A Rant about the dumbing down of the World

[mijman]

This started out as an explaination of why I don't like EZ CD creator. It isn't that the program doesn't work. I actually bought version 3.0 for $80. But it just bugged me so much, I stopped using it. I don't know...The whole idea of making every program S O D A M N newbie-friendly...You know? I've never tried to make VCDs with it, since I've had good experiences with Nero (which I don't like for audio cds because of the annoying 5 sec default between tracks...if I could figure out how to set the DEFAULT to 0, then I'd happily use it), but I've felt this way about EZ since before I even knew what a VCD was. It's part and parcel of the whole movement in the computer industry (e.g. windows, AOL etc) to make computers so easy, that 85 year old women can sit down with them for the first time, and the software does everything for them.
Yeah, yeah, I know "computers are for everyone" Party-line bullcrap. So, whenever someone comes along who, let's say, ACTUALLY KNOWS HOW TO USE THE FRIGGIN THING, is forced to jump through the little newbie hoops because there are no other options availiable.
NO, I don't wanna automatically register my new program!
NO, I don't wanna automatically send my entire phone book to Big Brother!
NO, I don't wanna automatically look online for new software upgrades that will make my stuff not work anymore!
And I definately don't want faceless corporations looking at my hard drive contents. Not because I have anything to hide, but because it is NONE OF THEIR BUISINESS!

but this is off the subject...

Why did I bother to learn DOS back in 1987? Just so some stupid program will load every file that it THINKS I want to record onto CD, just by smiling at it?

I Love this site to death, because its full of people struggling with this process of creation, and LEARNING at the same time. TMPGenc doesn't have a happy little cartoon mascot to guide the brainless to MPG creation. And so much the better!

There seems to be a very strong tendency to DUMB DOWN AMERICA. This is nothing new, Government has always preferred us to be stupid sheep, willing to believe every lie they foist upon us. They've infected the computer industry too, with their "Buddy lists" , "Keyword Searches" and "Instant Messages."
"Why stop the guileless sheep from purchasing computers, just because they don't know how to use them? Doesn't seem profitable."

Oh, well. I'm tired.

[septor]

Preach on brother
I agree with u 100%

[alucard2050]

dude, i don't think you could have put it any more straight forward.

[iant]

Couldn't agree more.

Only other comment. Don't believe it's only America. Same treatment seems to apply everywhere. What they don't seem to realize is that when you try to make things 'idiot-proof', nature just builds a better idiot and everyone else gets to pay. I don't mind their idiot proofing as long as they include one little checkbox. The one that allows you to turn all the silly guff off!

[pacmania_2001]

Right on brother, it's much more rewarding learning a program for yourself than having a crappy mascot dancing around telling you everything. Also you appreciate it more. And usually these dumbed down programs are underpowered bits of shit.

[sullen]

There was a small backlash against just what you are saying about a year ago in Hawaii. There was a new local internet provider that was starting up and selling local connections really cheap. In their advertsing they told people who were on AOL to not bother switching because the company provided NO SUPPORT at all. The said that if you didn't know how to set up a dial in to a server and establish an email accoiunt on a mail program that you would never be able to use their service. It raised some crap because some AOL users felt insulted in that they were being called "dumb".

[dphirschler]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-09-06 21:46:45, iant wrote:
Couldn't agree more.
Only other comment. Don't believe it's only America. Same treatment seems to apply everywhere. What they don't seem to realize is that when you try to make things 'idiot-proof', nature just builds a better idiot and everyone else gets to pay. I don't mind their idiot proofing as long as they include one little checkbox. The one that allows you to turn all the silly guff off! </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

At least most of the idiot stuff is in the "wizards" which most programs allow you to exit out of and some allow you to disable. Winzip and EZCD Creator are two prime examples of wizards that succeed in making their software more confusing.

[speedy]

Amazing. Someone who has the time to post a long winded rant is bitching about the dumbing down of the world.
What's dumber than what you just did?

Let me guess, you enjoy reading some UNIX manual online and you surely prefer GIMP to Photoshop and you're probably also a closet Microsoft basher.

What seperates GOOD software from so-so software isn't if some geek can figure out some arcane command line sequence to type in under the DOS prompt, the sign of GOOD software is it being able to be used by most anyone without them starting at the screen wating for something to happen.

I'm sorry you get your kicks by stumbling through poorly written software. Several guys I know get their kicks writing complex software that's easy for the masses to use. If you think that's dumbing down, you don't really know what smart is.

[pacmania_2001]

Speedy,
I dont mind most of the dumbed down software on a couple of conditions:
1) The wizard can be turned off
2) Features havent been taken out to make it easier
3) It is still as powerful under the hood as a more complex bit of software

[marvel2020]

I Think Public Enemy

"FIGHT THE POWER, FIGHT THE POWER'S THAT BE"


And INFA RIOT said it best

Power to the people,
Freedom of our rights,
Power to the people,
It's a never ending fight,

LONG LIVE THE REVOLUTION


PEACE

[JGDupontMC]

If you all agree to this theory then u r full of shit...
The only reason that the software gets easier to use is so SOMEONE can make money... Of course this is designed to sell more computers, why wouldn't it be. Thus making ur hobbies excede exponentially. Don't be a hater make this work in your favor..
ARI-X #cable-iso, dalnet

[mijman]

I'm not saying that programs need to be complicated to be good, and I'm certainly not claiming to be a "genius" computer user, who reads UNIX for fun (I haven't even LOOKED at UNIX code for a decade). I just think that (for an analogy) making cars easier to drive doesn't mean that people who don't know HOW to drive should be allowed to. That's why we require LICENSES. I realize that is a potentially fascist statement, but I do have a couple of fascist points of view, ones which would improve the world immensely, but I won't go into them here.
Every time I hear a TV show advertise that they're on the web, I think "that's cool" and then I hear "AOL keyword ____" and I bristle. They just GAVE you the address! Can my phone number have a keyword too?

Okay, here I am ranting again. It just makes me insane.
I hear commercials saying things like "just open the box [when you get your new computer home from the store] and you can be online in minutes!" I KNOW that I'm not the only one who has a problem (at least fundamentally) with this.

[d4n13l]

Hey, look at the flip side: it makes us look super intelligent.

[abularkin]

I like learning new things. If I can learn a new way to do something, then I'm happy. If I can learn a new way to do something more complicated, then I'm even happier. What I can't stand though, are the programs which are made to run by the people who are automatically fluent in the computer language. I don't like DOS. I prefer GUIs. While I can figure out a little bit of German or Spanish, or even Russian, I prefer that someone who knows the language can translate it to me. Give the power to everyone, or else you run the risk of becoming a power-hungry sycophant bent on proving to the world that your ego is indeed more powerful and that you are the only one who is capable of being right. Bulls**t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We all have faults. Of all of us computer geeks, who is comfortable at every party that we go to?