[sc34wg3] parid0385

[Patrick Durusau]

Sam,

Sam Hunting wrote:

>REF: parid0386 
>
>COM: The subject matter of the section doesn't seem to
>match the heading, which reinforces for me the notion that "humans are the
>ultimate arbiters of subject identity." But the text talks about the
>responsbiolities of topic map "creators" which is a different kettle of
>fish. 
>END
>
>REF: parid0386 
>
>COM: I'm very uncomfortable with the word "creator", first because of its
>vaguely religious aura, second because see no reason why the entity of
>origin for a topic map has to be human, and, in the case where it isn't,
>where I am to look to discover "intent." Isn't this paragraph really
>speaking to what the nature of the authority behind any given topic map
>must be? And won't these authorities get such autority as they possess
>pragmatically? It seems to me that "must accept responsbility" boils down
>to following the 10 point checklist, which does or should include
>signing up for the SLUO, but I don't see what more can or need
>be done that that.
>  
>
The term creator is used in Dublin core metadata to encompass any sort 
of creative activity that results in the work being described. Thus, 
engravers, illustrators, editors, even authors, are subsumed under the 
notion of creator. It also includes organizations, which seems at odds 
with your point on human origin. For details see: 
http://dublincore.org/usage/terms/dc/current-elements/

TXT: The merging rules defined by TM Applications are intended be 
exploited by creators of topic maps, so that the topic maps they create 
can incorporate other topic maps by reference, and so that when such 
references are resolved, the resulting merged topic map graph will be 
identical to the one that the creator intended.

The problem is with "intent" as you have isolated but because that is a 
completely subjective judgment post merger. I suppose for those who 
never make typos, the resulting topic map will always be what they 
"intended" but there are those of us for who that will rarely be the 
case. ;-)

FIX: Merging rules defined by TM Applications enable the incorporation 
of other topic maps by reference.

COM: Making it a little clearer that incorporation of other topic maps 
is governed by the merging rules of the TM Application and not the 
expectations or desires of the topic map creator (assuming human 
agency). (not to mention that it is 15 words versus 54 words in the 
original. ;-)

Patrick




>END
>
>Sam Hunting
>eTopicality, Inc.
>
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-- 
Patrick Durusau
Director of Research and Development
Society of Biblical Literature
pdurusau@emory.edu
Co-Editor, ISO Reference Model for Topic Maps