Posted by jane d on January 28, 2002, at 23:44:27
In reply to Re: Posting of email addresses, posted by Fi on January 28, 2002, at 17:09:43
Fi - I think you have misunderstood my post. I didn't object that you didn't know how to set up an email account. But I was a little "stunned" myself that you said that you didn't have the time to or interest in doing it but then went on in the very same post to argue for programming changes to the site that would take someone else's time to make and ongoing time to maintain. It seemed to me that you should be willing to expend as least as much time on your own behalf as you ask of others.
I am also a little surprised that you would even hint at technical snobbery given the patience with which all your questions have been answered.
But the main point that I feel you missed is that is doesn't matter what happens on this site. Soon, anyone who cannot manuever successfully around the internet is going to be as handicapped as people who can't read are today. There will be people who can't learn and I'm sure that organizations will try to make allowances for them much as they try to make basic information available to non readers. But I doubt it will be that effective. If you can't read today it costs you in every part of your life - housing, work, healthcare. Unless you are a lot older than I am I think you will see a day where not being able to use the internet will handicap you the same way.
One way to protect yourself from that happening is to use places like this one to learn what you can. Doing it now, while all the rest of us are still learning too, will probably be much easier than doing it later. This next generation of kids coming up isn't even going to be able to imagine what it is like to not understand this stuff so they aren't likely to put a lot of effort into explaining things.
Jane
poster:jane d
thread:2697
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20011216/msgs/2767.html