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The author seems to basically be describing a lack of vision as "technological conservatism". What's ideological about that? Why inject political language into

The author seems to basically be describing a lack of vision as "technological conservatism". What's ideological about that? Why inject political language into that phenomenon? There are ideological battles in technology, of course. But it doesn't have much to do with a lack of vision. If someone lacks vision, and then you make something amazing, they will generally acknowledge it (though perhaps slowly) and everyone moves on. Sure, there are a few people still using DOS, but not very many.

lostlogin 14y ago
I'm not sure that they ever acknowledge it..? Not publicly anyway, they attempt to ignore it.
- jeffdavis 14y ago
  Using words like "they" is one reason I don't like to apply labels for no real reason. Rather than seeing a lack of vision as room for improvement (which could apply to almost anyone); now you see it as a group of other people that are somehow inferior.
  - lostlogin 14y ago
    Good point. I was specifically thinking of of Ballmer and the iPhone, then extrapolated it - unhelpful.
lbarrow 14y ago
I think the shoe fits here. Political conservatism often draws inspiration from the works of Edmund Burke. "Burkean conservatism" is a philosophy that accepts that society will inevitably grow and evolve, but is skeptical of the ability of human beings to understand and intelligently guide society as it changes. A Burkean is therefore reluctant to embrace new social policies, new norms, and new ways of living. Burkean conservatives argue that things should stay as they are now, or at least that they should change slowly.
- jeffdavis 14y ago
  Conservatism means a lot of things. It's a loaded word, and I don't think applying it here adds any value.
drakeandrews 14y ago
From the OED conservative, adjective. 1. adverse to change or innovation and holding traditional values: [...] The primary meaning of conservatism is more to do with being risk averse and disliking change than the political movement it (sadly) shares its name with. In this regard, the author's usage of the word makes sense. He wished to conserve what was there previously without regard of what it may have made way for.
- jeffdavis 14y ago
  The author clearly injected the political meaning into the discussion: "In politics, the spectrum of belief is right on the surface: conservative/liberal, right/left. In tech, that same spectrum exists, but it’s rarely discussed." He may have the OED definition in mind more than the political one, but that's irrelevant. As soon as you invoke it as a label, it twists the discussion into an ideological one. And there's no real reason to do so. He could have just said something like: "Don't be too conservative or set in your ways when it comes to technology. When something new comes along and makes to uncomfortable, rather than try to revert, see if there's a new perspective that shows a better way of doing things." The difference is that is simply a suggestion about how everyone can improve personally, rather than an ideological battle.

lostlogin 14y ago

I'm not sure that they ever acknowledge it..? Not publicly anyway, they attempt to ignore it.

jeffdavis 14y ago
Using words like "they" is one reason I don't like to apply labels for no real reason. Rather than seeing a lack of vision as room for improvement (which could apply to almost anyone); now you see it as a group of other people that are somehow inferior.
- lostlogin 14y ago
  Good point. I was specifically thinking of of Ballmer and the iPhone, then extrapolated it - unhelpful.

lbarrow 14y ago

I think the shoe fits here. Political conservatism often draws inspiration from the works of Edmund Burke. "Burkean conservatism" is a philosophy that accepts that society will inevitably grow and evolve, but is skeptical of the ability of human beings to understand and intelligently guide society as it changes. A Burkean is therefore reluctant to embrace new social policies, new norms, and new ways of living. Burkean conservatives argue that things should stay as they are now, or at least that they should change slowly.

jeffdavis 14y ago
Conservatism means a lot of things. It's a loaded word, and I don't think applying it here adds any value.

drakeandrews 14y ago

From the OED conservative, adjective. 1. adverse to change or innovation and holding traditional values: [...] The primary meaning of conservatism is more to do with being risk averse and disliking change than the political movement it (sadly) shares its name with. In this regard, the author's usage of the word makes sense. He wished to conserve what was there previously without regard of what it may have made way for.

jeffdavis 14y ago
The author clearly injected the political meaning into the discussion: "In politics, the spectrum of belief is right on the surface: conservative/liberal, right/left. In tech, that same spectrum exists, but it’s rarely discussed." He may have the OED definition in mind more than the political one, but that's irrelevant. As soon as you invoke it as a label, it twists the discussion into an ideological one. And there's no real reason to do so. He could have just said something like: "Don't be too conservative or set in your ways when it comes to technology. When something new comes along and makes to uncomfortable, rather than try to revert, see if there's a new perspective that shows a better way of doing things." The difference is that is simply a suggestion about how everyone can improve personally, rather than an ideological battle.