Tell me how to tell you about myself.
(or something like that)
a game to take on the challenges of exploitative attributes
Patrick Wilson defines two types of “bibliographic control,” or power over the universe of
documents. The first power is exploitative control, or finding “the best textual means to an end.”
The second power is descriptive control, or finding documents that match a description that I
generate.
With exploitative power, I magically receive documents that I might not even know that I need: I
think I’m looking for a chocolate mousse recipe, but really I want the most impressive dessert I
can most easily prepare for a dinner party with the new neighbors, and that’s actually a peach
crumble. (One of the neighbors is allergic to chocolate, and I don’t know it! Plus, the peaches
right now are divine.) With descriptive power, I get the documents that I ask for: a chocolate
mousse recipe, which will turn the party into a disaster. Descriptive power is not easy to achieve,
but it is straightforward to imagine. Exploitative power is complex, and it requires judgment to be
rendered on the items being described.
Is it possible to achieve some level of exploitative power through structured description, or
systems of attributes and values? A difficulty with such attempts lies in that element of appraisal.
If we can apply judgment to an item in a reasonably systematic and consistent way, then a
“subjective” appraisal may be better understood in the context of a particular information system.
You might even find...your dream date!
To facilitate consistent description, one can use controlled vocabularies, develop firm definitions
for the values in these vocabularies, create helpful labels for each value, and provide instructions
that clarify how the values are to be applied.
Your mission
In this game, we will individually develop instructions for describing one’s physique using an
online dating service. Then we will share our instructions in small groups, comparing our
different interpretations of the listed values and strategies for documentation. Finally, we will
discuss the experience as a class.
Step 1: Come to an understanding of the attribute and describe how to apply the listed values.
Consider the Body Type attribute of an online dating profile as presented by OK Cupid.
INF 384C, Fall 2010
First, decide what this attribute is trying to express. Write a sentence or two to summarize the
attribute’s purpose. Then, decide what each value means and how one would apply it (how would
you explain when to select Thin instead of Skinny, or Curvy instead of Full-figured, for
example?). Write instructions to explain how users should select a value to describe themselves.
(You can use the extra sheet provided for this purpose if you wish.)
For purposes of fun and comparison, here is the same attribute as implemented by Match:
And by Dharma Match:
Step 2: Compare your interpretations and explanations with a few of your peers.
In small groups of 4 people or so, share your ideas about what the Body Type attribute is
attempting to describe and how your explanations would enable consistent descriptions according
to your theory of what the attribute means.




Did you have different notions about what the Body Type attribute, in general, conveys
about a person?
Did you have different interpretations of the individual values?
Would each of your explanations have been sufficient to ensure consistent application of
the attribute, given your (potentially) different ideas about the purpose and associated
meaning of the attribute as a whole and its associated values?
If one took an “objective” approach to this attribute—such as entering height and weight,
say—how would the experience of creating and using a profile change? What are
advantages and disadvantages of each approach?
Step 3: Debrief the exercise with the entire class.
Enlighten your colleagues with your insights and revelations!
INF 384C, Fall 2010
Tell us how to describe us!
Explain the purpose of the Body Type attribute to a potential dater, filling out a profile:
Tell a potential dater how to select a value:

Rather not say

Thin

Overweight

Skinny

Average

Fit

Athletic

Jacked

A little extra

Curvy

Full figured

Used up
INF 384C, Fall 2010