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To: Sreenivasa Sista <ssista@bbn.com>
From: James Allan <allan@cs.umass.edu>
Subject: Re: Are these stories on topic ?
Date: Mon, 02 Nov 1998 17:46:07 -0500
Sreenivasa,
Getting these judgements to the point that everyone will agree is not
a useful task. We should focus on removing the obviously incorrect
judgements (for example, those off-by-one errors). Things that are
close but not quite right (in my view) are probably also right but
almost wrong (in someone else's view). Ultimately, relevance is
subjective and that is particularly true in the finer points.
But on to your stories.....
> Here are some stories on topic 39 "Indian Parliamentary Elections",
> which are said to be on-topic (in the topic-relevance table).
> I feel that they are off-topic stories. Please let me know if they are
> really on-topic.
>
> 1) This story is about the Prime Minister taking the oath. (nothing
> to do with the parliamentary election).
It's an election, so the rule of interpretation is:
1. Elections: Examples - New people in office, new public officials,
change in governments or parliaments (in other countries), voter
scandals. The event might be the confirmation of a new person into
office, the activity around voting in a particular place and time, the
opposing parties' or peoples' campaigns, or the election results. The
topic would be the entire process, nominations, campaigns, elections,
voting, ceremonies of inauguration.
It appears to me that the inauguration is appropriate by the rule of
interpretation. (Which you could object to, but that's not the
objection you gave.) I think this one is on point.
> 2. This is about one party in India and its president (not about the
> parliamentary election).
It refers to a result of the election. It may be a bit dicey, but
it's okay by me.
> 3) This is about the finance minister of India, and the stability of
> the Indian currency (again not related to the parliamentary elections).
I agree that this one is marginal. It's about the election only to
the extent that the finance minister is new because he was just
elected.
-- james
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Last updated Fri Nov 6 15:29:21 1998