Generation N vs Generation S
The other day I had a conversation with a Simson Garfinkel about my feelings regarding the digital divide. The digital divide in my opinion is simply a representation of the countries economic divide and we should look to solve our economic issues first.
I’ve been interested in doing more research on the topic of how technology plays a part in culture when Simson explained his thoughts on Generation Net, and how young people aren’t embracing technology as eagerly as most people thought they would.
He wrote an interesting article and he has a point. Just today I met a 21-year old girl who said to me “oh I hate computers, all I know is how to send email and print.” More and more it seems as though people use computers because they have to and not because they really want to.
It’s more common to hear people say “I need computer skills to get a job!” then “I want to learn how to use a computer because it’s cool!” Generation N should probably be called Generation S for Scared, scared of being left out.
Your thoughts?
August 19th, 2003 at 4:28 am
I am more inclined to think it falls along gender lines…. Guys like tools, and the computer is the ultimate tool. Girls like to communicate, but dislike the hassle of having to go through the computer to do it.
Both my sons love using the computer, but their girlfriends don’t. My wife doesn’t really like it, nor does my mom or grandma. Almost all the males in my family really really like computers.
Although my sons like *using* the computer, they don’t like learning about the computer. But it doesn’t bother them at all (at least as far as I can tell) - they are just happy that the thing works, and that they can do their thing - chat, email, surfing, games.
The same split seems to occur amongst my friends - the husband likes computers, the wife tolerates them (and will use one if she has too.) Sometimes a lady will be amazingly good at some task (one friend types 90-110 words per minute) but she doesn’t like at all learning something new like Quicken or how to get the dial-up connection to work.
August 20th, 2003 at 10:10 pm
I use to think… ‘Man I love learning new things about computers’ Now its more like a curse. In school… You can’t learn at your own pace especailly if you go to one of those high rated schools. It’s like ‘Here is your assignment. I want it in my hands in 20 minutes.’ Then all you can think about is getting it done and not what it means to the computer or what it does. One of the main reasons why my generation (I am 15) has problems with using computer is because schools push it on you and make it more of a requirement then a piece of knowledge. Since we all know… Most of the stuff taught in schools… Is useless. I mean… If you want to be a computer techy.. what is learning about the 500ads goin to get you? not much in your field of work. So coming from the gen. N/S all I can say is… I believe it is the elder generations fault for forcing it upon us. Since they all believed we would just love tehcnology.
As for having to use computer skills for a job… It’s true… You have to know computers somewhat. We all know that. but when you get forced to type at least 40wpm you get tired of computers fast.
No one wants to learn about computer anymore because it is no more fun. Specailly if you make one small error you get in a lot of trouble.
I have a lot more to say but I don’t want to type up a 30 page report for yas… o.O
Ty
August 21st, 2003 at 12:27 pm
Computers are an enigma to many people. My interest was sparked by movies eluding to hackers and spies, naturally, I wanted to be a part of the action. I have gone to school to feed my digital hunger and now realize that there is simply too much to learn. I think that this overload of available information can sometimes be a deterrant when presenting a new technology to newbies. Others are intimidated, I here people constantly complaining about how a computer can never replace what we have between our two ears. I agree, but just because you don’t want to lose your job doesn’t mean that the technology is both needed and useful. My girlfriend doesn’t like using computers (she says, “That’s what I have you for!”) and I do not know exactly why. I do know that I don’t like doing things I don’t know much about. For instance , hiking is not something I am interested in doing. I have heard of too many people getting attacked by animals, falling in cracks, and getting stranded for days at a time. I feel that many people look at the internet and computers the same way. There are constantly stories of identity fraud, hacking , viruses, etc. Why would anyone in there right mind want to join this digital jungle? I am trapped inside now. Like Contra! The only way out is too protect myself and fire back.
August 21st, 2003 at 4:47 pm
personally, i think that the lack of interest is based on apathy - children these days have an ‘i-don’t-care’ attitude (at least in my experience) - that’s why i got out of the teaching field - i had all this excitement for the technology, but the students just wanted to know ‘what do i have to do to get the grade’ - unfortunately, there was no creativity - so, now i’ve pursued a career as a programmer where i can take my enjoyment and run with it.
i can remember when i was doing my student teaching in college thinking ‘why won’t these students push themselves a little bit to achieve a bit more than the norm’ - no matter how much flexibility i would give them, they would only give me what i would give them as requirements - it was a major frustration of mine which ultimately, as i said, led me to seek another profession where i could be around like-minded individuals.
as far as the origin of this apathy, i think lines could be drawn in parallel to the growing problem with obesity in the american society. people simply don’t want to work any harder than they have to (my generation included) - on the other hand, i do agree with tyler’s comment - i think that students in general don’t like being forced to do anything - now in high school (around here) nearly all reports MUST be typed on the computer - it’s not like when I was a kid (i’m only 26) when you wrote it out - and MAYBE, if you were lucky, you got to type it on one of the two 486’s in the library or the apple IIe in the teacher’s lounge…i guess, with that said, maybe the *luster* is gone.
oh well…that’s my thoughts…
tim
August 24th, 2003 at 7:21 pm
You are correct that most of the generation doesn’t care. But some things that you are missing… are that nowadays… school is a LOT harder… then lets say 10 years ago. I mean a couple years ago it was made a law that if you fail a class you must attend summer school. also all these new tests to get out of high school or to just pass a grade. Me and my dad were talking about this. Not too long ago… You could basically do nothing all year but show up and pass with a C.
I just don’t know… It isn’t all the mid 1980s-1990s kids faults they don’t care anymore… For some of us we can’t pass no matter how hard we try.
Ty
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