Why hello there! It’s been a bit since the last post, but here I am, and this week is based upon the idea(s) of organization, specifically taxonomies and folksonomies. These words may sound odd, but I shall explain dear reader.
Taxonomies are a more traditional form of organization, involving a more ridged and structured form, such as making a list and putting certain items in a specific category. This give the makers of a taxonomy authority over the order and structure over the content of what’s being organized.
Folksonomies are for free flowing and open ways of organizing. There is not one specific way to group or label something and there is not right and wrong way of organizing when it comes to a folksonomy. Take an Instagram post for example, and the user used a hashtag to put it in a specific category, but the picture can have multiple other hashtags that can go along with it; this is technically a folksonomy.
For my taxonomy I used the topics and things I learned and worked on throughout my English course. I started off the taxonomy by ordering by the most recent main idea that the class is over- Lines. Then I listed the concepts that go along with the main idea in alphabetical order, so folksonomy, taxonomy, timelines. Ironically, it’s also in order with relevance to what I learned most recently within our lines section. Then I did the same thing just with the main idea of maps. I found that this was most helpful in organizing what has gone on within my English class. The folksonomy I created was a word-cloud using the writings from my discussion posts, blogs, and paper. This was to find out what words were most prevalent within my writing during the different assignments I have done within English 212. I was curious to see in comparison, would the main ideas and concepts within my assignments, blogs, and paper show up within the word-cloud.
The difference between the two ways of organizing is striking. One hand the difference between the two types of organization being so different makes sense. On the other hand, when you look at the craziness and almost aloofness of the folksonomy it may make one wonder how in the world it that it’s considered “organized”. What I took from the big difference between the two forms of organizing are on different spectrums of organization. For example folksonomy is much like when a person has an extremely messy room but knows where everything is, where as taxonomy is like the super neat and set room that everything is labeled and has its spot.
My opinion on these two types of organization are truly hard to exactly pinpoint. I understand that the expressive aloofness of folksonomy can be helpful in expressing a specific point of organization, such as repetitiveness. Where as taxonomy is really good for quick to the point labels and structure. Folksonomy also comes in handy when you can’t put something in one specific category, like is mainly done with taxonomies. I really do enjoy how open a folksonomy is with its organization. It allows things that are similar or relevant to be included in a space where as in a taxonomy is so structure based somethings are overlooked or not included that could be important. A folksonomy could actually be very helpful when doing some research in the sense that it can give you similar or recommended intel where the taxonomy would be good for a straightforward and fact based area of organization.
I think that the two ways of organization all have their part to play in our world to help us comprehend and take in information. Some do better with more structure, while others are well off with something more free flowing. I believe that organization has to work best for the person or what the person is doing that they need to be organized. Either way, being somewhat organized- even if you could define it as controlled chaos- is better than being totally unorganized and discombobulated. Preferably I think I’d go with the folksonomy type of organization, because it seems when I am extremely structured in my organizing it some how goes south for me and I am in a worse space than where I started.
That’s all for this weeks blog post! Till next time, I hope this made you ponder a bit on what type of organization best fits you and your life.
One Day At A Time 