pcplantdb

[Stephanie Gerson <sgerson@stanfordalumni.org>]

permaculturish.  I like that adjective.
*s

------ Original Message ------
Received: 12:41 AM PST, 03/26/2005
From: "John Schinnerer" <john@eco-living.net>
To: "Permaculture Plant Database" <pcplantdb@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [pcplantdb] data/security model proposal

Aloha,

Agree strongly with Chad here...trying to (or insisting on) having just
one "authoratative" entry for some chunk of information is not what I want
to see in PIW.
The ranking/moderation of multiple facets/opinions/presentations is not
only IMO more powerful, it is more permaculturish.

We observe and experience many many different specific manifestations of
similar phenomena, from which we create what we call "general patterns."

I think what Chad is proposing/implementing is analogus to this for PIW,
and I think that is both good and appropriate.

Users will see a variety of re-presentations of information in PIW and
will use (and practice and enhance) their observation and discernment
skills to synthesize them for their own general and/or specific purposes. 
That's why I think it's both good and appropriate.

To give PIW users this opportunity will be IMO one of the major strengths
and benefits of PIW.

As Picasso said of computers:
"Computers...what good are computers?  They only give answers!!"

> This is very different from Wikipedia and other models that have a
> notion of definitive/objective information and only one "correct"
> entry for any element.
>
> I think that the model I'm proposing is a good choice for the sort of
> data we are handling because it's nice to have a second (and third)
> opinion about plant characteristics, uses, and culture.  I think this
> will make even more sense when/if we include more abstract elements as
> well.

John S.

John Schinnerer - MA, Whole Systems Design
------------------------------------------
- Eco-Living -
Whole Systems Design Services
People - Place - Learning - Integration
john@eco-living.net
http://eco-living.net


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+++++++++++++++
Stephanie Gerson
sgerson@stanfordalumni.org
(c) 415.871.5683


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