Latin-script domain names undermines the openness and global nature of the internet, it will reduce global communication."
Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?? Non-Latin language countries have been forced to learn Latin languages for the sake of globalization so far, for many decades. Why not to do this the other way round sometimes? In my opinion, this will only increase the openness and will help the global nature of the internet!

And this one is entirely priceless (but there are some more in a similar vein) : "The internet is a Western invention, and it should only be used by Western countries for the benefit of Western countries. Making it easier for rivals of the West to use will just make them stronger and us weaker." I should stop reading this nonsense and get back to work.

Comments

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

I've been reading about this, and the "cultural" part of me is 100% for it. The tech-idiot side of me, however, is curious how it will work if I want to click on a link to one of those addresses. On my work computer, whenever I get an e-mail from someone in our Japanese office, for instance, I get asked if I want to download the foreign character font. I always say no, and I can still see the e-mail. Will it work like that, or will I have trouble getting to sites? (Sorry to be so dumb.)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I don't know they way it is gonna work, but I would imagine that the end result is going to be that you would click on the link and it will just "appear".

I am totally gobsmacked by the comments I seem to be reading to this ". Adopting non Latin-script domain names undermines the openness and global nature of the internet, it will reduce global communication." Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?? Because non-Latin countries have been softly "forced" to learn Latin languages for the sake of globalization. Why not other way round?

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping that most of those people aren't as self-righteous and racist as they sound and are just speaking out of fear.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Yes, unknown always produces fear, but still - I would expect people to get worried about technical problems involved (and there will be few!) but this - count me surprised. :D

[timescout.livejournal.com]

OK, that last comment in your post left my jaw hanging open. Some people....

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

** sign ** I don't know if I find the first one more offensive - at least the second of doesn't pretend to be for "everyone's best!!"

[endlessdeep.livejournal.com]

,i>"The internet is a Western invention, and it should only be used by Western countries for the benefit of Western countries. Making it easier for rivals of the West to use will just make them stronger and us weaker."

Wow, the narrow mindedness of people never ceases to amaze me.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Me too! I am so surprised there isn't many of "OMPH! This is the end of the world because - how are we going to make all this work??" comments. I would have been more worried about this than anything else. :D