Reflections of technology

Over the past 10 weeks I have talked a lot about technology has changed our lives and how it will continue to do so in ways that my mind has not even fathomed yet. I think it is important to say that we must be weary of any and all advances in this field and that the only way top protect ourselves is to learn how to use technology. I must reinforce my idea that this does not mean learning how to code.

It has been suggested that everyone learning to code would be a great thing, but as Sherlock Holmes said in A Study in Scarlet:
"You see," he [sherlock] explained, "I consider that a man's brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort that he comes across, so that the knowledge which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at best is jumbled up with a lot of other things so that he has a difficulty in laying his hands upon it. Now the skilful workman is very careful indeed as to what he takes into his brain-attic. He will have nothing but the tools which may help him in doing his work, but of these he has a large assortment, and all in the most perfect order. It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and can distend to any extent. Depend upon it there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones."

If we were to tell everyone to learn code we may be elbowing something out that is more vital to their own happiness. Therefore we must offer that which allows the most for everyone. Classes on how to use social media are just as important as learning how to type these days. Technology is all around us, but we must learn how to use it not necessarily create it.

HTML

We started a discussion in class last week about Jaron's idea that we need to all be creators of the internet, and not use the things that are just given to us.  First, I think that Jaron, is wrong.  We need consumers just as much as we need people to create.  And as much as i take the point that he is talking about the need for all of us to be creative and make everything our own, what we put on the internet can be some of our own best works.

Somehow in the midst of our conversation, It was uttered that HTML basics should be taught at the freshmen studies level.  This is truly offensive to me.  I have long been a proponent of the Freshmen Studies program here at Lawrence, because i hate the idea forcing people to learn things that they don't want to.  But more importantly, i found it offensive because I have no need to know how to write CODE.  I don't believe that anyone forces people to learn how to write sonnets here at Lawrence, so why should we be forced to do such a thing as write code.

There is a reason We all chose to come here instead of a Professional College.  It sure wasn't because we wanted to learn code.  For this institution to every enforce more mandatory learning than it already does, would be to ruin the beauty of this place.

Moreover, i think Jaron needs to chill out.  the world will not come to an end if we can't all write code or make the internet our own.  what will happen is that the world continue to turn, the sun will shine the next day (in 50000000 years i might be wrong) and the internet will continue to be the platform we need and more importantly want it to be.