life is short Re: [LINK] Identity theft virus infects 10, 000 computers

[Deus Ex Machina]

Craig Sanders [cas at taz.net.au] wrote:
> On Thu, Aug 17, 2006 at 05:29:05PM +1000, Deus Ex Machina wrote:
> > Craig Sanders [cas at taz.net.au] wrote:
> > > no, fuck it! i'm sick and fucking tired of everything in this world
> > > catering exclusively to morons and incompetents. and i'm sick and tired
> > > of all the arguments for mediocrity.
> > 
> > craig, nobody is a guru at everything, some of those dumb fucks on the
> > computer might be neuro surgeons or pultizer grade authors.
> 
> 1. i wasn't talking about differing areas of specialisation. i was
> talking about the vast unwashed masses who have no particular skill at
> anything, and not much ability to learn anything either. average people
> who find even simple things difficult to learn.

> for instance, the scary thing about an average IQ of 100 is that it
> means that approximately 50% have an IQ of *LESS* than 100. that's
> seriously disturbing when you think about it.

I used to think that too but...

iq tests only measure one type of inteligence. what about a piano
virtuoso that scores 70 on your iq test? or someone who can play
baseball better then anyone else yet sounds like a complete idiot?

I think the great unwashed all have skills that they make use of.
they may not be gurus in the mathematical or pattern matching iq tests but
the vast majority will be good at something. even if its only their
hands or their feet. I have met very very few people who are trully good at
nothing.

think about this way, the great unwashed survive and most thrive so they
must be good at something.

this viewpoint is a very elitist viewpoint, that ones perticular gift is
how one judges everyone else. its best not judge others because you
often have no idea where their gift lies. (unless they are commies of course
then its fair game :)



> 2. so? do i expect neuro-surgical procedures to be optimised for
> non-surgeons like me, or for joe average down the street? so why should
> they expect their non-speciality optimised for them?

well computers are a universal tool. scalpels are not.

> if i ever had to have brain surgery or, worse, was ever in a position
> where i had to perform it, you can be sure that i would learn everything
> i possible could about it, and not whine that it was too hard, that it
> wasn't my speciality, so why should i be expected to learn.
> 
> specialisation is not an excuse to switch off your brain in other areas.

to a degree it is. life is finite and very short.  

Vic