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by recursivedoubts 892 days ago
> And the only reason is because you said so.

No, the reason is because HTML qua HTML has hypermedia controls and JSON qua JSON does not. Recall that, before I pointed out the widely used and accepted definition of hypermedia controls, and in particular that links and forms are hypermedia controls, you did not understand that concept, so you might spend some time quietly reflecting on that idea. It may help clarify things for you.

> Then JSON is just as much hypermedia as HTML. Both are structured text unusable without a specific client to display them or work with them.

As I have said and written previously (https://htmx.org/essays/hypermedia-clients/, https://hypermedia.systems/hypermedia-components/) I agree that a hypermedia client is necessary for a properly functioning hypermedia system that adheres to the uniform interface. However, I think that there is a good argument that Siren, for example, is hypermedia, even if it isn't being consumed correctly, just as I think HTML is hypermedia, even if someone is screen scraping it (i.e. not using a hypermedia client to consume it).

I don't think you can call those uses a hypermedia system, but I also don't think that changes the fact that the underlying formats, Siren & HTML, are hypermedia, due to the fact that they have hypermedia controls. That might be a subtle distinction, but I think it is a valid one. Again, perhaps as you reflect more on this concept, new to you, of hypermedia controls, the distinction will become easier to understand.

> They only invite them because of your insistence on calling only HTML the "natural hypermedia" etc.

I'm very sorry you that feel that way.

I would call HTML, "a natural hypermedia", rather than "the natural hypermedia". I would also call HXML & Siren natural hypermedia, due to the presence of hypermedia controls (a concept new to you) in their specifications.