Slashdot Mirror
Ask An Ordinary Teenage Slashdot User
These interviews have gotten pretty celebrity-oriented lately. To break the routine, this week's guest is an unknown, 15-year-old, Linux-using, Slashdot-reading high school sophomore named Clinton Ebadi I met at a local LUG meeting. Clinton's mom, who drove him to the meeting (his first), was happily surprised to find that there was a large group of people (of all ages) out there who instantly accepted and respected her son; his relatives, teachers, and classmates looked at him and saw nothing but a slightly strange, slightly pudgy loner. So ask Clinton anything you like about being a kid geek (a living, breathing Katz character, you might say) or anything else, including MentalUNIX or the ncurses-based front end he's working on for Splay. Post questions for Clinton below. We'll send him 10 selected ones by e-mail, and expect his answers within a week or so.
How 31337 are you?
:)
Remember anything you say here is public and therefore can come back to haunt you. The person who may be holding your college app in 3 years may be reading this right no.
Remember the 5th ammendment allows you to shoot yourself in the foot, it just says they can't force you too.
The cure of the ills of Democracy is more Democracy.
Erlang Developer and podcaster
"It is only the ignorant who despise education." - Publius Syrus, 42 B.C.
How do you feel about higher education? I understand that there are a lot of undue challenges you face (from your teachers, for example) in high school because of whom you are. Do you think this might discourage you from higher learning?
Many a UNIX admin are donning a job instead of college, but don't realize that they will be the first to go once a recession comes around. How do you feel about this possibility?
Why are you making yet another Distro? From your specs page , it looks like it is fairly standard, not too much new. nman sounds cool, same with some of your new config tools. mdevelop/xmdevelop sound like overkill...why not wpe, and xwpe?
To me a Fork off an existing distro would be best..
oh, and are you going to be following the LSB and the FHS to the letter? (it would be a nice change)
Just Curious...
The basic sleazeware produced in a drunken fury by a bunch of UCBerkeley grad students was still the core of BIND. --PV
Yea, screw john katz anyway. What would slashdot know about 15 year old boys and them using linux ... oh wait ...
Do you use any drugs? Before discounting this question, take into account that it's being posted by a recent HS graduate who, for the most part, fits the same description.. would like to compare notes ;p
peace
I'm just 23 right now, but I'm an avid Jethro Tull Fan. Their new music is good, but in a different way from their old music. My favorite Tull album was released the very month I was _born_! So it's not just a generations thing (although I'm not a Beatles fan), and I still listen to some random 80s and 90s music.
Quite honestly, music really does suck now. It's not your imagination. The problem is that people learn to like whatever they're told to like. And since the early 90s (maybe 1993), the record companies have put more and more control into the radio stations. That's why you'll hear stuff like, "Here's the new one from N'Sync!" when the song was released 9 months ago. Radio has turned into music advertising for a few selected bands that the RIAA has chosen for the "big money winners" this year. This lets them better predict which CDs will sell well, maximizing profits.
In other words, new music sucks because the RIAA learned that you don't need good music to make a profit.
Incidently, this profit maximization is the reason the RIAA hates Napster. It gives people access to a very wide range of songs which makes it nearly impossible to predict which CDs people will buy next.
-Ted
Okay, as being a 16-year old brainkid, I have experinced a lot of times, people saying that - you cannot be 16! you're too damn smart!. Have you ever experinced that - to people _not_ belieivng you are so young? I mean, people think I'm like 24. Also, how did you learn to code? Books? Education? Parents/Family?. Also, can you combine "life"(whatver it is) and your "geek" life?. If not, my advice is that you should learn to have both a life, and be a geek at the same time - you'll end up alone else =P
-Stskeeps, http://unrealircd.com
I'm only a somewhat older geek, and perhaps even borderline at that, but I definitely want to say that it can all work out quite well, and I'm quite happy with my life except for being a bit too busy this year. I emailed you in case you want any commentary or advice about anything - or whatever. But no addy of mine on /., please.
