I completely agree that kids should learn how to do things at the low level, so that they understand the root of what they are doing. But I think it's okay to build upon that the use of technology that shortcuts things. As long as you understand what you're doing, it's okay to use tools to get you through the ugly parts. Just be able to do it by hand when necessary.
As for the person that says the not the brightest are from America, Then why are so many coming here for the education. Why should we up the H1B visa limit, then stay in your own country and live the good life.
I see the point you're trying to make, but you're neglecting the fact that a lot of people go to other countries besides the U.S. to study and live. I mean, how many Americans have gone to say, Oxford, to study literature? Madrid for art? Whatever. Just because a lot of people come to the U.S. doesn't mean they're not also going other places. It doesn't mean a lot of us aren't leaving. Sure, the U.S. has a ton of great instituions and lots of opportunity, but so do many other places.
The best and the brightest are no longer culled from America only, or the west, the best and the brightest are cheery picked from the wide world, because the demands have pushed the requirements to a world set.
I don't know that for any extended period of time, that's been true at all. Maybe in certain industries, certain crafts, but not in general. There are, and have been, very intelligent and talented people from all parts of the globe.
And social maturation isn't just about sex. I find being able to to interact with others in a healthy manner an important part of childhood development.
Agreed. And I'm pro-technology in schools, but also not at the expense of other core things that are just as important. Where I'm at they put in unneeded amounts of technology, and completely cut out arts, music, PE, etc. It's increasingly difficult in FL to learn those unless you go to a magnet school.
I'm sure there's a part of it that is the financial equation, but in the end it doesn't matter either way.
My biggest problem with it is that it seems like they set a precedent by including it with the original XBOX, and by not providing it now, they're taking something away. Something that I now expect to be there.
And I really hated the way the interviewee made it sound like not having the HD or memory card was a valid option for an entry-level owner. Like it was okay to not be able to save games and/or settings. Saving should not be optional anymore. Hell, I could save records on my old NES cartridges.
It's a ruse. Basically, the only sensible option is to buy the $400 package (if any at all). But people would balk at that price. So they throw out a $300 model no one is going to buy, so they can say that they've given everyone a $300 entry point, and ooh, look at all you get for just $100 more.
Just a typical, modern marketing ploy. But it will work.
To zoom out on the issue a bit, I'm really sick and tired of this current movement in computer science where so many think that programming should be made into some kind of simple task that anyone can do. Hence you end up with languages like Java that hold your hand really really tight and refuse to let go. Is Grandma writing software really a good thing? Or should we save it for the people who at least have a passing familiarity with computers & networks; hell, someone who might even know a little bit about the basic mechanisms in a typical UNIX kernel?
I think part of the issue is that speed/time-to-market is taking precendence over quality. People can use "modern" tools to punch things out more quickly, even if they don't understand what's going on behind the scenes. Things like VB, for example, where you can create quite a lot without having a good understanding of coding and algorithms and such. However, when a real tough problem comes along, the people who rely on the tools instead of innate knowledge, will fall short.
They're really there because Congress told them to do it or else they would. And a voluntary system would certainly be better than anything the gov't cooked up.
And really, the rating system is extensive and clear. It's a very good system. If games are in the hands of children who aren't prepared for them, can't fault the industry. I know it's not popular thought lately, but the onus should be on parents to do most of the work in raising their children.
Wow, you're properly raising your child. I didn't think people did that anymore.
Kudos.
But seriously, all this discussion would be moot if more parents were like this. It's a matter of taking the time and effort to teach your children to respect others, understand consequences of actions (that means discipline, folks), and making sure they can distinguish fantasy/play from reality. It doesn't seem that hard. It just takes a little effort
You know, it's crazy giving cops tools like Microsoft Office or StarOffice in the first place. 99.99% of people who use word processors don't get past the part where you hit keys and watch text appear on the screen.
It makes assumptions that police officers don't need or aren't capable of using sophisticated software. As if he/she were saying not to give them something too complicated, they can't handle it.
And suggesting that 99.99% of people don't use any features beyond plain text editing is pretty groundless.
You know, it's crazy giving cops tools like Microsoft Office or StarOffice in the first place. 99.99% of people who use word processors don't get past the part where you hit keys and watch text appear on the screen. Oh yeah, and open and save documents. That's all they ever do.
You clearly don't know what you're talking about. If you think cops are just moronic, club-wielding brutes that walk a beat, you're dead wrong. They do a lot of office work, and a significant portion of the police force exist entirely within an office.
And maybe you've never worked in a real office at all. While I don't find a lot of the fancy-shmancy features of modern WPs necessary, people do use them.
I find laptops absolutely essential for college......I find it incredibly useful...
Agreed, they're incredibly useful and convenient, but you haven't shown in any way why they are "absolutely essential". They're not. Owning your own computer isn't absolutely essential. All colleges, at this point, have computer labs students can use.
Would I have wanted to rely on the university labs? No. But they were there, some open 24 hrs.
Let's get back to reality for a while.
Sure, but you are missing is that the computer-using world has been distorted by Windows' dominance. Windows is what the majority of desktop users uses, so 'using computers' means 'using Windows'.
This is absolutely true. And what a lot of people forget is that even though most things in Windows are pretty easy, most Joe Blow users had to suffer a learning curve even for that.
What I think Linux, and any other emerging OSes need to do is neither try to be Windows, nor try to avoid being Windows. Learn from the good elements of Windows (and there are many, though few here want to admit that) and avoid its pitfalls. Do the same from MacOS and BeOS and whatever else. Incorporate that with your own good ideas.
Slashdot Mirror
I completely agree that kids should learn how to do things at the low level, so that they understand the root of what they are doing. But I think it's okay to build upon that the use of technology that shortcuts things. As long as you understand what you're doing, it's okay to use tools to get you through the ugly parts. Just be able to do it by hand when necessary.
