[Sigia-l] Findability

[Derek R]

'Findability' is first and foremost a hyperbolic suggestion and
projects, as its essence and sole operation, exaggeration and
unreasonable excess -- in short, what we call 'untruthfulness.'

Often, I have rightfully equated the mendacious concept of 'findability'
to the practice of 'marketing,' in that the aim of both is loyalty to
the 'sale,' both seeking only 'exchange' -- at all costs -- including
the costs of relevance, pleasure, or utility for the user.

For surely as I say this there is no real pleasure, relevance, or
utility in being lied to, or accepting mis-representation in order to
fulfill a 'glorious' end.

It remains our duty as Information Architects to proceed with
association of what actually exists as being *general* (no categories!)
instead of attempting to *make it* what is sought and then to 'rest
assured' that 'pleasure' for the user follows. For surely the latter is
an inversion of logical order (Hysteron-Proteron
<http://bartleby.com/61/29/H0372900.html> ) and cannot be 'legitimately'
introduced as such (i.e. 'x=x+'1 is true; 'x+1=x' is false).

'Findability' is peremptory, (rather than wise and prudent), and is
taken to 'invention of circumstances' in order to make 'accidents of
perplexity' less probable (i.e. it's easier that way and makes IAs look
more skilled than they really are). 'Findability' divides and disquiets
original concern, rather than aiding and supporting it.

The reigning *eventuality* of this unreal situation is that, in spite
all attempts, the 'fiction' which is the essence of 'findability' will,
to the user, appear -- unfortunately -- not as 'fictitious,' but as
completely false. The user of a 'findability system' will not only
*know* the sentiment is of artificial character -- but further -- the
fruitless endeavors to make the user think the contrary will suffer them
to *not* soon forget it (stigma of lying). 

The *illusion* 'findability' seeks to create, contra-distinguished from
'delusion' (negative faith), is rendered *impossible* by its immediate
neighborhood to words and facts of known and absolute truth! 

In other words, users are going to realize right away 'findability' is
just feeding them 'stuff,' (maybe 'like' what they asked for, but
*definitively* not at all what was actually requested) -- they will know
you are feeding them 'stuff' (consumerism) for the sake of feeding them
'stuff' -- and to say you've done a good job as an Information Architect
because -- look at all the search results!! (pat, pat,
yourself-on-the-back). 

Users will *absolutely* resent this behavior 'findability' seeks to
create (a lie) and this will stigmatize the entire industry (WWW=POS). 

Why do you think advertisers love pop-ups and users hate them? Why do
you think the AOL-subscription-monster has completely stalled? Why do
you think the 'Internet-Bubble' happened?

Information Architects have the opportunity to stand up here and put an
end to this *tyranny of the analogue*  -- which otherwise -- would be
yielded to by users as 'pleasing fiction' (like television), but with
'findability' as its mechanism, is repelled as *revolting* falsehood.

Information Architects must understand this latter effect, to which I
have been strongly objecting, is *completely* brought about by the
baffled attempts to *make* the user believe. !!

Add to this all the anecdotes from which this useless project derives
support -- things like 'facets,' 'controlled' vocabularies, 'best' bets,
and the like -- and one, in truth, discovers the 'undue predilection' of
everything presented as 'species of ventriloquism,' where two or more
distinct things are always represented as one.

At best, the Information Architect's intense *over-categorization* of
everything to facilitate 'finding' is an approximation of mental bombast
*disproportionate* to such knowledge and the value of the objects
described.

Information Architects must be 'made aware' of this disproportion of
thought to circumstance and occasion, and recognize (though the method
is born of pure 'marketing' genius) that using the strongest impression
as link-of-association for recall is to sink *most abruptly* into
*burlesque* and to make real, forever, the WWW as a gross perversion.

Now, (not to be unfair), I applaud the daring spirit to connect
everything together through modification and alteration (systemics and
architectonics). However, where the spirit is willing the flesh is weak,
so to speak, in that, your Tower of Babel cannot be 'rightly' built, and
therefore is not such a good idea -->
http://bobmarley.com/songs/lyrics/rastaman.lyrics.txt

This is one of those instances where, as Samantha has often quoted Karl
Fast -- "you have to turn away from the goal in order to achieve it" --
in other words, you must allow things to retain their 'autonomous'
quality, and not resort to 'heteronomy,' (as 'findability' would have
things), which requires miracles to authenticate.

In short, real value requires *arduous* work. There are no magic
short-cuts -- Ad Astra Aspera.


*The Solution*

I believe to remedy this situation we must first and foremost adhere to
and support an austere 'purity of language' -- both grammatically and
logically. In short we require a 'perfect appropriateness' of words to
their meaning (semantics). Of how high a value I deem this has already
been stated on this list. 

In opposition to 'findability,' we must have strict accuracy of
expression (semantics). To be clear, I venture to propose an infallible
test -- namely *attention* -- so that our use of 'words' as information
approaches as close as possible *untranslatable-ness* to other words of
the same language without injury to meaning. That if we are
*uncorrupted* by the affections and mis-appropriations which follow
promiscuous authorship (i.e. to be 'evenly' derived), and undertake
*arduous* work and the pledge of watchful good sense and fine/luminous
distinction -- then we may *justly* claim all the honor which belongs to
*attainment,* more valuable for being rare!

Let me say that again -- things are more valuable for being rare!

Remember, the greater part of success and comfort in life depends upon
distinguishing the similar from the same -- so that we may select the
most probable and not the mere 'possible.'

'Findability' clearly prefers the 'possible' as opposed to the
'definitive.' It is a marketing technique in the service of consumerism.

Beware of this preclusion to fanaticism which 'findability' presents!