CCCToad on 24/12/2009 at 21:10
Quote Posted by theBlackman
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.
Very well stated, Blackman. If this forum had a rep function, I'd have to give you some for that. You pretty much sum it up: people only have the time in their life to be experts about a few things. Simply because they chose something different than you doesn't make you a superior human being to them.
Though, there is a significant factor of "think before you speak" that a lot of people don't follow. A good example was the lady who asked for a wireless power adapter.
SubJeff on 24/12/2009 at 23:08
Are you having one of those days tBM? Because first you post a rant against my position, then you post agreeing with it.
It is a like Trance says - "How does a component work" is not the same as "what is its purpose".
However, I think that the line between those two isn't always clear. For example 3D specs; its not really necessary to know how it works to know how to use it. But if you just think all 3D specs are 3D specs to be used wherever you could end up taking in the colour filter ones into a modern 3D polarising screen and then...
And someone, the one person, who I was sure would know how 3D worked today revealed he didn't. Well he knew more about the concept then I did, and more about the screen types and other types of 3D (alot more) but he didn't immediately get how wrong our mutual colleague was in thinking she could use the 3D specs on a pirated copy of Avatar. Now I get the impression, from the responses here, that many Comm Chatters didn't/don't realise that the new wave of 3D cinemas are using polarisation technology. Maybe I know about it because I'm interested, maybe its because I have a PS3 and I'm interested in the new Sony 3D polarising TVs that will be coming and so know about the tech and the new official BluRay standards for 3D, or maybe I was just paying attention.
In any event, alot of you have made fun of me in this thread (looking at you Fingernail) or agreed with the mockers. I haven't stooped to that amount of nerdery or suggested that level of technical understanding at all and I think its a pretty poor show especially as I was trying to get a frame of reference as to whether I was infact being a snob. Its just a bit sad because, well I like this place and sometimes I get the impression people fear what they don't understand. I can't help but be reminded of the shit I got in the cat scratch thread when you know just fuck you all because I'm the only fucker here, it seems, who had the sense and the knowledge to give information that may have (and I know it's a small thing after all) helped someone with a potential serious health issue.
And in parting from all this I just want to say - I know that everyone here gets the RAM/HD thing and the mp3/cd audio thing and really the 3D tech is pretty frikking simple in the grand scheme of things. We've got people from all walks of life here who understand much more complex concepts than this or anything I could ever get my head around. I don't understand the level of vitriol I've got for this query but whatever I'm done here now so well done all.
theBlackman on 24/12/2009 at 23:14
I did not rant against it. I merely pointed out that we all chose knowledge to learn, and knowledge to ignore.
Not very complicated. I partly agree that the masses should have some bare basic knowledge of the technology they use. But not that lack of knowledge is a deficite. They choose what to know and what not to know. The majority of your position is that they should know. That is not the reality. They should know only what they need to know, and face it, they only need to know how to use it. Not why it works, how it works and what the innards that make it work consist of.
TBE on 24/12/2009 at 23:31
Quote Posted by Namdrol
there's only 10 people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't
01000100011010010110010000100000011110010110111101110101001000000110110101100101011000010110111000100000001100010011000000100000011100000110010101101111011100000110110001100101001000000110111101110010001000000011001000100000001010000011000000110000001100000011000000110000001100000011000100110000001010010011111100100000010011000100111101001100 :laff:
SubJeff on 24/12/2009 at 23:32
Jesus Christ.
I wasn't going to post again but ffs.
Quote:
they only need to know how to use it
I gave 3 examples.
Which one of those does not require knowing how to use something?
And which one requires some deep knowledge of the inner workings of the particular example?
theBlackman on 25/12/2009 at 00:24
As I recall you said:
"It became clear to me that the guy did not understand the concept of RAM. "How much memory does it have?" he asked, as I ringed a rather naff PC in the catalog. "512MB" I replied. "Only!? You won't be able to store anything!" he retorted.
So we talked HDs and RAM and yeah he didn't know the difference."
My point is that he, and other users don't need to know, nor, as dumb as it may be, should they.
It would be nice if they did, but it's not a necessity.
rachel on 25/12/2009 at 00:31
Well I'd say knowing the difference between HD and RAM is pretty useful when it comes to buying a new computer. I don't know, it's akin to choosing between diesel or regular, or shift or auto: you might not know the internals but you pretty much SHOULD know what it actually IS if you want to make a informed purchase. It's just common sense.
Then you get people who call the whole thing the CPU. Right. Maybe I'm a snob but fuck it, these things are everywhere nowadays, it's time people learn about them.
SubJeff on 25/12/2009 at 00:36
I'd say its essential to know the difference. The concept is pretty simple. I'm asking him to understand how RAM works ffs, just that RAM is not where your files will be stored and that it is not the same thing as a HD. Yes, yes you should understand the concept of RAM. Especially as he works in biofrakkinginformatics.
CCCToad on 25/12/2009 at 00:52
Quote Posted by theBlackman
Not very complicated. I partly agree that the masses should have some bare basic knowledge of the technology they use. But not that lack of knowledge is a deficite. They choose what to know and what not to know. The majority of your position is that they
should know. That is not the reality. They
should know only what they
need to know, and face it, they only need to know how to use it.
I agree on that one. You don't need to know exactly how RAM works, but you probably should know that a computer needs electricity to work.
Namdrol on 25/12/2009 at 03:27
I know about mp3 and memory same as breathing. But polarising 3d specs?
Passed me by.
But during Channel 4's 3d weekend a month ago.
I sat and watched in my red and green's.
Edit: On the 3'rd though I'm of to see Avatar at the only imax cinema in Scotland.
In Glasgow, an hrs drive away.
