Comments on: “technology shouldn’t be such a laughing matter” http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/12/02/technology-shouldnt-be-such-a-laughing-matter/ Ramblings on law school in New York, free software, and the spaces in between. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:55:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: OpenCongress - Sen. Susan Collins [R, ME] http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/12/02/technology-shouldnt-be-such-a-laughing-matter/#comment-26004 OpenCongress - Sen. Susan Collins [R, ME] Wed, 19 Dec 2007 02:48:46 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/12/02/technology-shouldnt-be-such-a-laughing-matter/#comment-26004 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] December 02, 2007 “technology shouldn’t be such a laughing matter” [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> Kramer auto Pingback[...] December 02, 2007 “technology shouldn’t be such a laughing matter” [...]

]]> By: Luis http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/12/02/technology-shouldnt-be-such-a-laughing-matter/#comment-25842 Luis Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:24:46 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/12/02/technology-shouldnt-be-such-a-laughing-matter/#comment-25842 I don't think anyone is surprised, JustAGuy; but everyone agreed that those officials should be embarassed by their lack of knowledge of the middle east, and most people don't seem to think anyone should be embarassed by the lack of knowledge about software. I don’t think anyone is surprised, JustAGuy; but everyone agreed that those officials should be embarassed by their lack of knowledge of the middle east, and most people don’t seem to think anyone should be embarassed by the lack of knowledge about software.

]]> By: JustAGuy http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/12/02/technology-shouldnt-be-such-a-laughing-matter/#comment-25841 JustAGuy Mon, 03 Dec 2007 08:50:52 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/12/02/technology-shouldnt-be-such-a-laughing-matter/#comment-25841 Well, considering the fact that the NY Times did an informal survey of Bush administration officials on the difference between Sunni and Shiite (more on the lines of who's what, like "is Hizballah Sunni or Shiite? Is Al-Qaeda?") and most officials failed miserably, why should we be surprised that somebody doesn't know the difference between Internet and email? Well, considering the fact that the NY Times did an informal survey of Bush administration officials on the difference between Sunni and Shiite (more on the lines of who’s what, like “is Hizballah Sunni or Shiite? Is Al-Qaeda?”) and most officials failed miserably, why should we be surprised that somebody doesn’t know the difference between Internet and email?

]]> By: James Henstridge http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/12/02/technology-shouldnt-be-such-a-laughing-matter/#comment-25833 James Henstridge Mon, 03 Dec 2007 03:14:19 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/12/02/technology-shouldnt-be-such-a-laughing-matter/#comment-25833 To tell the truth, I'd prefer a politician who is honest about their limitations rather than one who tries to bluff. The latter will likely make bad decisions while the former will hopefully get some advice on the issue. Of course, this isn't to say that incompetence is okay (we want the best person for the job) -- just an admission that no one is an expert on everything. You can pretty much always find a topic that will trip up a politician, as can be seen in the Pursuit Trivia segments on the Chaser (http://youtube.com/results?search_query=pursuit+trivia) To tell the truth, I’d prefer a politician who is honest about their limitations rather than one who tries to bluff. The latter will likely make bad decisions while the former will hopefully get some advice on the issue.

Of course, this isn’t to say that incompetence is okay (we want the best person for the job) — just an admission that no one is an expert on everything.

You can pretty much always find a topic that will trip up a politician, as can be seen in the Pursuit Trivia segments on the Chaser (http://youtube.com/results?search_query=pursuit+trivia)

]]> By: Luis http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/12/02/technology-shouldnt-be-such-a-laughing-matter/#comment-25824 Luis Sun, 02 Dec 2007 21:24:24 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/12/02/technology-shouldnt-be-such-a-laughing-matter/#comment-25824 There is that. Still, though... if a candidate went out there and said 'I don't understand health care' they'd be pilloried. Which is sort of sad, actually; health care is hugely complicated, and we wouldn't expect our kids to know how to do it. We do expect our kids to know basic things about the internet, and yet candidates can get away with saying 'I don't do email' without getting hammered. Frustrating. Anyway... There is that. Still, though… if a candidate went out there and said ‘I don’t understand health care’ they’d be pilloried. Which is sort of sad, actually; health care is hugely complicated, and we wouldn’t expect our kids to know how to do it. We do expect our kids to know basic things about the internet, and yet candidates can get away with saying ‘I don’t do email’ without getting hammered. Frustrating. Anyway…

