4.0903 Age and the Use of Computers & E-Mail (4/74)

Elaine Brennan & Allen Renear (EDITORS@BROWNVM.BITNET)
Thu, 17 Jan 91 11:20:01 EST

Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 4, No. 0903. Thursday, 17 Jan 1991.


(1) Date: Tue, 15 Jan 91 19:33 EST (30 lines)
From: Prof Norm Coombs <NRCGSH@ritvax.isc.rit.edu>
Subject: Age of e-mailers

(2) Date: Wed, 16 Jan 91 00:23 EST (20 lines)
From: <NMILLER@TRINCC>
Subject: re: the eternal child

(3) Date: Wed, 16 Jan 91 10:33:17 PDT (9 lines)
From: bbrown@pepvax.BITNET (Bruce Brown)
Subject: Re: 4.0894 On E-Mail, Age, one old person

(4) Date: Wed, Jan 16, 1991 2:19:02 PM (15 lines)
From: Adam Engst <ace%tidbits.UUCP@theory.TN.CORNELL.EDU>
Subject: Re:4.0894 On E-Mail, Age,

(1) --------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 91 19:33 EST
From: Prof Norm Coombs <NRCGSH@ritvax.isc.rit.edu>
Subject: Age of e-mailers

A couple of years ago I was fortunate enough to win a national award from
Zenith for educational uses of computers. There were ten awards in
various categories. They flew us out to Chicago, and I expected to be
the lone "old man" among a bunch of kids. To my surprise almost all of
us were way over 40! Most more like 50 plus! That got me thinking.

Young faculty are concerned about achieving tenure. No one can blame
them, and I'd do the same if I were them today. The best way to get
tenure is to run down a good well-trod path. Do what scholars expect
scholars to do. To break new ground is to risk being written off as
frivilous or who knows what else. JSo they play it cautious and close
to the vest. JThere is too much at stake to be experimental.

The people I met at the award ceremony were too good as teachers and
researchers to be content with staying in a rut and did not want early
retirement either. So, instead of being bored, they were willing to
launch off in new directions. That is to say, we couldn't stand being
bored, but we also had nothing to lose.

I'm not sure that my analysis of this group is accurate although I did
discuss it with aa few who did express those very feelings. I have no
idea if one can generalize from this group or not. However, I suspect
that there is more than a grain of truth in it.

Norman Coombs
Rochester INstitute of jTechnology
(2) --------------------------------------------------------------25----
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 91 00:23 EST
From: <NMILLER@TRINCC>
Subject: re: the eternal child

Willard is entirely correct in pointing out that boyish enthusiasm
for gadgets may well be the last thing to go. Let me add a specific
circumstance that may further explain what has happened.

Those of us who were boys in the 1930's don't need to be reminded of the
tremendous attraction of amateur radio. The ham, with his specialized
vocabulary (among which radio shack), massive headphones and black boxes
with their knobs and meters, was the envy of the block. There was as well
his knowledge of an esoteric subject. And there was enough money to pay
for all that gear. During the Depression. At a time in our history when
self-indulgence had not yet become normative.

The computer, coming when it does, offers those of us who lost out the
first time round a second go. Were we cargo cultists all those years?

Norman Miller
(3) --------------------------------------------------------------15----
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 91 10:33:17 PDT
From: bbrown@pepvax.BITNET (Bruce Brown)
Subject: Re: 4.0894 On E-Mail, Age, one old person

it amazes me that most e mail & telnet contacts assume that i am
still in school (what is your major, how old are you, what is
your sign). i beleive age is a state of mind, as long as you think
creatively you are young.
bruce
(4) --------------------------------------------------------------31----
Date: Wed, Jan 16, 1991 2:19:02 PM
From: Adam Engst <ace%tidbits.UUCP@theory.TN.CORNELL.EDU>
Subject: Re:4.0894 On E-Mail, Age,

RE>4.0894 On E-Mail, Age, and

The numbers from the Dartmouth survey are impressive, but I believe
Dartmouth has a somewhat unique computing environment where all the
dorms are networked and buying a Mac is made easy (though I don't know
the details). I'd be interested in seeing similar data from other
schools - or do schools where computing is more difficult not do surveys
about computer use? :-)

Adam C. Engst