this post was submitted on 27 Nov 2023
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Yeah, the real difference is the lag factor. Librarians, teachers, parents, etc. were great at answering random questions. But, often you'd wonder something and there wouldn't be someone around who you could ask. If it was important you could write it down or try to remember to ask later. But, these days you can satisfy any idle question in seconds without disturbing anybody.
I also think misinformation is awful, and in some ways the modern Internet plus AI is making the problem worse. What I hope they do is transition schools from places where kids memorize facts to places where kids learn critical thinking. Some of the key things I learned at some point in school were how to properly estimate something, and how various units work so you can cross check your answer. So, for example, a Joule is a kg m^2 / s^2 . If the units you're using don't match up, you must have screwed up somewhere. I also took a course in argument analysis once, that helped spot common fallacies.
I have the impression that as time goes on, being able to remember facts is going to be less and less important. And, learning technical skills (like how to search the web, use a spreadsheet, create a database, etc.) is going to be so easy that it's not something worth teaching. But, what will be important is knowing how to spot bullshit.
More importantly, some people had questions they were too scared or embarrassed to ask and can now ask the internet, like "why do I like boys when I'm a boy?"
I am from a pre-internet era and I would say that for that reason alone, I'm glad we have the internet to answer questions for kids.
Hmm yeah interesting you say that, not to be like toot my own horn or anything but I am DEFINITELY someone who struggles to remember facts and details. I only remember the concept or message whatever that I gathered from the information at the time I learned it. I often feel ignorant and outright stupid if I were to try to discuss many topics with people in person.
The internet is so nice because I can find my sources and double check myself before spouting off lol.
That said I grew up as an older mileneal/gen x? And I do have the benefit of being taught the critical thinking of how to do research which really has do much in common, and then growing up with the internet wild west and all the crazy real and fake shit that happened.. idk it feels almost intuitive in ways, like having a bad feeling about someone.
(Sorry that was a long ramble, I am high and got a little excited to talk to someone about this who sounded like they could be my age)
Yeah, the older you are, the more you've seen things change over time. In some ways I wouldn't want to be young today. But, in other ways I'm jealous of the way kids today can grow up with the Internet available at all times.