I don't know how experienced your beginners are, but MY experience with beginners is quite a bit different. (A good number of my students have never even seen a computer operated before!)
Typing text on a computer has got to be one of the most unintuitive tasks ever devised. Sure, we don't have any trouble with it, but you'd be amazed at how many people (even those with experience) have difficulty with it.
A few concepts I've noticed people have trouble with:
1) Spaces. To most new users, a space is simply the absence of somthing. They don't understand that a space is something that can be inserted, deleted, etc. (Just like any other character.)
2) New lines. This concept is completely beyond most people. Some may never understand. (Though they'll still be able to function okay, provided they follow a few simple rules about when to press enter. [Which they usually come up with on their own.])
3) Arrow Keys (Cursor Keys). They understand that it lets them move their cursor about, but they don't understand why they can't move their cursor anywhere on the screen. (A difficulty that stems directly from the Spaces and New line problems.)
And thats just the beginning! We've still have a long way to go in terms of the user interface. Anyone have any suggestions on how this (or some other) situation can be improved?
What if they're trying to find reasons that the ipods fail? (To avoid similar mistakes) -- this promotion seems like a good way to get good load of broken ipods to me...
Though one hopes there's a special circle of Hell reserved for people who fleece the stupid in this manner.
The 8th circle. Malebolge, iirc. It's divided into 10 ditches, one for each of the 10 different kinds of fraud Dante could think of (with a different suffering for each, no less)
Most people don't even notice the change if you replace their favorite IE shortcuts with shortcuts to Firefox (er, and change the icon to the one IE uses, of course)
If they notice it looks different (fat chance) just tell them the truth -- you've upgraded their browser:)
I learn the skills to do these things for myself including web development.. so who's the moron?
I'm glad you have the time to learn plumbing, etc. But calling someone a moron for not taking an interest in a particular field doesn't make any sence.
Though there is the phrase "Jack of all trades, master of none" -- let me know if that fits you.
Why is it that every non-programmer has to troll these discussions with statements like: "I would love to see some programmers build a house so we could all laugh at their ignorance as they ask us how to use a level." I seem to recall another discussion where a fellow wanted 'us' (programmers) to do something silly like rebuild a transmission and have it work right on the first try without a manual.
Well, I'm neither a mechanic nor a carpenter -- I'm a programmer. Can any mechanics or carpenters do my job? Probably not. Do I expect a mechanic or a carpenter to be able to do my job? Absolutely not.
When I need plumbing done at my house, I call a plumber. When my car won't start, I call a mechanic. I don't try to do those jobs myself, I look to someone with the skills necessary to do the job.
Now back to the point of the parent post (which this troll missed) Lets use welding for an example.
Anybody who welds for a living can tell you that welding isn't an easy job, and requires good training. They'll also tell you that there are good welders and bad welders. The bad ones having poor or inadequate training -- or are just fscking stupid.
The parent poster was complaining that certain tools enable poorly or inadequately trained or fscking stupid programmers to pass themselves off as good programers. (imagine a tool that allows the untrained to make welds that look good, but are truly poor!) This upsets him enough to post on slashdot.
Should he be upset? Absolutly! Poor programming can kill just as easily as poor welding!
To the non-programmer to who posted: "You guys need to get over yourselves, your skills are easily duplicated." I call bullshit -- my skills are certainly not easily duplicated, otherwise we wouldn't have this flood of bad (poorly trained and fscking stupid) programmers out in the market. (People who make statements like: " it also alows us to do YOUR job mister cool guy programmer. and guess what? I still do my regular job too.") Just like welding, there are those who are skilled and properly trained and those who are unskilled and inadequately trained.
Fun with 53 53 is prime (fun) 5+3 is 8 (not prime, but a power of 2. and we all love powers of 2) a google search for 53 returns 96,100,000 results and 9+6+1 = 16 (a power of 2!) and 1+6 is 7 (a prime!) 5-3 is 2 (a power of 2, and a prime... too wild)
Slashdot Mirror
I don't know how experienced your beginners are, but MY experience with beginners is quite a bit different. (A good number of my students have never even seen a computer operated before!)
Typing text on a computer has got to be one of the most unintuitive tasks ever devised. Sure, we don't have any trouble with it, but you'd be amazed at how many people (even those with experience) have difficulty with it.
A few concepts I've noticed people have trouble with:
1) Spaces. To most new users, a space is simply the absence of somthing. They don't understand that a space is something that can be inserted, deleted, etc. (Just like any other character.)
2) New lines. This concept is completely beyond most people. Some may never understand. (Though they'll still be able to function okay, provided they follow a few simple rules about when to press enter. [Which they usually come up with on their own.])
3) Arrow Keys (Cursor Keys). They understand that it lets them move their cursor about, but they don't understand why they can't move their cursor anywhere on the screen. (A difficulty that stems directly from the Spaces and New line problems.)
And thats just the beginning! We've still have a long way to go in terms of the user interface. Anyone have any suggestions on how this (or some other) situation can be improved?
I just got a new monitor to replace the old one I had that went out of focus
Never seen one go "out of focus". When my monitor starts looking fuzzy, a quick pass with the ol' degauss coil usually takes care of the problem.
