I agree. It is demoralizing. But Slashdot is a demoralizing site. Just about all we read here is how the MPAA, RIAA, Microsoftâ(TM)s, SCO want to take things away from us. Think about it, Slashdot is not exactly uplifting, empowering stuff is it? At best it's alarmist and reactionary and sometimes entertaining, like the posts on a poll. But I digress...
The thing is it's not about money anymore for these companies; it's about power - those who have it and those who want it. SCO is a wanna-be, Linux (yes Linux) is a wanna-be, Microsoft is (perhaps) doing all it can to hold on to it. You know what though? I don't fucking care. I don't care about Openoffice vs. Office, Linux vs. Windows, stability, or if I have to have a license to play some damn music file. I really only care about security, meaning I care if my information gets into the wrong person's hands. As long as I'm not the victim of a theft or assault I'll do what I need to do to get by in this world. And that's what most people do (read Joe Six-pack).
I just don't understand the instance that Linux should or must become the next Microsoft. That's really what this is all about, SCO is just getting in the way of that goal and it's pissing people off. So ask yourself "would the world really be that much better if it was Linux that was on 95% of the desktops?" It might be more *fun* for you, but it doesn't really matter. All you'll have is the power that Microsoft has now and will be faced with the same basic problems.
At the end of my life I won't be thinking "Damn, I wish I had fought harder to be able to use linux at work..." and I don't think you or anyone else here will be either.
In his book _The Math Gene_, Keith Devlin (The same guy that did the PBS series _Life By the Numbers_) basically says the correlation between music and mathematical ability is because of the finger movements. He bases this on the fact that the part of the brain used to do math is closely related to the part that operates the fingers. Of course, music in itself is highly mathematical, which I'm sure contributes to general math ability as well.
"This technological ignorance...directly leads to a state where Random Person can be lead around more easily by 30-second soundbites and alarmist headlines."
Not technological ignorance, just ignorance. I am ignorant as to the inner workings of my car, toaster, dvd player, PS2, and many other household appliances and tools that I use every day, but this does not make me easier to "be lead around... by 30-second soundbites and alarmist headlines." This is one of the many reasons why I say those who chose not to inform themselves are "merely uneducated" as opposed to stupid, as Lordfly (see post previous to yours) would have us think.
Your definition is elitist and results from being well informed about the issues you care most. Let me reiterate that Technology has nothing to do with being able "to get at the heart of current issues," being able to read and the ability to think critically has everything to do with this. Nothing, short of physical barriers, can prevent a 73 year old grandmother from going to her local library or talking to her slashdot reading grandson in order to become informed on the arguments, both for and against, what the RIAA is doing.
"We rely too much on second hand sources, hearsay from relatives and friends, and accept what some authority figures say as fact."
I agree, but nothing is wrong with taking something on faith (I can effectively argue a person cannot live with out faith...). If one feels that facts need to be verified then that person has a right and duty to do so in a educated and unbiased manner (which is often impossible, but should be attempted).
"...persuading Average Americans..."
And we come to precisely what bothers me. As Average Americans we are nothing but consumers, a vote, a sale, a target, a demographic, a statistic. We have been comoditized by buisness, neighbors, friends, relatives, and family because they view us a someone who needs to be persuaded (i.e. to use linux as a desktop OS), and once we are persuaded we become nothing but a notch on accounting chart or a belt or night stand or gun or an F-14.
I agree that these attacts give nothing but ammuntion to The Man, but to generalize in such a manner is irresonsible. Free yourself from your epistemological assumptions.
Okay, I have to rant here because I'm sick of seeing this kind of language.
Who is the "average American"? What does the "average American" do with his/her time? Watch TV, read magazines, newspapers and books, work, eat, shit? Sounds like things the "average slashdotter" does. Slashdot readers are as average as all the other residents of this country. But because we use Linux and care about what organizations like the RIAA and MPAA are doing, we somehow feel as though we are above "average".
All of us are considered average by somebody. By the naturalist in Montana trying to preserve his favorite trout fishing streams, the surfer working to preserve the the worlds reefs, the forest fire fighter working to prevent forest fires and the corporation trying to understand consumer purchasing patterns. There are so many issues and so much information out there that a person can only focus on limited number of issues. Those that choose not to are not average, they are merely uneducated.
Viewing people as a commodity really pisses me off, and the phrase "average American" does exactly that. So I ask you and the rest of the slashdot community to please clarify your definition of the phrase "average American."
With the advent of Transmeta's new processor we're going to be seeing webpads hitting the market anytime soon. Of course these devices are going to find their way into school and every kid will have their own personal pad. Homework will be done and turned in on it, research will be done on it, it will the the tool for everything. Now this is great but I remember back in the day when I did something that the teacher liked I would get a sticker on my paper, and some of those stickers could be scratched and then sniffed. Which leads me to what this could be really used for...Scratch and Sniff Web Pads!
More than being about rising up and crushing your oppesors I think numnber 11 is about education and knowing how to think. The internet for all it's good and all it's bad can provide and education, and an education is the one thing nobody can take away from you - no matter what. And with an education a person can do great things and bring oneselves out of whatever situation he/she might be in.
