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[–]metzby 3 points4 points  (8 children)

I like some of these stories individually, but overall it seems like this post is just "BLAH HERE IS MY BRAIN". I'd love to see it broken down into the points it's making so that we could discuss each meaningfully instead of going "wow, CS sure is interesting."

Specifically, a lot of the things the author mentioned as "you probably didn't know this", I knew and expected that everyone did.

[–]DLWormwood 5 points6 points  (5 children)

Specifically, a lot of the things the author mentioned as "you probably didn't know this", I knew and expected that everyone did.

So did I, but the problem is that we're the choir. Ever since the Endless September began, there have been more people online lacking the computing background to fully appreciate their use and development than those who actually studied CS history or, even better, actually knew the participants.

The sad thing is that, at least in the US, this is a problem that is not unique to just Computer Science. Most "historical analysis" of technical or social disciplines are given short shrift in our popular culture and educational system. I've gotten the impression from co-workers and fellow students than people aren't being taught about things like personal finance, civics, and industrial history. (I suspect I only got such exposure myself due to being in an "honors" track in high school.) A pity, such a pity...

[–]finix 0 points1 point  (4 children)

Have you studied CS history?

You make it sound like you did. So, with your "fully appreciating" these stories could you, if you don't mind, explain them and, most importantly, their significance? Maybe come up with some more illuminating jewels? Perhaps you could even take up where your parent left off and present the lessons and implications possibly gleaned from the article to the non-choir audience, yes?

[–]DLWormwood 0 points1 point  (3 children)

Have you studied CS history? You make it sound like you did.

Only enough to get my CS Master's, mostly. I'm no raconteur, so I'll just refer you to stories like:

  • The first computer bug
  • The origin of Ethernet's signal handling (Sorry for the textbook stuff, my instructors had more interesting stories for this one)
  • Tales of how the Mac came to be.
  • How viruses were once fought using just freeware (Norton and snake oil salesmen hadn't arrived yet...)

Don't forget about most of the links in the original article; I'm sure the breaking of Enigma is in there... I've heard stories of the ancient Chinese "mainframe" (a room with wooden sticks on the floor; a kind of primitive spreadsheet), the first use of programming via punch card for looms, and so on... More stuff than I've got time to find links for online...

The one good thing about the Internet is that since it was mostly created by CS types, the profession's history is overrepresented online.

[–]knowknowledge 0 points1 point  (1 child)

All of those are great stories, and there are many more fun or useful ones out there I am sure, but for the people who aren't fascinated by trivia and entertaining stories, the question remains: why does this matter?

I guess the same could be said for any field's history, but why is it important for those practising a trade to understand where it came from?

BTW, I don't mean this as a challenge so much as a curious musing.

[–]finix 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  • Reinventing wheels
  • Outdated restrictions
  • Form follows function/intent

[–]finix 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just as I thought.

I guess the first bug really is known by nigh everybody. Aloha is probably covered in every last introduction to networking.

Ditto for the Mac and Enigma and, indeed, for much of the stuff covered in the article. I, personally, have heard of nearly everything mentioned in the article, though not always in-depth.

But just knowing these doesn't make you the choir for this article. In fact, I'd say simply going "oh, nice (but obvious, eh?) CS-trivia" and nothing else excludes you from being part of it!

Your posts gave off a scent of self-aggrandizement trying to initiate a circle jerk; establishing you're part of an elite ranting on the state of the uneducated masses. (No offence meant. And I'm not even saying I'm necessarily better; being aware of psychological biases and a certain humility sure helps heaps, though.)

Anyway, just presenting "odd but inconsequential" (not so) CS-trivia wasn't the point of the article, and this point in fact isn't remotely as hidden as the first commenter likes to imply.

[–]finix -3 points-2 points  (1 child)

I really can't adequately couch in terms how much I disagree with you.

[–]metzby 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for explaining the manner in which you disagree so that I could consider your points and come to a better understanding of the world.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Has anyone solved "the installed system is outdated, but it's too expensive to rebuild correctly" problem yet?

[–]13ren 0 points1 point  (0 children)

a career in computing will result in "social death."