Silicon Snake Oil or Second Thoughts on the Info Highway
by Ron Rosmer <ron@ycs.ab.ca>, Hinton, Alberta
Posted Sun Oct 06 22:38:55 EDT 1996
While the great rush of people, particularly the education establishement, has been described as one of 'lemmings on steroids', at least one professional technocrat-- Clifford Stoll, author of the book "Silicon Snake Oil" has dared to ask some very reflective questions.
Along with Mr. Stoll, as an lifelong communications hobbiest, I am convinced that the problem is not a shortage of information and communications, but rather the wisdom of how to assimulate and glean a little wisdom from it.
As one computer specialist once said, "When I think of the Internet, I look at the pile of manure in my back yard waiting to be spread."
I hope that our education planners will regain some semblance of sanity before future generations are lost.
P.S. For another perspective on this subject, read "The Cult of Information" by Theodore Roszak.
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