Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/17/84 chuqui version 1.7 9/23/84; site nsc.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!nsc!nessus From: nessus@nsc.UUCP (Kchula-Rrit) Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: time to use your brains Message-ID: <1928@nsc.UUCP> Date: Fri, 30-Nov-84 20:08:04 EST Article-I.D.: nsc.1928 Posted: Fri Nov 30 20:08:04 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 2-Dec-84 02:45:52 EST References: <1668@ucf-cs.UUCP> <677@gloria.UUCP> <657@loral.UUCP> Organization: The Patriarchy of Kzin Lines: 55 > Just a little theory... > > Noticing how kids seem to take to computing readily, while adults approach > them with all kinds of trepidation, I remember the movies and TV shows > we saw through the fifties up to the early eighties that included computers. > As I recall, computers in these presentations were always large mainframes, > towering over white-frocked, intellectual types who spouted tech-gibberish > while the ponderous racks behind them vibrated and roared, and myriads of > lights pulsed (always, lots of lights)! > > Even non-fiction presentations of computers tended to dramatize their > power and complexity ("...and this machine here can perform nineteen > zillion calculations every second, and make coffee at the same time, folks!") > Little wonder then that many people flatly assumed that they were > unfathomable wonders totally beyond any hope of comprehension, and that > therefore, they are a threat of sorts. It's a pretty fundamental human > trait to fear things that cannot be understood and controlled. > > Even when an obviously small and simple Apple, TRS-80, IBM or whatever > (I have an original Altair, for those who remember that far back into > history) sits before them on the table, the overwhelming stigma of the word > "computer" creates some surprising blocks. > > ... > > Ray Simard *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** I must confess my image of a computer has been to a large extent like Ray describes above. The word "computer" brings to my mind an image of something like a VAX, at a minimum, i.e. something used for "serious" work. So when I type music into my TI99/4A, I can't help laughing at the poor thing when it plays my song because it seems so incongruous with my image. That's one reason I don't play Rogue(tm?) anymore. In one sense, I hope computers don't develop egos. They may take me too seriously. Kchula-Rrit P.S. I forgot this is net.flame so I must add one. Last time I posted something to net.flame I got some mail from someone threatening to de-claw me!!! He claimed that he was the REAL Patriarch of Kzin, having fought his way up through the ranks of the Federation Navy. I know of no "Federation" in my space, and besides the position is hereditary (if not now, then starting with ME!). Also, I know of no admiral Zarkon or such. When my mail message to him was sent back, I figured I would post to net.flame. All flames will be posted to the net. That felt good! K-Rr