I have two question sets:
My first is what do you think of school? What things in school did the best job of teaching you? What were the worst things? Do you consider the experience a good one? What could be better? What could be done better by the professionals who run them, in particular? Did you think your teachers were well enough trained in their subjects? How often do you pursue learning in depth material that isn't computer related?
The second is what's your opinion of math? Do you like it? I've found some bipolarity among geeks and math... I'd be most surprised if you said you were indifferent or "average" about it... have you taken calculus yet? Have you thought about looking into it on your own? (One of my quests is to teach calc to 5th graders, or so - and I think it's important)
thanks
Looking for freelance Actionscript (Flash/Flex) or ColdFusion work and/or freelance developers. Email me, put Slashdot
In other words, will you be content with the normal life? Or would you rather emulate the model of Thoreau, who when put in jail felt it no restriction on his freedom because he worked with ideas and not the physical world?
Here's my question:
Way back when, when I was a 15-year-old BBS geek, the hot technologies were the C64, TRS-80 and the recently released Macintosh and Amiga computers (none of us kids gave a second look at the IBM PC.)
I was just wondering if you have taken any time to seriously consider what the future of Information Technology might be, and what, if anything, you are doing now to make sure that you will have the skill you need to get a good job once you get out of High School/College.
I just spent the evening talking to three relatives who grew up in Nazi Germany.
They were one of the few families in their hometown who had a radio - they tuned in to hear warnings of oncoming American and British bomber squadrons that were systematically carpetbombing the German civilian populace.
They told me of the horror they experienced when they accidentally turned the dial to a station that broadcast allied radio. Why? The Nazis had made it a crime punishable by death to listen to allied radio broadcasts.
Now you, frekio say "don't even talk about drugs because it might get you in trouble."
This is an analogous situation. People who are not commiting a crime (by any reasonable definition) are being persecuted by a state (the US), and you advocate that we all pretend that this is all hunky dory. Everybody toe the line! Nobody say anything while the state machinery puts hundreds of thousands of innocents in concentration camps (federal prisons).
WAKE UP. We all have a responsibility to speak the truth -- this IS a free society isn't it? Or is this Faschism?
The Nazis usurped power and executed every dissenter. YOU live in a democracy. The world's "lantern of freedom and liberty". Right? So PLEASE make some use of the freedoms you have left. This is realty. You leave a legacy. You have a responsibility.
We ALL DIE. DEAL with it. Do something with the rest of your life, and the freedom you have left.
I look back at my childhood and adolescent years with a sense of dread and shame.
:) - no, I'm not hideous. I pay some attention to my appearance. I try to put effort into letting other people talk about whatever they want to. I try not to be opinionated (though I'm very opinionated). What the fuck is it then? I don't know.
I don't know if I was rejected by my peers, or if I just didn't fit in, and perceived that I was rejected. I always knew that somewhere along the line, I realized I wasn't interested in the same things the other kids were, I didn't have fun doing what they did, and they didn't have fun doing what I wanted to do - and I suddenly began being excluded from things, and I don't know if this was because of a declined invitation, or out of dislike for my company. \
But once it began, it was self-perpetuating. As a psychological defense, of course, I hated them back. If I was not invited, I didn't want to be. I spent a lot of time alone, and bitter. It has taken me decades to come to grips with this, if I even have yet. I keep trying to "start over", to try to get friendly with new groups, trying to get into what they're doing, but eventually, it ends up the same, a sense that I'm an outsider. The only time I felt like I belonged was in a group of people who had the same interests, in college, the Science Fiction and Fantasy book club. We liked the same games, same movies, same books, same music, there were sub-groups within the larger group (anime, pagan/fantasy, war games, computers, etc.), but we all had in common these basic interests. We had a truly bizzarre set of relationships, we went to cons together, (this was pre-(boom)internet). Since then, we've all grown up, moved apart; across the country, and don't spend much time together anymore. Since then, I've found that I haven't been able to get these same kinds of relationships back. I've tried making friends at work, (computer people), I've tried making friends with neighbors (even taking on interests in things like sports, which bore me no matter how hard I try), I've tried making friends online. None of it has worked long term. I wonder if its me.
