4 ms·

What is your reasoning behind that? This is seriously one of the dumbest "kids these days" statements I've ever read. Kids will become technologically sophistic

What is your reasoning behind that? This is seriously one of the dumbest "kids these days" statements I've ever read. Kids will become technologically sophisticated, many kids already are. Many kids will attain higher technical proficiency than you ever had, for example. Why would it be otherwise?

Dirlewanger 8y ago
Just because your average, clueless, overweight boomer thinks using the latest social media applications on the newest phones makes someone technically savvy, that doesn't mean they actually are. Also, I'd bet the average teenager would still be as clueless about setting up a home theater (i.e. plugging in the correct cables into the correct sockets) as one was 20 years ago.
- InclinedPlane 8y ago
  I have no idea what point you are trying to make.
JoeAltmaier 8y ago
There are 100 reasons - the innards of technology boxes are less accessible. Programming languages are more abstract, and few dig down to the lower layers (which used to be all there was). Its changing faster and hard to get a mindshare before it all changes again. I don't think its a 'kids these days' statement at all. More a 'technology these days'
- gaius 8y ago
  Right. Take 2 10-year-olds. Give one a C=64 and a paper manual, and one an iPad and an internet connection. Which one is more likely to learn to program?
rcthompson 8y ago
I think you're misunderstanding what I'm trying to say. It's not statement about "kids these days", it's a statement about all people always. The fraction of the population that actually understands the inner workings of the technology we all use every day is vanishingly small, and what I'm saying is that I don't see that changing, despite the fact that "kids these days" are growing up with computers and smart phones unlike previous generations. Hence, I think the idea that we just have to hold out for the next generation who will come in with their deep understanding of computers and digital security and fix all the laws to reflect the realities of modern computing is sadly flawed.

Dirlewanger 8y ago

Just because your average, clueless, overweight boomer thinks using the latest social media applications on the newest phones makes someone technically savvy, that doesn't mean they actually are. Also, I'd bet the average teenager would still be as clueless about setting up a home theater (i.e. plugging in the correct cables into the correct sockets) as one was 20 years ago.

InclinedPlane 8y ago
I have no idea what point you are trying to make.

JoeAltmaier 8y ago

There are 100 reasons - the innards of technology boxes are less accessible. Programming languages are more abstract, and few dig down to the lower layers (which used to be all there was). Its changing faster and hard to get a mindshare before it all changes again. I don't think its a 'kids these days' statement at all. More a 'technology these days'

gaius 8y ago
Right. Take 2 10-year-olds. Give one a C=64 and a paper manual, and one an iPad and an internet connection. Which one is more likely to learn to program?

rcthompson 8y ago

I think you're misunderstanding what I'm trying to say. It's not statement about "kids these days", it's a statement about all people always. The fraction of the population that actually understands the inner workings of the technology we all use every day is vanishingly small, and what I'm saying is that I don't see that changing, despite the fact that "kids these days" are growing up with computers and smart phones unlike previous generations. Hence, I think the idea that we just have to hold out for the next generation who will come in with their deep understanding of computers and digital security and fix all the laws to reflect the realities of modern computing is sadly flawed.