[wplug] Kids can't use computers

[Terry Golightly]

I agree Mike,

Plus he doesn't produce any facts to support his argument.  So I don't 
know if we can call it an article ,  maybe just a scree. Complaining to 
the world about his users.  They need us as much... as we need them...  
Okay maybe as not as much as we need them.  But, they do keep us 
employed.  Just another 2 bits worth.

Terry


On 08/13/2014 03:58 PM, Mike Sussman wrote:
> On Wed, Aug 13, 2014 at 12:00 PM, <wplug-request at wplug.org> wrote:
>
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>> Today's Topics:
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>>     1. Kids can't use computers (Justin Smith)
>>     2. Re: Kids can't use computers (John Lewis)
>>     3. Re: Kids can't use computers (Zachary Uram)
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 22:09:50 -0400
>> From: Justin Smith <justin at adminix.net>
>> Subject: [wplug] Kids can't use computers
>> To: wplug at wplug.org
>> Message-ID: <5437631.Mz9lcJApWp at galahad>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>>
>> I was going through my bookmarks earlier this evening and I came across
>> this really great article from a little while ago that nails the common
>> misconception that kids and young adults are technical geniuses just
>> because they're on Facebook, iPhone, etc.
>>
>> http://www.coding2learn.org/blog/2013/07/29/kids-cant-use-computers/[1]
>>
>> It's a bit long, but it's a /very/ good read. Just think: by knowing how
>> to use
>> Linux and subscribing to this mailing list, you're head and shoulders above
>> the everyday masses.
>>
>> ...well, maybe not you Ubuntu guys.
>>
>> (I kid!)
>>
>> --
>> *Justin Smith*
>> GNU/Linux System Administrator
>>
>> /"Any fool can use a computer. Many do."/
>>
>> --------
>>
> Is this really a good read?  It sounds to me like an "old programmer"
> complaining that "kids these days have it easy: in my day, we had to ..."
> (fill in your own early experience: use a keypunch, use a Teletype at 115
> baud, use a TRS-80, use an Apple ][,  use a Macintosh, etc.) .  The new
> ways are usually easier and usually require less of some types of expertise
> and more of other types.  If you had to program everything in 8080
> assembly, would you be a better programmer or would you just be less
> productive?
>
> There are surely several classes of computer person.  Some only want to use
> a computer as an appliance.  Some want to be able to generate
> applications.  Some want to put their own computers together from
> commercial parts.  Some want to design new computers with new
> capabilities.  Which are the "real" computer people?  Each of them, when in
> a small group of similar friends might ridicule people outside their own
> speciality. And everyone makes silly mistakes such as forgetting to turn on
> the wifi switch.
>
> In the 70s, 80s, and 90s, people learned about the guts of computers
> because that was the only way to get to use them.  Kids became experts in
> computers because they had the time to learn.  People who wanted to use
> computers without learning the arcane details needed kids to help them.
> Now, kids learn how to use social media without learning the arcane details
> of computer systems, and people who need help with arcane details need to
> go elsewhere for help.  Sounds like progress to me.
> -----------
> Mike Sussman
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