I think computers are pretty cool (not too bright if you haven’t picked up on this)… Computers are these new-fangled devices that do things for us humans. Think of it as an extra brain so that we can digress into stupidity. They can’t really do too much, at the moment, but they’re going to revolutionize the world. Oh ya, they’re like the size of this room. Ya, it’s big, but THINK OF THE POSSIBILITIES. We can already program it to do things like math and more maths. Maybe one day it will be able to do other things too. It all seams somewhat like magic. “Where a calculator on the ENIAC is equipped with 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighs 30 tons, computers in the future may have only 1,000 vacuum tubes and perhaps weigh 1.5 tons” (Popular Mechanics, March 1949.)
That was maybe 59 (depending on the quote), 40, 30, or 20 years ago, depending on how much the computer actually could do at that time. It took people hundreds of years to fully develop the wheel. A wheel! You know, the round thing that spins? Usually it moves things different places. A wheel is one of the simplest inventions and the computer is one of the most advanced. There are not many new, ground-breaking advancements for the wheel, but computer technology is updated practically every day. Not many people are a fan of this ever-changing computer contraption everybody is talking about.
The dislike is very popular among the older citizens of our society, but there are many who don’t like computers who aren’t over 110110 (…54! Gosh you noobs). “Computers make it easier to do a lot of things, but most of the things they make it easier to do don’t need to be done.” (Andy Rooney) “To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a computer.” (Farmers’ Almanac) “If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get a million miles per gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.” (Robert X. Cringely) That is just a short sampling of their delirium.
It is insane to think that anyone could so bluntly disregard a very useful tool. People use computers every single day. They control the world. Without computers, where would we be? Computers control almost every aspect of our lives. Computers have revolutionized everything. Art, music, messaging, writing, computers have changed everything. Think about how many aspects of your life are controlled by computers. The box that you received with the star wars dolls action-figures was categorized in a computer, maybe you were even watching the shipping status online waiting for it to come. The advertisement you got in the mail was probably designed on a computer and printed out on one too. The letter from your boss saying you had to come in on Sunday? You received that through email. Computers have controlled everything we do and usually for the better. If anything, think of what computers have done for the economy? They have created thousands of jobs. They have created a whole new dimension of products that can be created.
The reasons why people don’t like computers are that computers don’t live up to their expectations, or they do not understand computers or how to use them. Almost every science fiction novel that I have ever read contained a computer. The problem with this is that computers gained a stereotype that they must be able to do everything. The computers are usually portrayed doing things that our computers aren’t close to being able to do. It is unfair to assume that our computers of today can do the same thing that the ones in the books do. Think of a simple tool like a hammer. When using a hammer, I occasionally slip and hit my finger or miss the nail or drop the hammer or do some other stupid mistake involving the hammer. We don’t curse the hammer. The hammer is a tool that includes imperfections just like everything else in life. Why can’t we view a computer as a tool and treat it as such? Computers have imperfections, but so does everything else. They will probably never be able to live up to our expectations. A computer is a tool and only that. It can be a tool that is your friend, but it might hurt your feelings once and a while.
Then there is the problem of people not understanding computers. The reason why older people in our society have trouble understanding computers is because they did not grow up with them. It must be a certain type of special-thinking-jibber-jabber. For some reason they can not put two and two together (Did you get the hidden underlining joke? Cannot is supposed to be one word and I said they can not put two and two together Oh ho ho ha ha ha I am so terribly funny). I don’t blame them. I’m sure there are many things made before my time that I would have a lot of trouble trying to figure out too.
I think computers are pretty cool (ooo look at that controlling purpose, sorry if you don’t understand, but you should have paid more attention in English class. Spell check can’t do everything.) They do a lot for the world, and me so you better darn agree with me because if you don’t I will hunt you down. I will find your computer and I will shove my foot up your…nose. That’s when I’ll send you and the computer to therapy sessions, working out your differences and becoming best friends forever. Living happily ever after. Sure you don’t have a life or someone else to share your nonexistent life, but you have your computer and IT won’t tell you to go clean the dishes. Hey, maybe you can even program it to pour you a warm glass of milk and rub your belly as it reads bedtime stories. *Monotone computer voice* Once upon a time there was a computer and…
