Sample Normset

This NormSet is provided to illustrate a format in which normative priorities can be encoded. It is offered as an illustrative rather than an empirical example. Ideally, the PubWan knowledge base will contain a large number of normsets, representing the subjective priorities and norms of a large number of people. These, of course would normally be stored in a way that is not traceable to the authors. This is to address legitimate concerns for the privacy of individuals.

In general, normspecs can represent any economic good, or bundle of goods (see http://geocities.com/n8chz/pvo.htm). Note that this sample normset lists a job (in the employment sense) as a "good." Since labor is sold rather than purchased by laborers, treating jobs as "goods" is somewhat unorthodox. Nevertheless, MaxhiSchema is about negotiating tradeoffs between normative preferences. These preferences may or may not have to do with cash flow. Even if you're fortunate enough to have a job that generates cash flow in your direction, there is a good chance that you are "paying for" that job in currencies other than cash; such as waivers of rights, de facto indentures, submission to informational advantage, etc.

The items listed here represent my idea of a "minimalist" (see CashFlowMinimalism) market basket of consumable items, again with the assumption that in some sense a job is a consumable item. After all, in these conservative times PR copy never misses an opportunity to substitute "job provider" for "employer." Even authors putatively representing the working class are in on the "paradigm shift," as evidenced by all the "let's take a positive attitude to job hunting" literature that speaks in terms of "firing one's current boss."

Note that in this file a normspec is represented by an HTML table object. I think an SQL table would be more flexible in the long run. Right now, however, I only have sneakernet access (see ServerSideNetizen) so HTML is most expedient now. My plans for the near future include creating protocols for merging tabular normspecs, across "product category," and also across "contributor." I hope to come up with a simple method that destroys information that would identify contributors, while keeping contributions "intact."

Also, it must be re-iterated that normspecs (and normsets) are entirely subjective. This sample normset is a sample, not a suggestion. A normset representing the exact opposite preferences and/or priorities would be an equally valid pubwan contribution, in keeping with the NeutralityPrinciple.