Network Working Group M. Thomson
Internet-Draft Mozilla
Intended status: Informational September 12, 2017
Expires: March 16, 2018

The Teapot Exists
draft-thomson-http-teapot-00

Abstract

The teapot exists.

Status of This Memo

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1. The Existence of Teapots

In an unpublished article in 1952 [TEAPOT], Bertrand Russell postulated the existence of a teapot:

Though mentioned originally in jest and without solid evidence of its existence, first by Russell and later by Masinter [HTCPCP], sightings have increased in recent years.

The teapot exists.

2. Philosophical Considerations

We cannot be certain whether the teapot is cognizant of its own existence. Though Decartes [COGITO] used thought as the basis of his theory of existence, it’s not established whether thought is a necessary precondition for existence.


                              (418)
                             o
                          _,_
                        c(___)r


3. Security Considerations

Even jokes can have serious consequences. Arguably, the best jokes always have consequences.

4. IANA Considerations

IANA shall register the 418 (I’m a Teapot) status code in the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) Status Code Registry, citing this document.

As recommended by [RFC7231], this document refines the definition of the 418 status code. Being a teapot is irrevocable, therefore this status code is cacheable. The payload of a response with a 418 status code isn’t a representation of the effective request URI unless the Content-Location header field contains the effective request URI.

5. References

5.1. Normative References

[RFC7231] Fielding, R. and J. Reschke, "Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP/1.1): Semantics and Content", RFC 7231, DOI 10.17487/RFC7231, June 2014.

5.2. Informative References

[COGITO] Descartes, R., "Discourse on the Method", 1637.
[HTCPCP] Masinter, L., "Hyper Text Coffee Pot Control Protocol (HTCPCP/1.0)", RFC 2324, DOI 10.17487/RFC2324, April 1998.
[TEAPOT] Russell, B., "Is There a God?", Never published , 1952.

Author's Address

Martin Thomson Mozilla EMail: martin.thomson@gmail.com

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