RE: Useful Oracle books - C.J. Date theory vs. practicality

From: Lex de Haan <lex.de.haan_at_naturaljoin.nl>
Date: Sat, 29 May 2004 00:03:33 +0200
Message-ID: <JFEEIGBIDOCCDALDIPLNCEPCCDAA.lex.de.haan@naturaljoin.nl>

Ah -- roman numerals ... my favorite topic, as a mathematician ...

I don't know the origin of this article anymore, it is not mine, but I truly love it as a brilliant metaphor (and I made some "minor" adjustments in the first sentence :-)

Why not Roman numerals?

The reluctant progress of many hit ratio champions toward a half hearted embrace of the wait interface is no doubt reminiscent of the introduction of Arabic numerals into the unwilling Roman Empire.

Can you imagine what it must have been linke to have been a guru in Roman numerals at that time?

Your expertise is Roman numerals. Nobody can do long division in Roman numerals like you (you’re so good you may even have a consulting practice people seek your organization out for Roman numerals project implementation guidance). But all of a sudden, people are beginning to get excited about this new concept Arabic numerals. Your reaction goes through the same stages as the hit ratio proponents of today:

Denial. First, you simply deny that the new technology is good for anything. You contend that it “may be an interesting academic theory,” but it’s simply not practical. After all, the whole empire its tax rolls, markets and business runs on Roman numerals. And besides, Roman numbers are often easier. One plus one equals two, literally, in Roman numerals. But the ground swell for Arabic numbers becomes too much people are discovering that they really can be useful so you move to the next stage, which is:
One foot in the boat. You contend that Arabic numbers “are good but only for certain things.” They may be great for multiplication and division, but you just can’t beat Roman numerals for addition and subtraction (the high volume applications in the empire).

This is where most hit ratio supporters are today. The wait interface is now admitted to be good but only for certain things. And, just as with the Roman numerals guru, this contingent will ultimately arrive at the third stage.

3. Grudging acceptance. Arabic numerals finally demonstrate that they are just as good (even better) than Roman numerals for any operation. At this stage, like many experts of today, you attempt to point out that you were really behind the Arabic numeral movement all along and that you are, in fact, the world’s leading expert in this new technology.

Kind regards,
Lex.

visit my website at http://www.naturaljoin.nl

-----Original Message-----

From: oracle-l-bounce_at_freelists.org
[mailto:oracle-l-bounce_at_freelists.org]On Behalf Of Mladen Gogala Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 21:13
To: oracle-l_at_freelists.org
Subject: Re: Useful Oracle books - C.J. Date theory vs. practicality

In its superior intellect, civilized Europe continued to use the Roman numeral
system, refusing to change for as long as possible, as the infidels ran circles around it.
Eventually the Europeans gave in. It is very comforting to know that the concept of NULL
didn't need that long to gain acceptance. Predictably, once again, the resistance comes
from Europe....

--

Mladen Gogala
Oracle DBA

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Received on Fri May 28 2004 - 17:00:38 CDT