The great technical divide

[jh2112]

Whilst you are all very smug safe in the knowledge of your superior (in both knowledge and attitude!) networking genius, I am surprised that the majority simply could not understand my point. (I thank the cheese for Thank the Cheese!)

To spell it out (in terms that _may_ be understood):

A person cannot possibly know all of the knowledge and information that goes into making his or her daily lives.
We each make a choice (subconscious or not,) on the level of information we require to live our lives.

I choose not to know what the composition of rubber in my car tyres consists of, in the same way as I choose not to care if the web address I type in is interpreted as 32bit or 128bit. It makes NO difference to my life. Or to many other people. Only to Sysadmins etc. My advice to those people is to leave your house and find a life.

[fryke]

Okay. So there _is_ a "great technical divide". As long as it doesn't stop "most users" (those who don't care about the rubber in tyres and those who have no idea what address translation is etc.) from _using_ the web/e-mail/chat etc., it's just not really a problem. I don't want to go into car analogies (look at my previous message), so I'm staying with the actual "problem". I think network technologies will _have_ to evolve into something that "just works". The same thing is true for sooooooo many things. Vector graphics. For years, printers have told their users not to use too many gradients. Users didn't _know_ about how they tortured the printers (both the machines and the people at them, I mean) with some of their stuff. They shouldn't _have_ to. Now finally Adobe is catching up with all those gradient-creators by giving PostScript some abilities about them. Computer networks are similar. Some stuff simply can't be done with POP3. That's where newer protocols come in. The user, at the end, just isn't the one who should *have* to be the expert. That's where you come in. And maybe me. I personally filter my knowledge, too. And so do you. You're not an expert in *everything*. There are things where you're more on the developer side knowledge-wise, some things you're probably a genius in, and maaaaaaaany things you're *no* expert in. Does my sister, who teaches 10-year olds, *really* have to know that she now uses an IMAP mail server instead of the POP-server she's been using before I changed the setup of her machine and E-Mail account? Does she even have to know how exactly the server is configured which forwards the mail going to whatever@nicedomain.chrup to her IMAP-account? No. She shouldn't have to. And in ten years, many would probably wonder what POP and IMAP ever was, because both have been surpassed by Gmail3. :P

[nixgeek]

Originally Posted by jh2112

...Only to Sysadmins etc. My advice to those people is to leave your house and find a life.

But if we did that, then who would fix the included cup-holder on the computer of those who don't care one way or another? You'd be lost without us!

[jh2112]

lol, is that what that is??

I nearly sent my pb back to Apple when I saw it was missing that accessory!
I quickly calmed down as I saw that (the very kind and generous,) Apple have a drip tray for my cup right in the middle of my powerbook. Thanks Apple.

Now do I need a new thread for this?.......
My mouse doesn't work!.......

[nixgeek]

Originally Posted by jh2112

lol, is that what that is??

I nearly sent my pb back to Apple when I saw it was missing that accessory!
I quickly calmed down as I saw that (the very kind and generous,) Apple have a drip tray for my cup right in the middle of my powerbook. Thanks Apple.

Now do I need a new thread for this?.......
My mouse doesn't work!.......

Did you give the mouse some food? Otherwise that poor thing will starve!

Sorry, couldn't resist.....back on topic from now on...I promise...







(crossing fingers)

[Blisterphish]

I appreciate your concern but the fact of the matter is most people don’t need to know how IP works. That is why we’re here. I think the reference to cars is correct in that it is a tool we expect to work without us knowing the intricacies. If the car is not working properly then we take it to the professional who’s made it his job to know how to fix it. I believe knowing the basics of car maintenance will make you safer and that ties closely to your point of network safety. I do think however that IP configuration falls into the realm of intricacies along with setting the timing on your Pinto.

As far as identity theft is concerned. I think a quality paper shredder would go further to protect the identity of the average home user than a secured wireless router. Both would be ideal though.

Dave.