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Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 2000-01 > 0948578731


From: Chris Bennett <>
Subject: Re: Ratings Issues (was: Re: Some Unsolved problems)
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2000 22:05:31 GMT


One advantage of Deja.com is that it has much better catchment than my
local ISP. One disadvantage is that I can't apply filters to the basic
newsgroup reader, so far as I can tell, so I can't avoid accidently
tripping over Mr Hines from time to time. Fortunately, its not often.

In this case, buried deeply within the usual baiting, bluster and
bullshit, there is a point I should perhaps clarify, since we actually
agree on it. Narrative comments and an intelligent critique of the
genealogical link ARE what is required, or should be. The problem
under discussion, which Mr Hines seems to have missed, is that
technology is currently killing it. Genealogical databases are being
proliferated by what some have called data miners -- plagiarists -- in
which such narrative is deliberately overlooked, ignored or suppressed
in favour of the sheer acquisition of a large number linkages, however
dubious.

What is being discussed is whether there is some aide or supplement
which can easily be fit within the technology -- such as a ratings
scale -- which will help counteract, or at least mitigate this effect.
I totally agree with Mr Hines that ratings are not a replacement for
laying out the arguments.

Chris

In article <86ctto$dlt$1@bgtnsc03.worldnet.att.net>,
"D. Spencer Hines" <> wrote:
> Much balderdash from Bennett snipped. Balderdash From Bennett [BFB].
> That has a nice ring to it.
>
> NARRATIVE COMMENTS and an intelligent critique of the genealogical
> link are what is required, not some academic, hot-house, Rube Goldberg
> quantitative genealogical ratings scheme.
>
> A more interesting question is why mediocre minds are often so
> consumed by an interest in Taxonomy ---- the Classification of
> things ---- putting them into little boxes on the shelf, so they look
> neatly arranged?
>
> Perhaps because they have so little of Real Content to impart that
> they are simply reduced to barren re-arrangement of what has already
> been produced by more fertile minds.
> --
>
> D. Spencer Hines
<snip>


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