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Assuming we’re talking about RFC 2119, it’s important not to collapse the distinction between SHOULD and MAY, which is there for a reason. MAY elements are legitimately optional, SHOULD elements are there for a reason and are disregarded at one’s own risk.

> SHOULD This word, or the adjective "RECOMMENDED", mean that there may exist valid reasons in particular circumstances to ignore a particular item, but the full implications must be understood and carefully weighed before choosing a different course.

To validly disregard a SHOULD, you need to (a) fully understand the implications, and (b) accept them.

Any time someone disregards a SHOULD and then complains about the result, they are necessarily in the wrong. Either they didn’t fully understand the implications, or they don’t actually accept them.



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