[topicmapmail] multidirectional property of association role

[Dan Wu]

Hello again,

In the same paper, The TAO of Topic Maps,
that I was reading.

On page 12, it argued that 
"....associations are inherently multidirectional. In topic maps
it does not make sense to say that A is related to B but that
B is not related to A; If A is related to B, then B must, by definition, 
be related to A...."

For example, in the assocation born_in,
I can have an association born_in(John, Canadan) to indicate
that John was born in Canada.

The association between John and Canada, expressed 
in topic map as an association born_in(John, Canada)
is differnent than the association born_in(Canada, John).



Furthermore, on page 12, it said

This is another way of warning against believing that the names
assigned to association types (such as "was influenced by") imply any kind
of directionality. THEY DO NOT!..."

Does the above sentence mean born_in(John, Canada) is the same
as born_in(Canada, John)?


Please help,
Dan