A mathemetician, a librarian, and a web strategist walk into a bar…

April 1, 2008

I know, it sounds like the beginning of a bad joke. (Or a great cartoon! Rob, care to give it a try?)

But believe me, if you asked them to write a document, the mathematician and the librarian would come out ahead. Why?

Brackets.

You know, like

(2+2) X (18/3)

Or like

("climate change" OR sustainability) AND (water OR H20)

But here I am, the lonely web strategist, struggling to write a document that repeatedly uses the phrase, "external engagement and social media strategy advice and support". I know what I mean, but will the client?

What I really need is Boolean syntax. Why shouldn't I be able to write in the form,

(((external engagement AND social media) strategy)) advice AND support

See, isn't that MUCH clearer now?