[db-wg] Implementation of POEM object

Olaf M. Kolkman wrote:
>> Note the hierarchical naming convention for poetic-form objects, all
>> verse 
> 
> I have a few maintenance questions.
> 
> Although my colleagues are technically competent, they have
> not been hired for their literary skills(*). So although the RIPE DB
> staff will technically maintain the poetic-form: we still need a
> mechanism to ensure the quality of the "poetic-form" objects.

Agreed and it was always noted that this was a highly skilled job.

> Will RIPE NCC staff need to contact a secret cabal for quality
> control? Alternatively, will we skip quality control and act on first
> come first served (serious security considerations: culprits might
> specify a Haiku in the form of a Dada poem)? Or should a poetic-form
> first be discussed by the db-wg?

I would suggest that quality control should be managed by a secret cabal as
at present with the limerick object. Secret cabals have a long and
illustrous history on the internet and have usually resulted in fast,
effective decision making albeit at the slight expense of annoying and
upsetting large numbers of people (since my email is always bounced by
Randy's "no legal disclaimer" filters, I feel perfectly safe in making this
remark).

> 
> I'd settle for the first option, a secret cabal... I may just know an
> institution that could perform this task.

I'm sure that they will prove themselves adequate to the task, even though I
have no idea who they might be, or even if they exist.

> 
> The classification scheme may also need some work. How do we classify
> the different forms? Would the Aphorism have its own class or is it a
> subclass of PROSE?
> 
> In absence of the review process. Hereby a new proposal
> 
>  poetic-form: PROSE-APHORISM
>  descr:       A database entry to be remembered by
>  admin-c:     OK65-RIPE
>  tech-c:      OK65-RIPE
>  mnt-by:      RIPE-DBM-MNT

As far as the name is concerned this would be perfectly correct, although
ending a sentence with a preposition is perhaps to be regarded as slightly
suspect style. (One must, though, remember Winston Churchill's comments on
the matter).

poetic-form: PROSE-APHORISM
descr:       A database entry by which to be remembered
admin-c:     OK65-RIPE
tech-c:      OK65-RIPE
mnt-by:      RIPE-DBM-MNT

Might be slightly better stylistically. 

> 
> and
> 
>  poetic-form: VERSE-HAIKU
>  descr:       The haiku object
>  descr:       only seven syllables
>  descr:       in its density
>  admin-c:     OK65-RIPE
>  tech-c:      OK65-RIPE
>  mnt-by:      RIPE-DBM-MNT

This is correct in all respects.

> -- Olaf
> 
> (*) I am sure I lost credit with my colleagues with this remark but
> these are matters of high public interest.

Of course. Perhaps we should include an examination of literary skill when
engaging RIPE NCC staff.
-- 
Nigel Titley
Peering Coordinator, FLAG Telecom
+44 20 8564 5812


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