Comment Cumbersome... (Score 1) 114
This is the just as likely to add burden as to remove it.
I can't count the number of times I've seen attempts to 'standardize' data, or even just notation, in a given field. It all works very well for data to that point, but then the field expands or changes, or new assumptions become important, and the whole thing becomes either unwieldy or obsolete. This is one reason why every different field, it seems, has their own standards in their literature.
Speaking of the literature, most of these proposals are quickly followed by a 'let's just ask authors to conform to this now' approach to adopting these things. Papers get rewritten (or rejected), key points get lost, and the community gets weaker, all so that some standard with a half life of 12 months can be implemented.
This might be different. I applaud people trying to solve hard problems, and this is certainly one. I do think that more of the burden should be on demonstrating that the standradization is applicable for 12 months or more AFTER final development in a given field, never mind several.
Generally, though we shouldn't fear context. We should embrace it.
I can't count the number of times I've seen attempts to 'standardize' data, or even just notation, in a given field. It all works very well for data to that point, but then the field expands or changes, or new assumptions become important, and the whole thing becomes either unwieldy or obsolete. This is one reason why every different field, it seems, has their own standards in their literature.
Speaking of the literature, most of these proposals are quickly followed by a 'let's just ask authors to conform to this now' approach to adopting these things. Papers get rewritten (or rejected), key points get lost, and the community gets weaker, all so that some standard with a half life of 12 months can be implemented.
This might be different. I applaud people trying to solve hard problems, and this is certainly one. I do think that more of the burden should be on demonstrating that the standradization is applicable for 12 months or more AFTER final development in a given field, never mind several.
Generally, though we shouldn't fear context. We should embrace it.