"One man’s “magic” is another man’s engineering. “Supernatural” is a null word." – Robert A Heinlein

"If you torture data long enough, it will tell you anything you want!" – Unknown


Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Humpty Dumpty Words with Tweedledee Logic

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone," it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less."
"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many things."
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master — that's all."

"Contrariwise," continued Tweedledee, "if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." —
Alice through the Looking Glass, Louis Carroll

Many times when I review product data, I can't avoid the impression that the product descriptions were written by Humpty Dumpty following Tweedledee logic. So, “which is to be master?” That’s the challenge of product data quality.

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