Unpopular Opinions

~~jwb~~ · 02-23-2021, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoundgardenRocks

This is a very common belief among older people about the younger generation and in my experience, it just doesn't bear out to be true. Sure, they might have a better surface level 'understanding' about tech than you did at the same age, but that's likely just a result of it being ubiquitous in their life. There's an implication to 'understanding tech'. Young kids and teens today are surely proficient at navigating web app interfaces (Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, TikTok, etc.) - they're also good at navigating smart phone and tablet GUIs and some, installing apps from the app store, and some may be able to tell you exactly what type of connector your new phone cable will need to have.

But how many young kids/teens today could reinstall an operating system, troubleshoot package dependency issues, explain what the TCP/IP suite is, use a DOS or Linux command line, tell you what a DDoS attack is, or set up a LAMP stack machine on a VM?

Kids today have a proficient enough understanding of technology to work entry level jobs that use some level of technology (fast food cashier, customer sales rep, etc.), but that's about it, in my experience. Could they be trained onsite to do a more technically demanding job? Sure - but most companies don't want to pay that price. A lot of companies are still focused (incorrectly, imo) on credentials like degrees, certifications, etc. You could become proficient in the realm of IT without a college education, but you'll still be passed over by a lot of companies without it.

I'm not saying the average kid is going to be a software developer or a network engineer but learning basic troubleshooting skills on the level of lets say a help desk employee is probably just as easy to teach a 12 year old as it is to teach a 30 year old who isn't tech savy. Obviously, they would have to work alongside adults that knew what they were doing but I don't think it's anywhere near as far fetched as you think.

YorkeDaddy · 02-23-2021, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwb

but learning basic troubleshooting skills on the level of lets say a help desk employee is probably just as easy to teach a 12 year old as it is to teach a 30 year old who isn't tech savy.

You're right when it comes to the level of technical knowledge required for most help desk positions, but on the other hand I'd argue that a help desk position is more than 50% a customer service position than it is an actual IT job. And 12 year olds are probably immensely terrible at customer service.

Hell I actually have achieved the title of "Network Engineer" and I would still say my job is like ~30% or more just about customer service and being personable.

~~jwb~~ · 02-23-2021, 11:25 AM

I'm not suggesting this cause I think they would do a better job than adults... I'm suggesting it so they can learn what kinds of jobs they might actually be interested in and learn marketable skills in the meantime.

YorkeDaddy · 02-23-2021, 12:03 PM

I can get down on that in a controlled, non-exploitative setting

Would have saved me 4 years and $50,000 on my Psychology degree anyway

The Batlord · 02-23-2021, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwb

clearly for some of us telling them to hit the books is also not a solid for long term success

i went to school in the hood and they had magnet programs for things like criminal justice, nursing, jrotc. the local kids hardly entered these programs and they ended up bussing in kids from all over the county including a lot of white suburban kids to take advantage of these programs that weren't being utilized by the kids from that school's district.

meanwhile right outside the school is crack town. drug dealers making actual money. you know how many people drop out or even start selling drugs while they're still in school?

if you have no marketable skills it's a simple choice between getting **** on working at mcdonalds or walmart or making actual money doing crime. not that i know exactly what the answer is but creating a way to gain marketable skills beyond what they teach you in a classroom couldn't hurt imo.

so do as i say, not as i do?

At least where I went to school there was absolutely no connection between public schools and trade schools. For years I've thought that was a completely pointless waste of an opportunity.

The Batlord · 02-23-2021, 04:39 PM

Low key my fav song on the album.

**Marie Monday** · 02-23-2021, 04:45 PM

*angry noises*
picking any other favourite song off that album than 'I'm so bored with the USA' should be illegal

The Batlord · 02-23-2021, 04:51 PM

That bit after the first chorus where Joe bursts out with "I hate the army and I hate the RAF!" is just one reason why that song kicks me in the balls every single time. Best fun little anti-capitalist ditty ever.

**Marie Monday** · 02-23-2021, 04:55 PM

yeah it is, I'll admit that basically any song on that album is a valid favourite

The Batlord · 02-23-2021, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elphenor

there's kind of a cool podcast about The Clash narrated by Chuck D called "Stay Free" on Spotify

Huh.

*scrambles*

02-23-2021, 11:25 AM	#1793 (permalink)
~~jwb~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jul 2019 Posts: 4,403	I'm not suggesting this cause I think they would do a better job than adults... I'm suggesting it so they can learn what kinds of jobs they might actually be interested in and learn marketable skills in the meantime.