[LINK] Security efforts hindered by untrained users

[Stilgherrian]

On 31/1/08 8:06 AM, "Craig Sanders" <cas at taz.net.au> wrote:
> (and, frankly, anyone who *chooses* not to even attempt to learn even
> the basics about something that's important to their daily personal
> and/or working life *IS* an idiot. no matter how smart they might be
> otherwise).

Indeed, that's exactly the motivation behind the piece I wrote the other
day: '³I don¹t understand computers² is not an excuse' at
http://stilgherrian.com/internet/managers_must_understand_computers/ ...
though rather than calling them "idiots" I called them "incompetent".


> it's like their brain just switches off - they've made the decision that
> it's too hard or too much effort (or that it's "easier" to get someone
> else to do it for them) and they revert to being a pathetic, helpless
> child.

Yes, noticed this too. I think there must be some fundamental brain
mechanism at work here -- the equivalent of rabbits freezing in the
headlights, maybe?

I suspect that if we want to help people get over this hump, then we need to
unlock whatever is happening here.

Or, perhaps not. Perhaps this is just evolution at work, natural selection
in action. Some of the humans are not genetically equipped to move into this
new realm of being, and They Will Be Purged.

Stil


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