As for the person that says the not the brightest are from America, Then why are so many coming here for the education. Why should we up the H1B visa limit, then stay in your own country and live the good life.
I see the point you're trying to make, but you're neglecting the fact that a lot of people go to other countries besides the U.S. to study and live. I mean, how many Americans have gone to say, Oxford, to study literature? Madrid for art? Whatever. Just because a lot of people come to the U.S. doesn't mean they're not also going other places. It doesn't mean a lot of us aren't leaving. Sure, the U.S. has a ton of great instituions and lots of opportunity, but so do many other places.
The best and the brightest are no longer culled from America only, or the west, the best and the brightest are cheery picked from the wide world, because the demands have pushed the requirements to a world set.
I don't know that for any extended period of time, that's been true at all. Maybe in certain industries, certain crafts, but not in general. There are, and have been, very intelligent and talented people from all parts of the globe.
And social maturation isn't just about sex. I find being able to to interact with others in a healthy manner an important part of childhood development.
Agreed. And I'm pro-technology in schools, but also not at the expense of other core things that are just as important. Where I'm at they put in unneeded amounts of technology, and completely cut out arts, music, PE, etc. It's increasingly difficult in FL to learn those unless you go to a magnet school.
I won't go that far, but it did enhance my vocabulary of terrible ways to die ...
dysentery, cholera,
I'm sure there's a part of it that is the financial equation, but in the end it doesn't matter either way.
My biggest problem with it is that it seems like they set a precedent by including it with the original XBOX, and by not providing it now, they're taking something away. Something that I now expect to be there.
And I really hated the way the interviewee made it sound like not having the HD or memory card was a valid option for an entry-level owner. Like it was okay to not be able to save games and/or settings. Saving should not be optional anymore. Hell, I could save records on my old NES cartridges.
It's a ruse. Basically, the only sensible option is to buy the $400 package (if any at all). But people would balk at that price. So they throw out a $300 model no one is going to buy, so they can say that they've given everyone a $300 entry point, and ooh, look at all you get for just $100 more.
Just a typical, modern marketing ploy. But it will work.
To zoom out on the issue a bit, I'm really sick and tired of this current movement in computer science where so many think that programming should be made into some kind of simple task that anyone can do. Hence you end up with languages like Java that hold your hand really really tight and refuse to let go. Is Grandma writing software really a good thing? Or should we save it for the people who at least have a passing familiarity with computers & networks; hell, someone who might even know a little bit about the basic mechanisms in a typical UNIX kernel?
I think part of the issue is that speed/time-to-market is taking precendence over quality. People can use "modern" tools to punch things out more quickly, even if they don't understand what's going on behind the scenes. Things like VB, for example, where you can create quite a lot without having a good understanding of coding and algorithms and such. However, when a real tough problem comes along, the people who rely on the tools instead of innate knowledge, will fall short.
I'm sure they're talking about brief "vulgar" language, but I keep hearing it in my head as all the characters being short with each other.
Bob: What's up Joe?
Joe: Not much.
Bob: Do anything this weekend?
Joe: No.
They're really there because Congress told them to do it or else they would. And a voluntary system would certainly be better than anything the gov't cooked up.
And really, the rating system is extensive and clear. It's a very good system. If games are in the hands of children who aren't prepared for them, can't fault the industry. I know it's not popular thought lately, but the onus should be on parents to do most of the work in raising their children.
Wow, you're properly raising your child. I didn't think people did that anymore.
Kudos.
But seriously, all this discussion would be moot if more parents were like this. It's a matter of taking the time and effort to teach your children to respect others, understand consequences of actions (that means discipline, folks), and making sure they can distinguish fantasy/play from reality. It doesn't seem that hard. It just takes a little effort
I thought I'd match his/her hyperbole of
You know, it's crazy giving cops tools like Microsoft Office or StarOffice in the first place. 99.99% of people who use word processors don't get past the part where you hit keys and watch text appear on the screen.
It makes assumptions that police officers don't need or aren't capable of using sophisticated software. As if he/she were saying not to give them something too complicated, they can't handle it.
And suggesting that 99.99% of people don't use any features beyond plain text editing is pretty groundless.
You know, it's crazy giving cops tools like Microsoft Office or StarOffice in the first place. 99.99% of people who use word processors don't get past the part where you hit keys and watch text appear on the screen. Oh yeah, and open and save documents. That's all they ever do.
You clearly don't know what you're talking about. If you think cops are just moronic, club-wielding brutes that walk a beat, you're dead wrong. They do a lot of office work, and a significant portion of the police force exist entirely within an office.
And maybe you've never worked in a real office at all. While I don't find a lot of the fancy-shmancy features of modern WPs necessary, people do use them.
I find laptops absolutely essential for college... ...I find it incredibly useful...
Agreed, they're incredibly useful and convenient, but you haven't shown in any way why they are "absolutely essential". They're not. Owning your own computer isn't absolutely essential. All colleges, at this point, have computer labs students can use.
Would I have wanted to rely on the university labs? No. But they were there, some open 24 hrs.
Let's get back to reality for a while.
Sure, but you are missing is that the computer-using world has been distorted by Windows' dominance. Windows is what the majority of desktop users uses, so 'using computers' means 'using Windows'. This is absolutely true. And what a lot of people forget is that even though most things in Windows are pretty easy, most Joe Blow users had to suffer a learning curve even for that. What I think Linux, and any other emerging OSes need to do is neither try to be Windows, nor try to avoid being Windows. Learn from the good elements of Windows (and there are many, though few here want to admit that) and avoid its pitfalls. Do the same from MacOS and BeOS and whatever else. Incorporate that with your own good ideas.