"but I'm loathe to recommend anyone to start with either C or C++"
I see this said often, but I don't really agree with it. While it's great to know other programming languages, learning a completely different language for the sole purpose of getting used to programming in general instead of just learning the language you want to learn seems like a waste of time. Learning that other language probably isn't going to help you learn the syntax of the language you really want to learn. I tried learning other languages, as people often suggest, but in the end it didn't really help me 'get' C++ more. From that point on I merely studied C++, because I feel that that's the best thing to do.
Seriously? I really doubt that there's anyone on Earth that can't tell the difference between 'reality' and fiction (example: a video game). If there are, well, those people would likely already be deemed 'insane' by the rest of society. This isn't the fault of technology if such people exist, but ignorance.
"So if I Tivo a soccer match and replay it, then the players have no free will?"
Not the characters in the recording, but the original characters who were recorded do. You're recording it while they're playing, not knowing what they'll do ahead of time.
"because of his unthinking attitude that we get such draconian restrictions"
This reminds me of the very poor argument for why DRM in software exists. Pirates exist, therefore everyone should suffer, not just the pirate. What happens is that these policies just end up harming the average citizen and not the people they're intended to hurt.
That's a very large amount of time. I know it depends on the person, but I really doubt it would take that long to acquire the knowledge necessary to accomplish this task.
"Does anyone really believe that without the protection of patents there wouldn't be any new products or ideas?"
But... without patents, the person who originally came up with the idea wouldn't be able to make shitty products until their patent expires! They might actually have to... make a quality product that outdoes their competitors! We can't have that.
"Kids that run amok while their parents do nothing need a spanking"
If they initiated physical violence against someone and it's self defense, yes. Although I don't know why it would be limited to a spanking if they could actually do someone harm (a five year old hitting someone likely isn't going to damage them).
"Politicians are NOT a large cost to the tax payer"
Doesn't mean they shouldn't receive pay cuts.
"They are not that highly paid"
They're not? I'd say their $50,000+ a year salary is pretty high considering how pointless they are and how many bribes they generally accept from the rich.
Do politicians ever take pay cuts? Instead of cutting pay for the useful people, I'd rather them (like that would ever happen) cut pay for the nearly useless people.
"Start punching him in the face and see if he "punishes" you by having a stern word with you or beats you down violently."
Never said I was against self defense or protecting other people from harm. I just meant that I was against resorting to violence when things could be resolved by words. If you can't manage that, you're obviously incapable of having an intelligent discussion.
"wrong as claiming it's always the answer."
Yes, that is wrong. The only times when violence is the answer is when you're protecting someone else from physical harm or when you're defending yourself against a violent attacker.
"In fifth grade, I wanted to be a major league baseball player or a police officer"
"I was mainly talking about teaching them the basics (basic math, the native language(s) of their country, etc) early on and later teaching them the skills required to meet the needs of their desired profession."
"Really, when did the point of education become to learn those things required for getting a job?"
That's what a school should be about. Otherwise it wastes tremendous amounts of your time, ends up giving you far more tedious work (thereby increasing your chances of failing), and introduces the risk that you will fail an entire year simply because you failed a class that has nothing to do with your desired profession.
"The three most important subject areas I feel I learned in school was basic health education like nutrition and hygiene, typing, and my history and world culture classes."
Amazing, but I'm not suggesting that we take away your ability to take those classes.
"I can still solve basic calculus problems required in AP physics. At one point in my late 20s, 3 times in one week I could not do long division when I wanted to."
That's your problem, not a problem with technology.
"The point of doing something repetitively is so you don't forget it"
If you already understand the material, you have memorized it. The type of work I am talking about is merely a waste of time. Would you like to do 5,000 addition problems when you already perfectly understand them? Would it be worth your time? The answer that is most likely would be "no."
Right, because hitting someone isn't a violent action. I'll be sure to 'punish' a complete stranger the next time they say or do something that I don't like and see how that works out!
"And who then pass that limitation onto their children"
Where are you getting this information? I've seen people from public schools who don't even understand the concept of evolution and insist that it doesn't exist. Information can and will be blocked out by people who don't wish to learn it. This isn't a problem with homeschooling, but of people. The child can still access information even without the help of their parents. If not, they will quickly find that if they did not learn the necessary information for their desired profession, they will be at a disadvantage. They'll learn it eventually if they have to, one way or another.
"So that the children at least have access to the information that their parents did not learn or rejected."