]]> By: Jeff Walden http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/12/02/technology-shouldnt-be-such-a-laughing-matter/#comment-25823 Jeff Walden Sun, 02 Dec 2007 21:16:37 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/12/02/technology-shouldnt-be-such-a-laughing-matter/#comment-25823 Sure. Sadly, I think it may be a little too much to expect any candidate to express embarrassment over any lack of knowledge during the election cycle. Sure. Sadly, I think it may be a little too much to expect any candidate to express embarrassment over any lack of knowledge during the election cycle.

]]> By: Luis http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/12/02/technology-shouldnt-be-such-a-laughing-matter/#comment-25822 Luis Sun, 02 Dec 2007 21:07:28 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/12/02/technology-shouldnt-be-such-a-laughing-matter/#comment-25822 I agree that the picking on McCain was a little unfair (and at least he claims to want a tech-savvy VP, which is more than you can say about most), but that doesn't damage the overall point. I agree that the picking on McCain was a little unfair (and at least he claims to want a tech-savvy VP, which is more than you can say about most), but that doesn’t damage the overall point.

]]> By: Jeff Walden http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/12/02/technology-shouldnt-be-such-a-laughing-matter/#comment-25821 Jeff Walden Sun, 02 Dec 2007 21:00:00 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/12/02/technology-shouldnt-be-such-a-laughing-matter/#comment-25821 Maybe I'm just more willing to believe the best of McCain, but I think that column blew what McCain said way out of proportion. We have no evidence that McCain's knowledge of IT is anywhere near as low as Stevens's knowledge. I don't see it as anything other than acknowledging that he doesn't know everything and that he'd do what he could to have a well-rounded ticket, which is a fairly natural thing for a presidential candidate to say. Maybe I’m just more willing to believe the best of McCain, but I think that column blew what McCain said way out of proportion. We have no evidence that McCain’s knowledge of IT is anywhere near as low as Stevens’s knowledge. I don’t see it as anything other than acknowledging that he doesn’t know everything and that he’d do what he could to have a well-rounded ticket, which is a fairly natural thing for a presidential candidate to say.

]]> By: P. Oscar Boykin http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/12/02/technology-shouldnt-be-such-a-laughing-matter/#comment-25855 P. Oscar Boykin Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://tieguy.org/blog/2007/12/02/technology-shouldnt-be-such-a-laughing-matter/#comment-25855 <!--%kramer-pre%-->Google Reader Starred Items Chimps outperform humans at memory task (New Scientist - Latest Headlines)$999 For a Complete DNA Scan, Worth it? (Slashdot)Luis Villa: “technology shouldn’t be such a laughing matter”(Planet GNOME)M74: The Perfect Spiral (Astronomy Picture of the Day)Natural Ingredient Preserves Meat Quality In Precooked Supermarket Offerings (ScienceDaily: Latest Science News)ivan krstić · code culture: First OLPC deployment: now it’s real.<!--%kramer-post%--> links from TechnoratiGoogle Reader Starred Items Chimps outperform humans at memory task (New Scientist - Latest Headlines)$999 For a Complete DNA Scan, Worth it? (Slashdot)Luis Villa: “technology shouldn’t be such a laughing matter”(Planet GNOME)M74: The Perfect Spiral (Astronomy Picture of the Day)Natural Ingredient Preserves Meat Quality In Precooked Supermarket Offerings (ScienceDaily: Latest Science News)ivan krstić · code culture: First OLPC deployment: now it’s real.

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