Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!unhd!unhtel!paul
From: paul@unhtel.uucp (Paul S. Sawyer)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Too much computing is detrimental
Message-ID: <1990Jun27.122046.19594@unhtel.uucp>
Date: 27 Jun 90 12:20:46 GMT
References: <29256@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> <25l4zrr@unify.uucp> <29318@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU>
Distribution: na
Organization: UNH Telecommunications and Network Services
Lines: 36

In article <29318@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> polvino@acsu.Buffalo.EDU (joseph s polvino) writes:
>
>I think you missed my point and got a little rude there.  The point I was
>making dealt with people wasting TIME and MONEY with immature bells and
>whistles, like having all kinds of cute noises and pictures pop up.  Wouldn't 
>you agree that playing with all these techno-trinkets has negative effects, 
>such as wasting time?

It depends on what you consider wasting time.  The people who are playing
are learning about their machine, becoming more comfortable and confident
in using it, they are adopting the machine as THEIRS, something personal,
rather than a mysterious gadget that will break if they press the wrong key.
When the "trinkets" become tiresome, they will put them aside and adopt
some of the "power user" hints and tips that come along from some of the
same sources as the trinkets more easily than those who are discouraged
from doing anything that might be considered "fun" at work....

>And I'm not saying that we shouldn't have computers.  They make life a hell of
>a lot easier.  But they also tempt a lot of people with lots of neat features
>that (could) distract from what their primary purpose is: to make things
>easier.  No need for flames dude!
>
>And if you're going to respond, please respond to the paragraph directly
>above.  That was the point I was trying to get across.
>

I'm not sure that their PRIMARY purpose is to make things EASIER - many things
would just not be done if the computer did not do them, or they would not
be done as accurately.  But they certainly would not get done if people 
who need to use computers are afraid of them, uncomfortable using them, or
feel they need the blessing of people like Dvorak before trying anything 
different.
-- 
Paul S. Sawyer              uunet!unh!unhtel!paul     paul@unhtel.UUCP
UNH Telecommunications        attmail!psawyer       p_sawyer@UNHH.BITNET
Durham, NH  03824-3523      VOX: +1 603 862 3262    FAX: +1 603 862 2030