Should computer noobs be in charge of a country?
Mikey 9 comments
I found this video interesting because the subject once caused debate around our office. Is it important for the people who run our countries to have the rudimentary skills to use a computer? I'm not talking about programming or design, I'm talking about basic stuff like email and documents.
Some people will argue that it doesn't matter as long as they are the right person for the job, and some say using a computer is so trivial these days that not understanding how to use one makes you a bit of a dumb-arse, hence you probably shouldn't be making decisions for the country. Both my daughters aged 2 and 4 respectively can use a computer with ease so it stuns me when I see people like Senator McCain of the USofA in the video below admit he is a total computer noob who needs his wife to operate it for him.
I remember there was a supreme court judge who once admitted that he was so computer illiterate that he always had his secretary print out his emails, scary considering he was residing over a technology based case at the time.
Here in Australia our former communications minister went down in history as the worlds greatest Luddite, and he was making decisions that would shape the future of broadband. Richard Alston's interpretation of of what broadband actually was made him a total laughing stock.
Are basic computer literacy skills essential to running the country?
...in response to this comment by randino. Hi Randino
I was wondering how long it would be before someone thought one of those messages was directed at them personally :-)
Actually those messages above the comments box area are randomly displayed on every page load. It's a different message each time, just a gentle way of reminding people to stay on topic and be polite.
I have prefixed them now with 'Tip'.
Jake
Thursday 12th June 2008 | 08:03 AM...in response to this comment by Mikey. I thought they were clever!
I don't think it is all that necessary for people in positions of power to be computer literate, however I would assume it would be something they require to be considered seriously. Also, anything that he needs to know, he will be taught.
Mark
Thursday 12th June 2008 | 09:17 AMHaving been in a job where i helped mature aged uni students use a computer for the first time I can say that there are smart people who are computer illiterate. What worries me though is that they generally were much slower learners than younger computer noobs. It makes me think that old politicians who aren't already tech savvy just don't have a chance at ever being in touch. No excuse for those in charge of technology though... Mr alston!
Nate >.>
Thursday 12th June 2008 | 11:53 AMI think that a basic knowledge of computers and computing skills should be enough, and if they know more, bonus!
Lucky we have a tech-savvy leader, Kev even has his own facebook page!
andrew
Thursday 12th June 2008 | 01:46 PMyep having basic knowledge of computer skills should be a must as most jobs require that these days..
randino
Friday 13th June 2008 | 12:25 AM...in response to this comment by Mark. perfect. Tech-savvy is the correct diction.
I was 30 years old when I was born.,Ewww poor pityful me,..I never lerned anything about computers with exception of my brother's help,.. or my 3-yr./old
daughter!
randino
Friday 13th June 2008 | 12:35 AM...in response to this comment by Mikey. Ok., I promise-po to be ,..wait a sec....I forgot what i was gonna say,.. sorry.
Ok,.. now I remember,..I promise to be polite,..I believe I was rude a time or two,..maybe 5,.. and it's hard to stay on the subject with everybody injecting their own personal thoughts. I wa .... I truely want o be "part of the family". Everytime I write here I find myself going back up and reading the editorial.----to stay on the subject. I don't know ,..... never herd the phrase "noobs" coined. I suppose I need to ask what a "noob" is? Is it a "newbie?" --some person who is "new"?
Tony
Friday 13th June 2008 | 12:55 AM...in response to this comment by randino. Yes you are correct. Nub. Noob, Newb, Newbie all the same
randino
Thursday 12th June 2008 | 06:53 AMno.
they should not.
they should have an iq test first,.
and i would like to see them pass a pogo-stik test
in fact ,.. they should be banned completely from the net,..and the media too!
And you mikey,... do you think I'm a hijacker of comment-threads?
I dont understand,.. i hope i didnt piss you off,.. tell me where we are.