Hearing Concerning Draft Folder Nesting
A folder called 'FINAL_v3_USE_THIS' contains a folder called 'Archive.' Proceedings are open.
Proceedings of the Informal Review Subject: Draft Folder Nesting Convened in response to a concern raised by no one, about a practice followed by everyone
CHAIR: We are convened to examine the practice of creating multiple folders for versions of a work before the work has produced enough versions to require them. Can you describe your current folder structure?
WITNESS: There is a main folder. Inside that, a folder called Drafts. Inside that, a folder called Old Drafts. Inside that, a folder called Before Changes. Inside that, a folder called Original. The original file is inside.
CHAIR: How many drafts exist?
WITNESS: One.
CHAIR: And when did you create this structure?
WITNESS: Before I started writing.
CHAIR: I see. And you felt the folders were necessary.
WITNESS: I felt it would be messy not to have them.
CHAIR: The mess you were preventing.
WITNESS: Future mess.
CHAIR: Which has not yet arrived.
WITNESS: But it could.
CHAIR: Let the record show that the subject created five organizational containers for one document in anticipation of a need that has not materialized and may not. I want to ask about the creative work itself. When did you last open the file?
WITNESS: I have been organizing.
CHAIR: How long have you been organizing?
WITNESS: (pause) The folder structure is actually quite clean now.
CHAIR: The feeling of control that this structure provides.
WITNESS: Yes.
CHAIR: And without it?
WITNESS: It would feel wrong to start.
CHAIR: Wrong.
WITNESS: Premature.
CHAIR: The preparation is genuinely useful in small doses, which makes it ideal camouflage for avoiding the difficult creative decision. I want this in the record.
WITNESS: Is that a finding?
CHAIR: It is a description. The finding comes later. For now: under the governing rule, familiarity may certify draft folder nesting even when efficiency cannot, and the current structure satisfies that requirement in full. The structure will remain. The file will remain inside it.
WITNESS: Thank you.
CHAIR: The file will now be opened.
WITNESS: I may need to rename a folder first.
CHAIR: Adjourned.