So my question is; for people that are loners, outsiders, is there some factor in their personality, that makes them unable to fit in with groups, which drives them to "unpopular" interests, or is it the interest in unpopular things that ultimately makes them unable to make friendships easily?
I know that a lot of it revolves around sports for some people I know; physical disabilities (or just plain not being athletic) - keeps them out of sports. I know that my son has a HUGE drive to be "the best", to be praised, and trumped as a champion at whatever he does, and if success does not come easy, he's just plain not interested in that anymore - so I wonder if I was like that as a small child - I sucked at basketball, and required an unusual amount of praise to be happy doing it, and so, quit doing it, stayed out of it, and made it apparent to my young friends that I wasn't at all happy doing it, so they never asked me to play again? On the other hand, I can remember several YEARS playing little league baseball, sucking, playing right-field, (out of the way), last in the batting line-up, but I didn't quit. I kept trying.
Or maybe there's something about my personality that's just unlikeable. I know I've got kind of an annoying sense of humor. I mean, I am a smart-ass. I'm always trying to make jokes. About half the time, I just keep my mouth shut, sometimes I don't, and I often come up with some pretty good zingers, and I make people laugh. Once in a while, I say something that most people just don't get. I wonder if that's it. With new groups, I often get invited once or twice, then that's all. I know it's not hygene, I pay attention to that. I know it's not looks. My mom says I'm very handsome
One thing I know, I used to carry a lot of hatred around from my High School days. I rationalized, I built up a wall of scorn to protect myself. I dressed in black, before there was a goth-scene (that was back in the Punk days, early '80's). I carried a paperback copy of the Necronomicon with me. College changed me. Showed me how having friends, and social interactions, and relationships could be worth my time. But considering the effort, is it worth it, when they just fade away?
So what makes you a loner. You? Your personality? Your looks? Your lack of athletic ability? Them? Their stupidity? Their inferiority? Why are you interested in computers? Do you find them neeto? Or does it help to be interested in something that doesn't require 8 other athletic friends with nothing better to do than toss around a chunk of leather and sweat on eachother? Do you feel the bitterness too? What do you do about it?
These are my friends, See how they glisten. See this one shine, how he smiles in the light.
and could only have one cd to load a blank computer, what would it be?
There are tons of Linux distributions, and each one has a different reason for being. Most distributions seem geared to one major point: learning how to make a distro, supporting a specific niche like small routers, being easier for Linux novices.
What's your vision for MentalUNIX? Why do you feel that you need to make your own distribution, and what specifically will your distribution do to make it fulfill that need better than existing offerings.
(The website seems to lack a clear description of the overall goal, though it has some mentions of new setup tools.)
--
Are you now or have you ever been a Slashdot troll? If so, please comment on the feeling of being a troll, if not, what is your favorite troll?
Thank you.
--
All browsers' default homepage should read: Don't Panic...
All browsers' default homepage should read: Don't Panic...
(assuming that you are not gay)
Do you have a girlfriend, or at least an interest in some girl you know?
If not, then what type of girl are you looking for? Would she have to be a nerd too?
EverCode
What kinds of activities/clubs do you participate in(sports, yearbook, drama, NHS, FFA, FBLA, Science Club, Math Team, ect.)?
I'm a 16 year old, Junior, who is does a computer class afterschool on days when I don't have yearbook afterschool. For me getting home before 4:30PM is a good day. (My Frosh yearI was at drivers ed @ 0655 and was yearbooking or computer classing until 1800 for 2 weeks solid. 11 hours a day @ school.)
Question One
What do you like to read? What material strikes your fancy? What are your favorite books and magazines? I know many folks your age; some read a ton and others read nothing. I find that I read almost everything online, particularly news. What about you, sir?
