On Apr 8, 2011, at 6:40 PM, Stefan Monnier wrote:

>> I globally bind M-n and M-p to forward-paragraph and
>> backward-paragraph respectively.
> 
>> Would it be okay to make these global bindings default?
> 
> I don't thi"nk so.  It's one of the few short keys left for major modes
> to bind to "next/prev" commands.

I think the idea that major modes should be encouraged to bind 
M-n/M-p to mode-specific next/prev commands is a fine one, and 
that it is encouraged rather than hampered by a default binding 
that accomplishes something similar -- teach the users to expect 
M-n/M-p to do those sorts of things in general, and they'll be more 
likely to expect, find, and use mode-specific bindings in major 
modes.

I also think the idea that we shouldn't add new bindings because 
then someone in the future might think that those bindings are
somehow `special' - and that we might want them to think 
otherwise - is a rather extreme combination of straw-man and 
absurdity.

On the gripping hand, if we want to reconsider Emacs' default 
bindings in toto, I don't think we'll have a better opportunity than
the upcoming Emacs 24 release for several years.

Hope that helps,
*Chad