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

[Kim Holburn]

On 2006 Aug 17, at 6:52 PM, Dramatic Device wrote:
> 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 have to agree with you here.  I guess you're talking about ideas  
like EQ <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_intelligence> and  
other of Gardiner's <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Gardner>  
multiple intelligences .

seven dimensions of intelligence (Visual / Spatial Intelligence,  
Musical Intelligence, Verbal Intelligence, Logical/Mathematical  
Intelligence, Interpersonal Intelligence, Intrapersonal Intelligence,  
and Bodily / Kinesthetic Intelligence)

> 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.

Even general purpose computers are not universal tools and most  
"computers" are dedicated tools (for instance there is a "computer"  
in your keyboard, your mobile phone, DVD player and these days your  
car, your fridge etc.).

>> 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.

--
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
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In pre 9/11 US, you check out books at the library. In Bush's  
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                           -- with apologies to Yakov Smirnov