[topicmapmail] RE: sense making of reality

[W.M. Jaworski]

In North America (not in academic milieu!) I am often confronted with:
(1) Show me your product/prototype/demo
and
(2) a list of your actual or potential customers?

Many years ago I did consider such questions to be very rude.
Today I welcome the questions  (even in "so what" shape!). Why? They help me
to specify problem, suggest solution and, in general, save time and
frustration for both parties. I avoid mini-lectures or self-centered
monologs. Quite often humor is needed to anchor the problem in a proper
context.

Regards

WMJ

-----Original Message-----
From: topicmapmail-admin@infoloom.com
[mailto:topicmapmail-admin@infoloom.com]On Behalf Of Murray Altheim
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2001 9:04 PM
To: Paul Prueitt
Cc: Robert Shaw; Sam Hunting; topicmapmail@infoloom.com
Subject: Re: [topicmapmail] RE: sense making


Paul Prueitt wrote:
>
> Sam,
>
> I suggest that humor is wonderful, but when used to deflect an important
> issue it can bring great sadness.

I think Sam was trying not trying to be so flippant, but to point out
the need expressed by business people when confronted by information
they don't understand. [more below]

> The "so what!" to Godel is typical of the response made by most who should
> know better.
>
> The creators of the standards for topic maps should know better, and take
> the time to get the relevance of Godel right.  (My opinion).  Else the
> questions: Why not just use XML with RDF?  Why have non-addressable
> subjects?

Paul,

Looking over the introductions of various individuals and disciplines
into the "web community" over the past few years (which, BTW, has been
sorely needed lest anyone think I'm being disrespectful) brings out
the fact that the ongoing research into linguistics, semiotics, information
theory, artificial intelligence, ontologies, taxonomies and the like,
all has been somewhat ignored -- for both good and bad reasons. I was
just today roughed up (well, in a friendly way) by a colleague who
was literally saying "so what?" to me as well.

The answer isn't that the research and ongoing work isn't important,
but that for perhaps the first time in recent years those performing it
are being called to task to prove its importance to an oftentimes naive
audience. The angle of the web community on things is "the bottom line"
and they want to know how all of this heady work is going to impact
their business, especially with our more restricted budgets. If there is
no answer, or if the answer is couched in the same language that
researchers use amongst themselves, all of that valuable research will
probably be ignored, as it's often been ignored in the past.

I feel it's all of our duties to try to bridge that gap. Since I'm on
the ignorant side of that equation, when I encounter someone who comes
from the other side I usually try to extend a hand. If you're willing,
I think you'll find others in this [smaller] community quite willing
to help.

Murray

...........................................................................
Murray Altheim, SGML/XML Grease Monkey     <mailto:altheim&#64;eng.sun.com>
XML Technology Center
Sun Microsystems, 1601 Willow Rd., MS UMPK17-102, Menlo Park, CA 94025

      the wood louse sits on a splinter and sings to the rising sap
      ain't it awful how winter lingers in springtimes lap -- archy
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