[Sigia-l] Findability

[Eric Reiss]

Madhu wrote:
What do you label the practice of 'helping' users find the
information they *are* looking for?

Derek wrote:
I would label it 'hand-holding,' 'oppression,' or some other similar
removal or redirection from original concern. Call it even
'pacification,' if you prefer -- you're just giving the user/person
'something/anything/stuff' to shut them up (to pacify, divide and
disquiet).

And I write:
(Curtain rises)

Customer: What’s today’s special?

Waiter: Breast of chicken.

Customer: I’m a vegetarian. Do you have fish?

Waiter: We have a very nice grilled turbot.

Customer: Great! That’s what I’ll have.

(Curtain falls.)

Pretty onerous scenario. Lots of oppression and pacification going on
here (film rights still available). Personally, I would have ordered
from the menu, but those categories make me nervous -- Appetizer,
Main Course, etc. You never know when some wicked librarian like Lou
or Madhu will “blind me from the truth” (Creme Brulee disguised as an
Entree, perhaps?).

Would someone (maybe Karl Fast who’s already asked) please reply
off-list as to what this thread is about. I’m completely lost at this
point.

Thanks,
Eric

e-reiss.com
copenhagen, denmark