4 ms·

So, let's say that their choice of media consumption indicates, or creates, their not-wealthier. If they can tap into the entire universe of education and expe

So, let's say that their choice of media consumption indicates, or creates, their not-wealthier. If they can tap into the entire universe of education and experience an Internet connection implies, and pick cat videos... what would you say is the critical link in their paupery? I mean, horses to water and all that, and it's a matter of choice.

scythe 9y ago
The Internet contains information, not education. Even the free academies are not as good as community college. >I mean, horses to water and all that, and it's a matter of choice. No, it's not. Claims like "education" should be based on reliable expectations of effects, not "possibilities" that ignore actual human behavior. The Internet has not actually made people more educated, with few exceptions. Food and shelter are more important than Internet access. Having a house and a steady income in the 1970s is wealthier than sharing an apartment with roommates and working irregularly in the 2010s; we know this because people prefer it, which is the only actual measure of economic anything.
jimbokun 9y ago
We ALL pick the cat videos. Phones and mobile software are exquisitely engineered to be as addictive as possible. And it works. Here I am, having this largely pointless Hacker News conversation, instead of completing a Deep Learning course or something.
- lsc 9y ago
  >Here I am, having this largely pointless Hacker News conversation, instead of completing a Deep Learning course or something. so... there is something deeply addictive about hacker news... but I personally think? it's the same thing as talking to someone for hours at the pub. same reward mechanism. I mean, the pub closes, and that helps; and most people at most pubs are... difficult to relate to. but I can remember just last month I was hanging out front of my local computer club talking to someone until like 4am. I think the difference here is that hacker news is more like my computer club than it is like a random pub, just because the people I meet are more likely to hold my interest.
- candiodari 9y ago
  That's the thing about addicts. They almost always pick their addiction (wouldn't be addicts otherwise of course), and aren't very happy about it. > Here I am, having this largely pointless Hacker News conversation, instead of completing a Deep Learning course or something. Yes, like that.

scythe 9y ago

The Internet contains information, not education. Even the free academies are not as good as community college. >I mean, horses to water and all that, and it's a matter of choice. No, it's not. Claims like "education" should be based on reliable expectations of effects, not "possibilities" that ignore actual human behavior. The Internet has not actually made people more educated, with few exceptions. Food and shelter are more important than Internet access. Having a house and a steady income in the 1970s is wealthier than sharing an apartment with roommates and working irregularly in the 2010s; we know this because people prefer it, which is the only actual measure of economic anything.

jimbokun 9y ago

We ALL pick the cat videos. Phones and mobile software are exquisitely engineered to be as addictive as possible. And it works. Here I am, having this largely pointless Hacker News conversation, instead of completing a Deep Learning course or something.

lsc 9y ago
>Here I am, having this largely pointless Hacker News conversation, instead of completing a Deep Learning course or something. so... there is something deeply addictive about hacker news... but I personally think? it's the same thing as talking to someone for hours at the pub. same reward mechanism. I mean, the pub closes, and that helps; and most people at most pubs are... difficult to relate to. but I can remember just last month I was hanging out front of my local computer club talking to someone until like 4am. I think the difference here is that hacker news is more like my computer club than it is like a random pub, just because the people I meet are more likely to hold my interest.
candiodari 9y ago
That's the thing about addicts. They almost always pick their addiction (wouldn't be addicts otherwise of course), and aren't very happy about it. > Here I am, having this largely pointless Hacker News conversation, instead of completing a Deep Learning course or something. Yes, like that.