I was chatting with a couple of people the other day. One is a friend, the other, more an acquaintance.
The subject moved from the general health questions and concerns (do we always start here) to another favored subject, computers. The friend had recently got a computer for her home and with some finagling, had gone online via a telephone modem. A computer neophyte in this type of setting, she was reveling in her accomplishments (playing solitaire and listening to music AT THE SAME TIME!) and enjoying her new found hobby. She was proud of herself for learning something new and stimulating. That was really neat to see.
The acquaintance, on the other hand, expressed disdain at the computer, proud that she didn’t have one and revealed that she didn’t even know how to turn one on. She was proud of herself for not learning something new and stimulating. That was really weird to see. It is hard for me not to think less of the person resistant to learning the computer. I could not think more positively of the person learning the new skill.
What would cause a person to assume this mantle of ignorant bliss? Fear of failure? A lack of motivation? Not understanding the significant power of the technology? Maybe it’s a combination of these things. Maybe it was none of these reasons but something else. Not wanting to be part of a trend? Wanting to live a simpler life? I don’t think I will ever know. To me this isn’t just about the computer but rather is about a resistance to learning. Would it be any different if this acquaintance had said she didn’t know how to swim or ride a bike and was happy that she couldn’t do these things?
Technology is a tool and like every tool it has its uses and abuses. To simply deny its place in your life, for whatever reason seems narrow-minded and elitist. I would much rather deal with someone who admits that they don’t know much about something but holds a genuine curiosity about it, than someone with the false bravado of being happy that they don’t know and don’t care.
Wake up and smell the printer ink. There is a whole new, cool jewel of a world out there…
3 comments:
I think you probably hit it on the head. I would think that since I agree with you.
Unless you intenionally, maybe for religious reasons, live like the Amish, and bless you if you do, then you are walking away from the looking glass, staying away from the openned window ... skipping school.
Go down to the creek to fish. Its great. But isn't it interesting to see how they fish is Bosnia?
you know, printers don't use ink anymore right???
it's toner.
just remember, no matter what you know, someone else always knows more.
Well, today, I made my around the town of Sturbridge's website & found the zoning law I needed. Man, is that town ZONED!!! Maybe tonight I'll see if I can figure out why my e mail connection has failed. By the way, you forgot to say that I also hooked up the speakers allllll by myself. Whew!!
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