[Sigia-l] Re: Blasphemy: Ontology is Overrated?

[IsisInform at aol.com]

Hi Everyone --

I actually listened to Clay Skirky’s talk.  His goal is to promote tagging to the exclusion of other methods.  In support of his opinion, Clay offers humorous errors in LC classification.  I can’t really blame him, since I do the same thing in my Snoopy taxonomy presentations.  

We also agree on individualizing information management.  However, Clay believes individualization means limiting users to the single technique of tagging.  I believe it means offering the widest variety of techniques.     

My theory of perspective taxonomy organizes information from the viewpoint of the client.  Clay mentions this idea in his talk but feels “it takes a lot of instruction.”  Like anything worthwhile you do have to put some energy into it.  I learned to think like my geothermal clients by lounging around the hot springs of the California wine country.  

Clay likes tagging because the individuals do all the work.  Ideally they get exactly what they want, but in reality they get what their classification skills allow them.  He recognizes the synonym problem, but sees this as an advantage.  Using the example of movies, cinema and film, we are told “The movie people don’t want to hang out with the cinema people.”  But this approach actually decreases personalization.  What about the film people who want to hang out with the cinema people?  With accurate synonyms, individuals can decide for themselves who they want to hang out with.  

Exclusion limits opportunity, whether for people or for methods of organizing information.  Casting the discussion as tagging vs. ontology is restrictive.  It’s a narrow vision.  We are now developing methods now that will guide the future of research.  We need to stay open to all ideas.

Katherine
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Katherine Bertolucci
Taxonomy and Information Management Consultant
Isis Information Services
P O Box 627
Phoenix, AZ 85001
602-258-2035
katherine at isisinform.com
www.isisinform.com