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This is my diatribe against computers and the typical attitude of computer people. This sometimes includes me because, as hard as I try to avoid it, I exhibit the same attitude. I will refer to them as CP to denigrate them to an acronym (initials) just like they denigrate real people. It should not require a Master's degree in Computer Science to be able to use a computer. I have a Master's degree in Computer Science and sometimes I still have trouble with using a computer. A person should not be made to feel foolish, stupid or ignorant because they cannot operate a computer. CP have deliberately made computers to be too difficult to use for real people. CP are arrogant and take pride in themselves, because they have learned how to use the computer, which they made too difficult to use in the first place. CP are too ignorant, lazy, and incompetent to exercise the sense and consideration to design computer hardware and software to be used by regular people. A properly designed computer system should be readily usable by any reasonably intelligent person who can read, write and speak. The computer can be designed to require only the same kind of training it takes to learn how to use a phone, drive a car or watch a television. When a computer has not been designed this way, it is not the fault of the person using the computer. If a CP does not show a proper respectful, apologetic and sympathetic attitude to a normal person having difficulty with operating a computer, they should be considered rude, uneducated louts. This situation will change, when a computer has been designed to be simple, reliable and safe. Don't hold your breath waiting for it to happen. |
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Very well said Dad. As a teacher I have experienced the same thing over and over again where my students feel humiliated because they don't understand the computer. And of course there are times when I feel the same way. Except since like you I have learned to get along with the computer I really don't have any clue what some of the others are going through. I have often felt like it was my fault or some problem with my teaching. And for sure there is always room for improvement. But it is true that the computer is complex beast. It is supposed to be a tool that makes our life easier. But instead has made it more complex, more difficult, and more insecure than before. Mikal P.S. - I am assumming you won't mind if I share this with some of my computer classes for benefit of the struggling humilated students. |
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Revised 2003-11-14 |