Question Two
Most folks your age like to write a lot if they are intelligent, which you probably are. Do you write poetry? Short stories? Do you draw and write comics? Do you write technical manuals? If you don't write now, do you have any plans to write?
John S. Rhodes
WebWord.com -- Industrial Strength Usability
How to Download YouTube Videos
LOL -- Drag out the freak.
..."
"Hey, look at the freak!"
"What is he?"
"Geek."
"A geek freak?"
"In the flesh."
"Does he talk?"
"I dunno. Ask him."
"Do you talk?"
Freak: "Yes."
"He talks!"
"Look, the geek freak talks!"
"What do you do?"
"I am 15."
"Freak goes to school."
"Hey, dammit, he's not a freak."
"I am not a freak."
"That's right. He's a normal guy."
"Then what's he doing here?"
"Somebody thought it would be interesting to ask him questions."
"What kind of questions?"
"What kind of questions do you answer?"
"I don't know. They dragged me out here. Ask me a question."
"Anything?"
"Yeah."
"Hmmm. Okay. How about this: why did you volunteer to be on Slashdot?"
"I didn't. Someone thought it would be a good idea."
"The idea is that he's a normal guy."
"A geek."
"Then why's he in the Slashdot JonKatz freakshow?"
"I am not a freak."
"I know you're not a freak. I understand that. But I'm asking: why are you here?"
"I don't know. Ask Slashdot."
"It's because of Katz. He figures that geeks get a rough time in school. He figures that Slashdot is a different crowd."
"We are?"
"We'd appreciate his differences."
"Appreciate what?"
"That he's
"A geek?"
"I guess."
"Did anyone think that by dragging him out and making him into an 'Ask the Geek' editorial item that you're not actually helping the guy?"
"Oh no. We're helping him. We care."
To the geek: "Do you feel helped?"
"Not exactly."
"What do you feel?"
"Awkward."
"Like you're in the spotlight and people are looking at you?"
"Um. A little. Yeah."
"Are people asking you questions?"
"Some."
"Are they good questions?"
Geek shrugs. "Some."
"A lot?"
"No."
"Not many?"
Geek shrugs again. "No."
As another 15-year-old, high school sophomore, Slashdot-reading geek, I have to say that I'm not sure I like this idea. I've read in various places that geeks are just as diverse as any other category of people. You couldn't just pull one out at random, interview him or her, and say "Look! This is what a geek is!"
But that's what you're doing right here! You're saying "Look! This is what the average teenage geek of today is!" Clinton will answer the questions, and you'll all settle back, content in knowing what we high school geeks are like. But chances are it'll be a flawed picture. Of course some things will be correct, but not all. He'll look at things differently, do things differently, have a different situation that any other younger geek out there.
Now I would like to say that I don't blame Clinton for going ahead with the interview and not thinking about this. I sure wouldn't have thought about it. "Me?!? Interviewed on Slashdot!?!" I'd feel honored.
The point, however, is that you can't get an image of any group of people by interviewing just one of them, especially if that group is a sub-group of the wild and wooly world of Slashdot readers. I ask that as you read Clinton's responses, just take them as an interview with yet another unique member of are community, but NOT as a barometer of the lives of teenage geeks.
----------
Ray's Rule of Precision:
Measure with a micrometer. Mark with chalk. Cut with an axe.
I build model citizens.
In 8th/9th/10th grade I was unpopular (hung out with the losers, didn't go to dances, etc). 11th and 12th grades I was merely neutral (went to some dances, knew a lot of people, but I wasn't a jock or anything). I bring this up not out of relevance, but to show that "I've been there."
My question is: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? What I mean by that is: Many geek teenagers exhibit anti-social characteristics, including: poor hygiene, little or no conversation skills and attitudes (for instance know-it-all-ism) that are off-putting. Do adolescents get into computers because they don't get along and don't understand why, so turn to computers (books, D&D, whatever) as something they can understand/master? Or do adolescents who get into computers/whatever use up so much brain capacity with intellectually challenging tasks they can't learn how to interact with others? Or some third thing?
