How is a font "Critical"?

I'd like to understand on what basis removing a few symbols from a font is a
Critical Update.

On what basis are these decisions made? If I am to trust "Critical Updates"
I need to know they are designated on a reasonable basis which I agree with.

This one should be "Optional", or at the very most, "Recommended".

I'd also like to understand on what basis Hindu symbology is "inappropriate"
to a symbol font.

--
Ben Liddicott

Ben Liddicott wrote:

> I'd like to understand on what basis removing a few symbols from a font
> is a Critical Update.
>
> On what basis are these decisions made? If I am to trust "Critical
> Updates" I need to know they are designated on a reasonable basis which I
> agree with.
>
> This one should be "Optional", or at the very most, "Recommended".
>
> I'd also like to understand on what basis Hindu symbology is
> "inappropriate" to a symbol font.

From: http://www.lycos.com/info/microsoft-office-2003.html
The latest version of Microsoft Office (2003) originally came with a
TrueType font file called Bookshelf Symbol 7 (bssym7.ttf). This is a font
with various symbols and dingbats on it, but three of them happen to be
swastikas. One is the Nazi swastika, which is oriented just like the one on
the Nazi flag; the other two are a true svastika and its opposite, a
sauvastika, laid out in a square. (Those are real Chinese characters which
are ... found in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain symbolism;; these are NOT racist.)
Ironically, another symbol in the font happens to be the Star of David.

See also: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/833407/en-us
"A critical update is available to remove unacceptable symbols from the
Bookshelf Symbol 7 font".

--
Vincenzo Di Russo
Microsoft® MVP - Most Valuable Professional
Windows - Internet Explorer since 2003
My home: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
My Blog: http://blogs.dotnethell.it/vincent/

Thanks for the response.

However I am more interested in how it came to be rated "Critical". That
isn't explained in any of the knowledge base articles linked to from the
update notification, or any of the news stories.

I understand many people will want to apply the update to remove the
swastika. I will do so myself.

But it is NOT critical.


--
Ben Liddicott

Ben Liddicott wrote:

> Thanks for the response.
>
> However I am more interested in how it came to be rated "Critical". That
> isn't explained in any of the knowledge base articles linked to from the
> update notification, or any of the news stories.
>
> I understand many people will want to apply the update to remove the
> swastika. I will do so myself.
>
> But it is NOT critical.

See:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824684/en-us
"Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft
software updates".

--
Vincenzo Di Russo
Microsoft® MVP - Most Valuable Professional
Windows - Internet Explorer since 2003
My Blog: http://blogs.dotnethell.it/vincent/
My Home: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/