[Sigia-l] RE: "General" as a category

[Christopher G. Fox]

I'm not sure how much, if at all, users pick up on the subtle difference
between the words "general" and "miscellaneous," but there clearly is
one. Whereas "miscellaneous" refers to a random assortment, a category
of things that only has in common the fact they belong to no other
categories in the system, "general" refers to relative greater breadth
in scope, "World History" as opposed to "the reign of Amenhotep IV" or
"the emergence of the guild system in medieval Europe."

So, hypothetically, a user could conceivably want general information
qua general, but rarely would want miscellaneous information qua
miscellaneous. "Miscellaneous" fits information seeking behaviors by
process of elimination, not because of the inherent miscellaneity (if
there is such a word) of the category. Unless of course you happen to
enjoy miscellanies from time to time, but I think my point is clear
(even if not everyone would agree).

Christopher G. Fox, Ph.D.
Principal Consultant
Logical Design Solutions, Inc.
            (www.lds.com)