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Tech Geezers vs. Young Bloods
Lam1969 writes "Robert Mitchell talks about how technology is dividing him from younger generations: "The technologies I've watched grow have shaped an entire culture of which I am not a part." Adds Dinosaur: "Ask them [members of the younger generation] HOW the things work, and they have no idea. They are really riding on the backs of the 'old folks' like us that built the goodies they enjoy.""
Being "with-it" and on the phone all the time and available online al lthe time and being CONTROLLED by others is not much different. I do not answer my cellphone or not talk on it because I choose not to, i do not want to be bothered by you. Same goes for when I turn off my crackberry on a regualr basis.
If the younger crowd likes being slaves to their peers and friend then they can enjoy their slavery. I choose to be in full control of contact. and fortunately by 13 year old daughter does the same. she always has her cellphone off when she does not want to ttalk to anyone because it keeps her friends from controlling her time.
same as IM.. she get's on talks and then shut's down. she finds her friends that broadcast what they are doing with their away settings "creepy-needy". her words for it.
it sounds like the out of control "hip and younger crowd" tries to act that way. but then I find lots of the 15-20 somethings faking that they are on the phone at stores and in their cars... trying to look hip.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
I just modded up your original comment, because it is so very true. It's not that kids these days are not as smart or as educated as their forebears. They're simply not as curious. Few if any bother to ask how things work, or why. Instead, they've been trained to be Good Little Consumers(tm).
I'm only 37 myself, and I didn't see much of this in my generation either. There were certainly fewer geeks in my day than in the previous generation. Soon I'm afraid "geek" will refer to someone who only prefers non-mainstream culture, and shows no inclination to explore.
--- The American Way of Life is not a birthright. Hell, it's not even sustainable.
In ten years a few engineers will be designing new classes of electronics based on quantum principles... It will all be magic by then.
I hope you're right. My fear though is that the current generation will be so busy IMing each other and playing video games that they will never learn how to create IM clients or make video games, let alone completely new technologies.
I'm a big tall mofo.