After learning about the 0.7, 0.8 mishap last night, I heard one of the knows-what-he's-talking-about people describe the situation as a fork, but not a "network fork" - both chains were still receiving all of the new transactions and it will all settle out - "be still my children", or something like that.
That got me to thinking. I can see how we can / will recover from the current situation. But how would bitcoin recover if it was a true network style fork.
As an example, let's say bitcoin catches on in Iran (but it could be anywhere) and we are now a couple years down the road, with miners both inside and outside the country. Now, we have seen repressive regimes truly firewall their countries. They may very well have reason to prevent blockchain content from leaving / entering the country, but blockchain activity within the country would still go on.
This would be a "network fork", right?
What would happen when the floodgates finally opened again and the two sides were allowed to talk to each other - after, say, a year or more of growth. Wouldn't the shorter block be completely wiped out - instantly?
Just thinking...
Forks is also the town where the movie Twilight was filmed. Don't forget that, too.
http://twilight.inforks.com