Kids Can't Use Computers... And This Is Why It Should Worry You

[peanutter]

I get what you're saying meow, but I think that there are two very different things being discussed in the article:-

1. a lack of technical ability (eg: not understanding that the computer overheating and running very slowly are likely to be linked, and signals that these are symptoms of something being wrong, such as a virus); and

2. an attitude issue (eg: not checking the cable is in before wailing "the interwebs have died" or clicking "ok" before reading the pop up box or downloading things without sussing out whether they're legitimate and non-virusy or ... lots of things ...).

Regarding the first category, I would reiterate my point about computers being one of a large number of things that we use day by day, and don't necessarily have a good operating understanding about. And that I personally don't have a problem with that. Over the past 15 years, I have intended to learn how to sew (to make basic garments), do basic (very basic) mechanics, computer programming (as my current ability is Logowriter and Basic before it was even Qbasic), photography, human movement, genetics (understanding - not fiddling), carpentry (just to be able to fix stuff) and more. But there just isn't enough hours in the day or dollars in the bank - or space in my head! So I try to get better at things I enjoy writing, pottery, cooking, etc.

Regarding the second - this is a problem. A big problem. But I don't think it has anything to do with computers - or children. It's people in an "instant" age.

Quite seriously, I put this sort of thing down in the same category as:-

• someone saying a toy is broken without checking if there's batteries, something stuck in the wheels, etc.
  
• someone standing at the pantry / fridge / etc moaning that there's nothing to eat simply because there's nothing they can pull out and put in their mouth, which looks appetising at that precise second.
  
• someone complaining that they have nothing to wear, when they quite clearly do (it just perhaps is not new, not sufficiently "trendy" for them that day, or it's still on the floor dirty from two weeks ago).
  
• someone saying they're bored and expecting someone else to stop what they're doing and entertain them, instead of going for a walk, picking up a book, or doing any one of a million things that they could do if they chose to.
  
• someone saying, "it's not here" when all they've done to find it so far is open their eyes and hope it would miraculously materialise in their hand.
  
• someone saying "I've never got any money" because they keep on spending it on things that they don't actually need.
  
• etc ... I'm pretty sure we could all make an impressive list from our own observations of the human race.

So those sorts of things - call them human, impatient, lazy, idiotic, whatever - are not things which I think have anything to do with computers. They're attitude issues.

A friend of mine works for a bank, another for an electricity company, another in a law firm, and one thing I hear over and over and over again from them (in various levels of decibels, depending on how angry they are!) is that customers and clients are constantly calling asking questions about things which they've been sent letter about, but they clearly have not read them. I don't think that means that the customers/clients necessarily don't know about banking, money, electricity or the law - but rather that they've got their mail, seen it's not a bill - it's "just" a letter or a pamphlet - and they've chucked it straight into the bin, and then later had a question because something has changed or happened or whatever - and they're peeved and are on the phone all angry at my friends ... they should have read the letter, and then they would have known - and could possibly have done something about it.

So, yeah, I see those two things really differently.

[meow]

I think those are very valid points, and I think to a large degree that was my take away message. Don't forget to teach children to really be thinkers. In some ways that is juts presented in this blog with the computer bias due to the writer's own personal bias. But it is certainly a more universal message. Given that computers are such a wide spread tool, they are a good opportunity to ensure we're living this teaching philosophy. Which is also why I chose to put this blog under education & learning- I think education as a whole is really the crux of the matter.

[peanutter]

Agreed!!

And I'm glad you posted it.

I think you've hit another nail on the head there too in terms of weighing up the source and value of something found on the Internet. I see that ALL the time these days in essays

[Cassius2]

I actually see this as a much deeper issue. and the points that peanutter touched upon as inextricably linked to the concerns raised by the author and also, by those who are beginning to question basic human rights issues that are constantly under threat due to the increasing levels of censorship and monitoring by governments and affiliated agencies regarding web use.

I mean, seriously, do we all just have a quiet chuckle when we read articles where a family home is surrounded by gun wielding maniacs (government issued withstanding) all because her family over the course of their 'googling' managed to trip the censors with their search terms 'pressure cooker' and 'backpack' and perusal of articles relating to the boston bombings....all mutually exclusive searches mind you; undertaken by different members of the family? I find that frightening. I also find, that because of a distinct lack of understanding and a large level of apathy (the 'whatevers') people are having freedoms infringed to a whole new and more restrictive level.

Sheesh, 20 years ago if they told us that all our mail would be read, that every book that we picked up or newspaper article that we chose to read would be under the watchful eyes of our governments we would of been totally freaked out. and now? people are kinda annoyed/worried but mostly just couldnt care less.
people need to start being mindful, to start understanding what this means and why and how it all works.

this then ties into the need as the author of the blog suggests of people to start really learning how it all works, from the computer up (i agree with meow that it's not all about knowing it all to the level of an IT professional who has spent many years at university etc to get where they are).

kids do use computers. they use them alot. they are part of the classroom in the same way that blackboards and calculators once were: they are becoming integral. but instead of teaching our children how to use the computer or ipad, we need to teach them how and why (not just 'click here and that pops up!').

for example, there is an increasing trend towards webcam use for the *ahem* more sultry online love fests. this is all well and good and if it floats your boat. but not an insignificant number of young people are unaware that those 'live' images on their webcam can (and are) captured and can (and are) shared...they know how the webcam works but they dont understand its capabilities alongside the capabilities of other programs and computer applications. Just an example....