henke on 24/12/2009 at 08:15
Quote Posted by doctorfrog
It's bound to be archaic knowledge eventually anyway, if it isn't already. In the near future, if not now, it really doesn't matter how much space you have on anything, how it gets there, and how it gets played. You can get as much music as you want on it, and it sounds good. Not everyone is going to care about how it works, only that it does.
That reminds of a quote by Douglas Adams:
"We are stuck with technology when what we really want is just stuff that works." Computers and musicplayers and whatnot is quickly ceasing to be "technology" and starting to become just "things". In the same way that tablelamps, or toasters, or washingmachines are. Who cares how it works as long as it does?
Oh, and about 3D: I saw Avatar but I gotta admit I have no idea why the new 3D glasses have two green lenses while the old ones had a green and a red one. Can't say I care either.
SubJeff on 24/12/2009 at 10:48
henke - this is why I asked whether I'm being a snob. I admit that I like to know a little bit about how things work rather than just using them. I'm just like that and its probably due to my job and stuff. But I also need to know because I base my purchases on the specifics of the tech. If Avatar had used old style colour filters instead of polarised light for the 3D I wouldn't have bothered.
So yeah, I apologise if i've offended anyone with the title or the OP. I guess I'm just a tech geek.
Tech as just things is an interesting take on this. It is like a car or whatever to some extent. This issue reminds me of assholes in Africa laughing at the locals who were amazed/enamoured by what they considered "normal" stuff, like walkmen. I guess we're all the same after all.
theBlackman on 24/12/2009 at 11:11
Most of us practice "Selective ignorance". So they don't know about HDD or RAM, or GHZ. They don't have to. It works or it doesn't. "HOW" it works is a not needed piece of information.
Most of us TTLGrs are not brain surgeons. We have "Chosen" to be ignorant about how to be such. We don't need the information. We chose not to know how to disassemble and repair an automobile engine. We have mechanics for that, who have chosen to know that. That mechanic has chosen NOT TO KNOW HOW TO MAKE A LEGAL BRIEF.
SELECTIVE IGNORANCE AT WORK. We all do it in one form or another.
So, yes Subjective you are being a bit twatish. I am certain that you have chosen not to know certain things, as a guess how to make the perfect Chocolate Ganache for example. You don't need to you can go to the bakery, or candy store and buy it from someone who has chosen to know how to make it, and chosen not to know, or care about HDD/RAM/CPU/GHZ etc.
They plug it in, it works. If not they take it to the ITT TECH or repair shop.
Trance on 24/12/2009 at 14:06
"How does a component work" is not the same as "what is its purpose", which is what SE was talking about. You practice a fair bit more than "selective" ignorance.
As someone who knows better, it's absolutely maddening that people choose to dump their money overboard in bushels because of a lack of knowledge obtainable by just half an hour of questioning a PC repair tech and taking notes.
TTK12G3 on 24/12/2009 at 15:13
I don't get irritated when someone fails to understand various degrees of tech. I am interested in this stuff, so I've dedicated time to it. I don't expect people to know this stuff much like I don't expect people to berate me when I don't understand something about cars or whatever. I'm not threatened by a lack of knowledge on my part. If it's something really simple, I give a brief explanation and why it's important. If they don't care, that's their problem.
Renzatic on 24/12/2009 at 19:20
TTK's stance about mirrors mine. I do alot of computer tech work in my line of work, and I never expect anyone, nor berate anyone, for not possessing the same level of expertise I do. It's an attitude I believe alot of the tech geek crowd (who, from my experiences, are a bunch of self satisfied fuckwits) should take.
Namdrol on 24/12/2009 at 19:32
there's only 10 people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't
Aja on 24/12/2009 at 19:59
that's 10 kinds of people
Sulphur on 24/12/2009 at 20:17
like I said before, there's only two people in the whole wide world: me, and everyone else
theBlackman on 24/12/2009 at 20:18
I do tend to agree with SE somewhat. At least the user should know the basic terminology of the device. They don't need, or want, in most cases, to know how its made, or how to repair it, but they should know the difference between a CPU, HDD, CD/DVD player and the memory types and purposes.
That a HDD/MEMORY CARD(S) "Store" semi-permanent information, and RAM allows the device to manipulate the information, is basic stuff the youngsters should know, at least.
When I say "youngster" I am referring to those under 50. Being as most of this crap began to be publically available in the late 60's early 70's, those 50 and older did have exposure and should know a little about the "tech" side.
But then you have those like the guy that called the Tech to say his computer monitor would not turn on.
Tech: Are you sure it's plugged in. Both the power and the cord to the computer.
Caller: I can't tell; it all is behind the desk.
Tech: Can you move the desk to look?
Caller: I moved the desk, but I can't see. All the lights in the building are out.
DOH!