Slashdot Mirror
I agree. It is demoralizing. But Slashdot is a demoralizing site. Just about all we read here is how the MPAA, RIAA, Microsoftâ(TM)s, SCO want to take things away from us. Think about it, Slashdot is not exactly uplifting, empowering stuff is it? At best it's alarmist and reactionary and sometimes entertaining, like the posts on a poll. But I digress...
The thing is it's not about money anymore for these companies; it's about power - those who have it and those who want it. SCO is a wanna-be, Linux (yes Linux) is a wanna-be, Microsoft is (perhaps) doing all it can to hold on to it. You know what though? I don't fucking care. I don't care about Openoffice vs. Office, Linux vs. Windows, stability, or if I have to have a license to play some damn music file. I really only care about security, meaning I care if my information gets into the wrong person's hands. As long as I'm not the victim of a theft or assault I'll do what I need to do to get by in this world. And that's what most people do (read Joe Six-pack).
I just don't understand the instance that Linux should or must become the next Microsoft. That's really what this is all about, SCO is just getting in the way of that goal and it's pissing people off. So ask yourself "would the world really be that much better if it was Linux that was on 95% of the desktops?" It might be more *fun* for you, but it doesn't really matter. All you'll have is the power that Microsoft has now and will be faced with the same basic problems.
At the end of my life I won't be thinking "Damn, I wish I had fought harder to be able to use linux at work..." and I don't think you or anyone else here will be either.
Interesting you should say that.
In his book _The Math Gene_, Keith Devlin (The same guy that did the PBS series _Life By the Numbers_) basically says the correlation between music and mathematical ability is because of the finger movements. He bases this on the fact that the part of the brain used to do math is closely related to the part that operates the fingers. Of course, music in itself is highly mathematical, which I'm sure contributes to general math ability as well.
"This technological ignorance...directly leads to a state where Random Person can be lead around more easily by 30-second soundbites and alarmist headlines."
Not technological ignorance, just ignorance. I am ignorant as to the inner workings of my car, toaster, dvd player, PS2, and many other household appliances and tools that I use every day, but this does not make me easier to "be lead around... by 30-second soundbites and alarmist headlines." This is one of the many reasons why I say those who chose not to inform themselves are "merely uneducated" as opposed to stupid, as Lordfly (see post previous to yours) would have us think.
Your definition is elitist and results from being well informed about the issues you care most. Let me reiterate that Technology has nothing to do with being able "to get at the heart of current issues," being able to read and the ability to think critically has everything to do with this. Nothing, short of physical barriers, can prevent a 73 year old grandmother from going to her local library or talking to her slashdot reading grandson in order to become informed on the arguments, both for and against, what the RIAA is doing.
"We rely too much on second hand sources, hearsay from relatives and friends, and accept what some authority figures say as fact."
I agree, but nothing is wrong with taking something on faith (I can effectively argue a person cannot live with out faith...). If one feels that facts need to be verified then that person has a right and duty to do so in a educated and unbiased manner (which is often impossible, but should be attempted).
"...persuading Average Americans..."
And we come to precisely what bothers me. As Average Americans we are nothing but consumers, a vote, a sale, a target, a demographic, a statistic. We have been comoditized by buisness, neighbors, friends, relatives, and family because they view us a someone who needs to be persuaded (i.e. to use linux as a desktop OS), and once we are persuaded we become nothing but a notch on accounting chart or a belt or night stand or gun or an F-14.
I agree that these attacts give nothing but ammuntion to The Man, but to generalize in such a manner is irresonsible. Free yourself from your epistemological assumptions.
"...and the average American..."
Okay, I have to rant here because I'm sick of seeing this kind of language.
Who is the "average American"? What does the "average American" do with his/her time? Watch TV, read magazines, newspapers and books, work, eat, shit? Sounds like things the "average slashdotter" does. Slashdot readers are as average as all the other residents of this country. But because we use Linux and care about what organizations like the RIAA and MPAA are doing, we somehow feel as though we are above "average".
All of us are considered average by somebody. By the naturalist in Montana trying to preserve his favorite trout fishing streams, the surfer working to preserve the the worlds reefs, the forest fire fighter working to prevent forest fires and the corporation trying to understand consumer purchasing patterns. There are so many issues and so much information out there that a person can only focus on limited number of issues. Those that choose not to are not average, they are merely uneducated.
Viewing people as a commodity really pisses me off, and the phrase "average American" does exactly that. So I ask you and the rest of the slashdot community to please clarify your definition of the phrase "average American."
With the advent of Transmeta's new processor we're going to be seeing webpads hitting the market anytime soon. Of course these devices are going to find their way into school and every kid will have their own personal pad. Homework will be done and turned in on it, research will be done on it, it will the the tool for everything. Now this is great but I remember back in the day when I did something that the teacher liked I would get a sticker on my paper, and some of those stickers could be scratched and then sniffed. Which leads me to what this could be really used for...Scratch and Sniff Web Pads!
More than being about rising up and crushing your oppesors I think numnber 11 is about education and knowing how to think. The internet for all it's good and all it's bad can provide and education, and an education is the one thing nobody can take away from you - no matter what. And with an education a person can do great things and bring oneselves out of whatever situation he/she might be in.