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Re: [xml-dev] Ode to the Sem-Web
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In a message dated 20/11/2002 22:38:26 GMT Standard Time, clbullar@ingr.com writes:
From: AndrewWatt2000@aol.com [mailto:AndrewWatt2000@aol.com]
You want silliness? :)
[len] Coals to Newcastle, Andrew.
The following "poetic gem" is said to have been discovered at the base of the piles on which the Tay Bridge was built.
[len] An excellent bit of doggerel. Compliments. But seriously, why are you down on SemWeb?
Len,
I don't see myself as "down" on the Sem-Web. The "masterful poetry" which you termed "doggerel" was written weeks ago in response to something that was discussed somewhere, possibly on XML-Dev. You asked for silliness and that piece of doggerel seemed to fit the bill. :)
I picture the Sem-Web in its current state of development as being like a bunch of 9 month old kids playing excitedly with Lego bricks. Some are excited because they have bricks to play with. Some are bickering because they think red bricks are inherently superior to green bricks or vice versa. Some are excited by their ability to join two bricks together. Some are particularly excited by the novelty of being able to push a brick halfway into the ear of their pet puppy. In time all of these excited kids will grow up and look back on this stage of semantic play as a piece of fun which doesn't represent mature thinking or behaviour.
Of course, in this scenario, I am quite possibly a 3 month old baby who hasn't learned to sit up yet. :)
We need to be realistic about the current stage of development of the Sem-Web technology. It's at a very early stage with many rough edges. The thinking isn't mature yet. After all, only a few years ago people were hugely impressed with early versions of HTML (despite its inherent design flaws). And, in retrospect, how ridiculous was that? <grin/>
The fact that Sem-Web thinking is currently fairly primitive doesn't mean that we can avoid going through these stages. Just as a 9 month kid in the Sem-Web play group will likely having teething discomfort those who are interested in the Sem-Web as a serious technology have to face up to, go through and progress beyond the present teething stage.
It's life - whether biologically or technologically.
Andrew Watt
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