Indoctrination is not only present in homeschooling, but society in general. Different forms of it, yes. But it's everywhere, and unsurprisingly, so are the mindless drones that are often called the general public.
"Which is where school differs from vocational training."
Still, only subjects which the student needs should be taught in later grades.
"Your notion only works if you want to have a world filled with firemen, ballerinas, and astronauts"
I was mainly talking about teaching them the basics (basic math, the native language(s) of their country, etc) early on and later teaching them the skills required to meet the needs of their desired profession.
"Today's students are just plain DUMB compared to a generation ago"
Really? Each generation seems to have their idiots (and the idiots seem to make up a majority of the population). Brainwashed tools that believe something simply because other people also believe it, or because it's tradition.
"and a teacher that knows how to TEACH"
Something else that seems to be lacking. How about a decent curriculum, less pointlessly tedious work for people who understand the material, and no mandatory useless classes that have nothing to do with the desired profession of the student? Those would be great improvements.
"not just load and run some babysitter/educational game software on a computer."
Where does this happen? I have certainly never seen it. For the most part, students do sit at desks and do tedious paper work. Occasionally, they'll use the computer, but it didn't happen often for me.
"but it does require teachers who both understand technology AND how to use it properly to enhance teaching"
I can't help but be reminded of a teacher in a computer science class (where he was 'teaching' us how to program in Visual Basic) who didn't know what a function was. Sure, he was only a math teacher, but I had already learned more about Visual Basic in the first few weeks of taking the class (I went home and studied it) than he did in three years of teaching the class.
We can't have that. That would mean that they would possibly criticize our capitalistic ways and generally put into question the actions of our leaders! Then our society might actually improve and the big corporations which currently rule it could make less money! That is just unacceptable!
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"but I'm loathe to recommend anyone to start with either C or C++"
I see this said often, but I don't really agree with it. While it's great to know other programming languages, learning a completely different language for the sole purpose of getting used to programming in general instead of just learning the language you want to learn seems like a waste of time. Learning that other language probably isn't going to help you learn the syntax of the language you really want to learn. I tried learning other languages, as people often suggest, but in the end it didn't really help me 'get' C++ more. From that point on I merely studied C++, because I feel that that's the best thing to do.
"So your argument is that identifying people who are pirating music is... evil?"
Identifying them? No. Claiming that they're stealing something or hurting someone? Yes.
"The victim then has to prove that they came by the assets legally in order to get them back"
Well, yeah! Guilty until proven innocent is clearly the most intelligent way to go about things.
I sure do love it when money halts progress. Such a worthless piece of paper.
"He's saying be careful with your gadgets and how you let them augment your life"
No person deemed 'sane' by society confuses 'reality' with 'fiction' or believes that they absolutely need the technology.
Seriously? I really doubt that there's anyone on Earth that can't tell the difference between 'reality' and fiction (example: a video game). If there are, well, those people would likely already be deemed 'insane' by the rest of society. This isn't the fault of technology if such people exist, but ignorance.
"So if I Tivo a soccer match and replay it, then the players have no free will?"
Not the characters in the recording, but the original characters who were recorded do. You're recording it while they're playing, not knowing what they'll do ahead of time.
"DRM it is of huge benefit"
It is? I haven't seen how it benefits anyone in the least.
"because of his unthinking attitude that we get such draconian restrictions"
This reminds me of the very poor argument for why DRM in software exists. Pirates exist, therefore everyone should suffer, not just the pirate. What happens is that these policies just end up harming the average citizen and not the people they're intended to hurt.
"Try again in, oh, ten years or so"
That's a very large amount of time. I know it depends on the person, but I really doubt it would take that long to acquire the knowledge necessary to accomplish this task.
"Does anyone really believe that without the protection of patents there wouldn't be any new products or ideas?"
But... without patents, the person who originally came up with the idea wouldn't be able to make shitty products until their patent expires! They might actually have to... make a quality product that outdoes their competitors! We can't have that.
"Kids that run amok while their parents do nothing need a spanking"
If they initiated physical violence against someone and it's self defense, yes. Although I don't know why it would be limited to a spanking if they could actually do someone harm (a five year old hitting someone likely isn't going to damage them).
"Politicians are NOT a large cost to the tax payer"
Doesn't mean they shouldn't receive pay cuts.
"They are not that highly paid"
They're not? I'd say their $50,000+ a year salary is pretty high considering how pointless they are and how many bribes they generally accept from the rich.
Most of what you said I still agree with, though.
