Feb
13
A flawed system
Filed Under Uncategorized
“If Dr. David Reuben can write about sex I can certainly write about computers”YES! Now THAT’S what I’ve been waiting for! With all due respect to Engelbart, Bush, and Licklider, despite their unprecedented intelligence, innovative ideas, and a common goal to serve the good of mankind, their writings were about as much fun reading as watching meat decay in a jar. That may not be a fair statement, but it’s my opinion, and I’d be willing to bet that I’m not alone. Regardless of my opinion, that’s not to say that the world doesn’t need boring and systematic manuscripts that outline the details of the how, what, when, where, and why kind of questions that a new medium brings forth, because the world does, in fact, need them. It’s actually because of the aforementioned genleman that we even have our modern notion of this new medium. Theodore Nelson takes a different, more casual and entertaining approach (I suppose because the computer is an established entity, rather than an abstract concept by 1974) to convince the masses to accept and embrace computers. By using less intimidating and less technical jargon, I think he achieved his goal (if my interest in him is any indication).
Now there seems to be some controversy over Nelson’s resentment toward the education system. Well, I don’t know about others, but I felt he hit the nail on the head with: “To want students to be ‘normal’ is criminal, when we are all so far below our potential.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. There are those who think that our educational system is adequate, but that’s because they were educated in the same system that is fundamentally flawed. So what makes me so qualified to criticize the same system that I was educated in as well? That’s the catch. I am normal just like everyone else. But am I not different than those who believe that the school system is adequate? Afterall, I contend that it’s inadequate. That’s just a technicality. It doesn’t take an extraordinary person to point out a flaw. It takes an extraordinary person to incite change. Ted Nelson is extraordinary. But wasn’t he educated in the same flawed system too? Perhaps that is why his ideas are not being practiced in school today, because he is so far below his potential.