It was not until a very recent class of IST 501 (Integration of IST), that I found my niche. We were assigned a paper titled "The Montagues and the Capulets" that talks about the conflicting interests of computer scientists and social scientists resulting in complications with information systems development. Computers scientists are the "Montagues" or the theorists and social scientists are the "Capulets" or the pragmatists. As I read this paper, it seemed to me that the authors of this paper were truly anti-computer scientists (or rather anti-all-the-theorists). Let me quote a few points from this paper along with my immediate reactions marked in color:
I have never read a paper that made my blood boil, but this one did a perfect job at that, at least initially. But the paper does raise some valid points regarding the necessity for better interaction between the pragmatists and the theorists. And not to forget, it also talks about a number of ways a Montague can frustrate a Capulet :D (and vice a versa). I highly recommend this paper to everyone in the concerned fields. Truly an awesome read!
This paper got me thinking about what I am truly passionate about. I used to think it would be music or reading. But now I know what I love to do the most! I love to solve puzzles and problems. I like devising efficient algorithms and well-behaved theories that can be generically applied, and I would just love to be able to do some ground-breaking theoretical research. I know now that I am ... I am... a GEEK! I can't identify more with Cecilia from the PhDComics. Is it sad? Is it good? I don't know!
- "In the last four decades the Montagues have developed a startling and confusing number of languages" (evil laugh .. Muhahahahaha)
- "Whereas the Montagues see knowledge representation as an end in itself, the Capulets see it as a means to an end, and that end is Science". (How could you! Sure we like to create generic and well-behaved theories! We need to worry about `n' disciplines, and `n' can be really large! We have to make something that works for all kinds and even provide plug-ins for new requirements. And this is the thanks that we get in return? Are we expected to hard code domain-specific inputs in our model and spoon-feed? Oh, I am heart-broken :(( )
- "The operating timescale of the Capulets is immediate unlike the Motagues" (Now I am just plain angry!)
I have never read a paper that made my blood boil, but this one did a perfect job at that, at least initially. But the paper does raise some valid points regarding the necessity for better interaction between the pragmatists and the theorists. And not to forget, it also talks about a number of ways a Montague can frustrate a Capulet :D (and vice a versa). I highly recommend this paper to everyone in the concerned fields. Truly an awesome read!
This paper got me thinking about what I am truly passionate about. I used to think it would be music or reading. But now I know what I love to do the most! I love to solve puzzles and problems. I like devising efficient algorithms and well-behaved theories that can be generically applied, and I would just love to be able to do some ground-breaking theoretical research. I know now that I am ... I am... a GEEK! I can't identify more with Cecilia from the PhDComics. Is it sad? Is it good? I don't know!
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