"In the UK, yes"
Didn't expect that. The situation appears to be different where I live with them actually getting a higher pay when inflation goes up.
Do politicians ever take pay cuts? Instead of cutting pay for the useful people, I'd rather them (like that would ever happen) cut pay for the nearly useless people.
"So if a child was out of control physically, then you would say that physical punishment might be appropriate?"
If they were attacking you and could do physical harm.
"Start punching him in the face and see if he "punishes" you by having a stern word with you or beats you down violently."
Never said I was against self defense or protecting other people from harm. I just meant that I was against resorting to violence when things could be resolved by words. If you can't manage that, you're obviously incapable of having an intelligent discussion.
"wrong as claiming it's always the answer."
Yes, that is wrong. The only times when violence is the answer is when you're protecting someone else from physical harm or when you're defending yourself against a violent attacker.
"In fifth grade, I wanted to be a major league baseball player or a police officer"
"I was mainly talking about teaching them the basics (basic math, the native language(s) of their country, etc) early on and later teaching them the skills required to meet the needs of their desired profession."
"Really, when did the point of education become to learn those things required for getting a job?"
That's what a school should be about. Otherwise it wastes tremendous amounts of your time, ends up giving you far more tedious work (thereby increasing your chances of failing), and introduces the risk that you will fail an entire year simply because you failed a class that has nothing to do with your desired profession.
"The three most important subject areas I feel I learned in school was basic health education like nutrition and hygiene, typing, and my history and world culture classes."
Amazing, but I'm not suggesting that we take away your ability to take those classes.
"I can still solve basic calculus problems required in AP physics. At one point in my late 20s, 3 times in one week I could not do long division when I wanted to."
That's your problem, not a problem with technology.
"The point of doing something repetitively is so you don't forget it"
If you already understand the material, you have memorized it. The type of work I am talking about is merely a waste of time. Would you like to do 5,000 addition problems when you already perfectly understand them? Would it be worth your time? The answer that is most likely would be "no."
Would it be possible to somehow reverse engineer the car to specifically target people and run them over without anyone in it?
Right, because hitting someone isn't a violent action. I'll be sure to 'punish' a complete stranger the next time they say or do something that I don't like and see how that works out!
"And who then pass that limitation onto their children"
Where are you getting this information? I've seen people from public schools who don't even understand the concept of evolution and insist that it doesn't exist. Information can and will be blocked out by people who don't wish to learn it. This isn't a problem with homeschooling, but of people. The child can still access information even without the help of their parents. If not, they will quickly find that if they did not learn the necessary information for their desired profession, they will be at a disadvantage. They'll learn it eventually if they have to, one way or another.
"So that the children at least have access to the information that their parents did not learn or rejected."
Indoctrination is not only present in homeschooling, but society in general. Different forms of it, yes. But it's everywhere, and unsurprisingly, so are the mindless drones that are often called the general public.
"Which is where school differs from vocational training."
Still, only subjects which the student needs should be taught in later grades.
"Your notion only works if you want to have a world filled with firemen, ballerinas, and astronauts"
I was mainly talking about teaching them the basics (basic math, the native language(s) of their country, etc) early on and later teaching them the skills required to meet the needs of their desired profession.
"Today's students are just plain DUMB compared to a generation ago"
Really? Each generation seems to have their idiots (and the idiots seem to make up a majority of the population). Brainwashed tools that believe something simply because other people also believe it, or because it's tradition.
"and a teacher that knows how to TEACH"
Something else that seems to be lacking. How about a decent curriculum, less pointlessly tedious work for people who understand the material, and no mandatory useless classes that have nothing to do with the desired profession of the student? Those would be great improvements.
"not just load and run some babysitter/educational game software on a computer."
Where does this happen? I have certainly never seen it. For the most part, students do sit at desks and do tedious paper work. Occasionally, they'll use the computer, but it didn't happen often for me.
"but it does require teachers who both understand technology AND how to use it properly to enhance teaching"
I can't help but be reminded of a teacher in a computer science class (where he was 'teaching' us how to program in Visual Basic) who didn't know what a function was. Sure, he was only a math teacher, but I had already learned more about Visual Basic in the first few weeks of taking the class (I went home and studied it) than he did in three years of teaching the class.
We can't have that. That would mean that they would possibly criticize our capitalistic ways and generally put into question the actions of our leaders! Then our society might actually improve and the big corporations which currently rule it could make less money! That is just unacceptable!