(Please don't get the impression I'm saying you are a smelly, greasy, know-it-all loser--obviously I've never met you. But the lead-in mentioned being a "pudgy loner" and Katz, so I can assume you aren't dating a cheerleader.)
--
MailOne
Non-meta-modded "Overrated" mods are killing Slashdot
(Hey Ryan! Here's your proof!)
Besides computers and high tech to do you have any hobbies.
The cure of the ills of Democracy is more Democracy.
Erlang Developer and podcaster
When I was a geek in high school (10 years ago)... it was not cool at all. The computer club was definitely frowned upon by the "cool" people. My question is, with the rise of the internet, and computers becoming pervasive in "normal" peoples lives...has this changed? Or have geeks gained some respect?
I read an article somewhere (Wired?) that said geeks were the new sex symbols...doctors and lawyers used to represent power and success and where what men stereotypically wanted to be, and what women stereotypially chased after. But now, as it is suggested, do you think geeks have invaded some of this position? Do you see any attitudes like this in school?
At least there's Elvis (C, not P), They Might Be Giants, and Komeda.
Is it just me, or my g-g-g-generation, or does new music really suck? What are you listening to?
By the way, I was stunned to find that Jethro Tull is still putting out new stuff. A recent one is called j-tull.com. I am not kidding.
Pretty much every geek I've asked remembers loving construction type toys as children. I know my fave was Capsella because of the motors and gears, but there was always a big box of Legos in my house, too.
Did you play with toys like that in your 5-12 years?
What were your favorites?
-B
Hey, what's up? :) I'm not a teenager, but I am a Linux user, and a rather dedicated one. I've come to the realization over the past year or so that, indeed, MS Office is actually a good software packager. Well, relatively speaking, of course ;) I find it fast, relatively lean, feature-complete, and more-or-less stable. I was wondering if you yourself have a particular software favorite that doesn't run under Linux?
Thanks for your time,
Dave
Barclay family motto:
Aut agere aut mori.
(Either action or death.)
Barclay family motto:
Aut agere aut mori.
(Either action or death.)
At the age when most teens seem to be crazy over the opposite sex and dating, how is your situation with girls? Assuming you dont have a girlfriend, do you feel better off without one taking away your free time, or is it something you wish for?
The three most important questions ever:
<British Accent>What is your name?
What is your quest?
What is your favorite colour?
</British Accent>This is taking a bit of a larger context in mind, here, so bear with me for a moment. In the last couple of years, there's been a lot of talk from people like Tom Brokaw about the 'greatest generation'- people who became adults in an age where there was a clear cause for something... for example, World War II, but including all sorts of causes and movements through the decades; up until what seems to be when you and I have spent our time growing up. I'm a bit ahead of you at age 27, but I feel we are both products of a vacant, mass-media driven, consumption-oriented culture that has inherited no clear path, mission, or movement from our society.
Lots of people would look at this as the benefit of living in a free, peaceful, prosperous part of the world (relatively speaking). I can hear them- "Be grateful, kid!" But, it seems that these are the same people who call generations prior to ours (who had their causes and ideals thrust upon them) the 'greatest generation'. Generally, they're closer in age to that generation than yours or mine.
So, my question is this: In this world where there is no clear path to follow, no absolute right or wrong, no great struggle to leap into, what do you see as the primary motivating factor in your life? For people born before us, there were battles to fight that could be universally agreed upon and used as a framework for their lives. These days, our value doesn't extend much farther than how much money we spent at the Gap last week- so for people who want to make something of themselves, that mission must be coming from within. What is that for you? Technology for its own sake? Getting rich? Finding friends and having interesting experiences? Dare I say it, to CHANGE THE WORLD? It's a difficult question that I haven't found an answer for myself yet.