Now give me Karma! ;-)
o de.html?ex=1090296000&en=0ba01a954e952cf8&ei=5006& ; partner=ALTAVISTA1
Maybe if your link worked...
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/12/business/12barc
(Just great. Now I'm the karma whore.)
It'll get sorted out in meta moderation
Not even the lightbulb...i son.htm
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bled
Edison was like the "Bill Gates" of the late 19th century. One helluva business man, but not much of an innovator.
It makes me wonder if, in 100 years, people will credit Bill Gates for inventing the operating system.
I have absolutly NO INTENTION of imagining a Beowolf cluster of KenJens.
How many people say My Es Que El?
I do, for one. I just can't stand "sequel". It's like hearing nails on a chalkboard!
I heard someone pronounce it "Squirrel" once. I wanted to slap them.
Why aren't people using PNG instead?
Because Internet Explorer can't render them properly.
It's a joke. (Think back to all those NYT articles posted by Cmdr Taco...)
Please note that I do like for folks to register, but it is free and rather painless ;-).
Soul Sucker...
What if they're trying to find reasons that the ipods fail? (To avoid similar mistakes) -- this promotion seems like a good way to get good load of broken ipods to me...
Though one hopes there's a special circle of Hell reserved for people who fleece the stupid in this manner.
The 8th circle. Malebolge, iirc. It's divided into 10 ditches, one for each of the 10 different kinds of fraud Dante could think of (with a different suffering for each, no less)
More like weapons of math instruction...
hmmm... rubber hose then?
Most people don't even notice the change if you replace their favorite IE shortcuts with shortcuts to Firefox (er, and change the icon to the one IE uses, of course)
:)
If they notice it looks different (fat chance) just tell them the truth -- you've upgraded their browser
So what happens when you factor your time doing things like reading slashdot, getting coffee, snacking, etc. ?
A short, but informative article here:1 008313,00.htm
http://hardware.silicon.com/desktops/0,39024645,1
Why can't the US realize that they for once can't make up their own system. but have to follow the rest of the world?
Why do care? Sometimes I think people will hate the U.S. no matter what we do!
I don't know if anyone else remembers Professional Write (PFS Write) It came bundled with a few other apps. Best word processor I've ever used!
I learn the skills to do these things for myself including web development .. so who's the moron?
I'm glad you have the time to learn plumbing, etc. But calling someone a moron for not taking an interest in a particular field doesn't make any sence.
Though there is the phrase "Jack of all trades, master of none" -- let me know if that fits you.
communist imagery ?????
Why is it that every non-programmer has to troll these discussions with statements like: "I would love to see some programmers build a house so we could all laugh at their ignorance as they ask us how to use a level." I seem to recall another discussion where a fellow wanted 'us' (programmers) to do something silly like rebuild a transmission and have it work right on the first try without a manual.
Well, I'm neither a mechanic nor a carpenter -- I'm a programmer. Can any mechanics or carpenters do my job? Probably not. Do I expect a mechanic or a carpenter to be able to do my job? Absolutely not.
When I need plumbing done at my house, I call a plumber. When my car won't start, I call a mechanic. I don't try to do those jobs myself, I look to someone with the skills necessary to do the job.
Now back to the point of the parent post (which this troll missed) Lets use welding for an example.
Anybody who welds for a living can tell you that welding isn't an easy job, and requires good training. They'll also tell you that there are good welders and bad welders. The bad ones having poor or inadequate training -- or are just fscking stupid.
The parent poster was complaining that certain tools enable poorly or inadequately trained or fscking stupid programmers to pass themselves off as good programers. (imagine a tool that allows the untrained to make welds that look good, but are truly poor!) This upsets him enough to post on slashdot.
Should he be upset? Absolutly! Poor programming can kill just as easily as poor welding!
To the non-programmer to who posted: "You guys need to get over yourselves, your skills are easily duplicated." I call bullshit -- my skills are certainly not easily duplicated, otherwise we wouldn't have this flood of bad (poorly trained and fscking stupid) programmers out in the market. (People who make statements like: " it also alows us to do YOUR job mister cool guy programmer. and guess what? I still do my regular job too.") Just like welding, there are those who are skilled and properly trained and those who are unskilled and inadequately trained.
Get over yourself, morons are easily duplicated.
if I saw somebody buying five 100 Ohm resistors at Radio Shack, I would assume they were building a JTAG.
Don't resistors come in packs of ~5 or 6 at Radio Shack? I don't seem to recall being able to buy just one at the store.
Personally, if I saw someone buying five 100ohm resistors at Radio Shack I'd assume they were building somthing that required at least one.
Now a 6.5mhz crystal and a tone dialer on the other hand...
Don't punish the stockholders by fining the company because Mr. Big Rich White CEO claims he didn't know what was going on.
How did this obvious troll get modded interesting? What about all those Big Rich Black CEOs or Big Rich Jewish CEOs or Big Rich Asian CEOs?
Fun with 53 ... too wild)
:)
53 is prime (fun)
5+3 is 8 (not prime, but a power of 2. and we all love powers of 2)
a google search for 53 returns 96,100,000 results and 9+6+1 = 16 (a power of 2!) and 1+6 is 7 (a prime!)
5-3 is 2 (a power of 2, and a prime
And you thought 53 wasn't special