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Subject:Re: They don't need our stinkin' manuals?? From:"John Fleming" <johnf -at- ecn -dot- ab -dot- ca> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Sat, 30 Dec 2000 03:46:42 -0700
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Byfield" <bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com>
To: "John Fleming" <johnf -at- ecn -dot- ab -dot- ca>
Cc: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Sent: December 29, 2000 2:36 PM
Subject: Re: They don't need our stinkin' manuals??
> John Fleming wrote:
> >
> >
> > When parents run into problems with the computer, who is it they
> > usually ask? The kids.
[snip]
> I see no reason to think that non-programmers are any different.
> True, growing up with technologies gives you some advantages. But
> experience is an advantage, too, and one that the young can't hope
> to match. And, these days, experience should include some knowledge
> of how to deal with change and be flexible.
>
> And should any middle-aged people out there still feel intimidated
> by the young, I leave you with a quote from Harlan Ellison's review
> of a video game. Anticipating comments that a 14 year old could
> probably learn the game better than he could, he wrote, "So what? A
> 14 year old can't paint the Sistine Chapel or f*** with any degree
> of expertise."
>
> OK, I'll climb off the soap box.
All good points, Bruce, but can work with experienced programmers vis
a vis new programmers really be extended to the general public?
It's really only been within about the last ten years that the
personal computer has really started making inroads into the lives of
the common garden variety members of the general population. So the
level of experience in the general population is a lot lower.
Also, kids are getting a lot of computer training in school, and
starting at an early age. A lot of adults have learned by
experimentation, through a couple of evening courses from the local
community college, or a few courses through work. So many kids have
training that is more extensive than many older people--giving them a
decided advantage.
So, while we aren't dealing with an army of Wesley Crushers a la Star
Trek TNG, we are dealing with a generation of young people who do have
a decided advantage over their parents.
So there is probably more than a grain of truth in the observation
that "when parents have trouble with their computers, they ask the
kids.."
--
John Fleming
Technical Writer
Edmonton, Alberta
email: johnf -at- ecn -dot- ab -dot- ca
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