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So we're back to criticizing claims of superiority I've never made? Joel Send a noteboard - 14/05/2011 07:06:10 AM
"Who is Osama bin Laden?" is a good way to conduct a google search if you are seeking general information about him beyond "he's the leader of Al Qaeda who bombed us on 9/11"

I'm not sure why you think that people should be familiar with much more than that. I'm willing to bet that even people in NYC at the time of the attack aren't intimately familiar with his personal history. The majority certainly would not know more than what the news told them (which the news has not talked about in a while, so kids would not know it).

Really, you should commend teenagers for using this as a prompt to investigate his history.

Let me assure YOU I'm familiar with the former, but I can't say I have detailed knowledge of how people in general conduct them; I haven't asked around much, but what knowledge I have of peoples search habits was acquired that way. If they were seeking to expand existing basic knowledge, fine, my bad, but the question suggested otherwise to me, hence my shock.

This is because you don't really think further than your first thought. First thought in reading something like what you first saw would be "oh, look at all the stupid, lazy children". But, if you have the slightest shred of faith in humanity and people in general, you would would take a few seconds (thats all it honestly takes) to come up with logical conclusions or theories. But from your replies, you never quite made it that far.

I've been known to just go with my initial reaction before. I've done it quite often on here and thats one of the reasons I've posted less for a while. Thinking through my responses and the topics for seconds more (like I do all the time in real life) quickly shows that my initial reaction may not be wrong but has lots of holes in it. Then I'm just too lazy to fill them in, but thats a different issue than whats at hand. Stop assuming that you actually know things in your initial reaction and thoughts, add a new layer. Think more critically, not just in a manor that says "I'm a knowledge snob" or more often your "Look at me, I'm always correct". You can be and often are wrong. But then, everyone is. Thats life. You're no better than anyone else on here, don't act as you are anymore.

Again, for someone so concerned about speculation on the thoughts of others, you're doing a fair amount of it. Regardless, I'm guilty of expecting teens to have knowledge reasonably close to my own and being disappointed that the question implied many of them didn't. In other words, that I thought them, not inferior to myself, but better than they appear to be; I have tended to shoot from the hip more in recent years in large part due to becoming so familiar with that disappointment. It's ironic someone jumped into this thread to voice displeasure I thought him capable of something he says beyond him (the first time I've ever heard him claim ANYTHING beyond him). My disappointment that a lot of wotmaniacs weren't as fine as I thought stems in no small part from the months he and others spent on a rather insulting discussion of what they thought MY capabilities. For good or ill one consequence of that is that I worry a lot less about what others think of me, because a lot of people will and do think some pretty wretched things irrespective of whether they're true. I do tend to shoot from the hip a lot more as a result, often with regrettable results, and I am trying to curtail that and return to the less confrontational tone I once took; finding the way back remains a challenge because it's uncharted territory. Now, returning from answering the ad hominem to the actual topic:

Yeah, I considered that the search might indicate a general but shallow knowledge and simply seek to expand that, but dismissed it because the question was SO general and SO widespread. I've since conceded that, while I still think it unlikely, it is possible. I don't have a problem admitting I'm wrong, but don't take positions just for the hell of it or to start an argument, so do require some convincing to change my mind.
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OK, Once and for All, WTF Is WRONG with Kids Today? - 04/05/2011 01:28:52 AM 1735 Views
Cool story bro. *NM* - 04/05/2011 01:35:29 AM 546 Views
Clearly not. - 04/05/2011 02:16:08 AM 1128 Views
Re: Duh. Winning. *NM* - 04/05/2011 01:46:39 AM 586 Views
The SEALS won. - 04/05/2011 02:17:41 AM 1002 Views
They read Boing Boing. *NM* - 04/05/2011 01:57:17 AM 608 Views
And use Yahoo, apparently. - 04/05/2011 02:20:36 AM 1215 Views
I guess I have a pretty bright Child. and a good school district. - 04/05/2011 04:28:24 AM 1017 Views
Hopefully, and presumably respectable parenting skills. - 06/05/2011 01:32:02 AM 1198 Views
You really have to wonder if our culture is decadent? *NM* - 04/05/2011 06:24:25 AM 567 Views
Not at all, but it does make me wonder if we're TOO decadent. - 06/05/2011 01:38:42 AM 1034 Views
I agree. *NM* - 09/05/2011 10:36:40 PM 637 Views
How is it the kids' fault that they are not taught (to care) about recent history? *NM* - 04/05/2011 06:54:16 AM 525 Views
I just asked my son, and he said he was a boss of a criminal organisation who was responsible for - 04/05/2011 06:56:18 AM 1034 Views
Good enough for me, thanks. - 06/05/2011 01:59:40 AM 1034 Views
Yes and no, but I'd think an international network trying to kill you would motivate self education. - 06/05/2011 01:57:06 AM 1159 Views
Good teachers don't allow overeager students to monopolize the classroom. - 06/05/2011 02:52:27 AM 1164 Views
We covered the material. - 06/05/2011 02:57:52 AM 1204 Views
Which means... not a good teacher. - 06/05/2011 07:02:44 AM 914 Views
Good luck with that. - 06/05/2011 11:51:48 PM 1077 Views
If they don't know about the terrorist organisation to begin with, why would they self educate? - 13/05/2011 08:06:07 AM 1038 Views
If completely ignorant of terrorism itself, they wouldn't, but if not I'd expect they'd get informed - 14/05/2011 03:01:37 AM 1006 Views
What?!? There are terrorists roaming the US, killing kids in their beds?!? - 14/05/2011 07:45:27 AM 1151 Views
They're certainly trying. - 14/05/2011 10:43:48 AM 1054 Views
Oklahoma city bombing was by American citizens, completely unrelated to Al Qaeda... - 15/05/2011 08:02:11 AM 1250 Views
They were both terrorist attacks. - 15/05/2011 02:53:51 PM 1252 Views
Obesity is a much bigger killer than terrorists - 15/05/2011 04:01:51 PM 1081 Views
Sure, but obesity covers a lot of ground. - 15/05/2011 04:19:51 PM 1066 Views
Obesity is a new problem - 15/05/2011 06:09:33 PM 1060 Views
only about a third of the home schooled kids are home schooled for religious reasons - 16/05/2011 09:35:36 PM 1142 Views
Fair enough... I can imagine wanting to avoid a crappy school. - 17/05/2011 06:04:11 PM 1040 Views
getting your kid in the right school can be a challenge - 17/05/2011 06:18:04 PM 911 Views
how many times have i told you "it's the internet, it's not real life"?? *NM* - 04/05/2011 07:43:01 AM 557 Views
Sure, but in this case they intersect. - 06/05/2011 02:02:19 AM 1117 Views
I met a lady who didn't know who Justin Bieber was. I told her I was very impressed - 04/05/2011 06:49:49 PM 1130 Views
You should be? - 06/05/2011 02:09:47 AM 1167 Views
He may have been dreaming about killing them but he was actually doing anything *NM* - 06/05/2011 03:09:49 AM 582 Views
The short answer is "yes". - 06/05/2011 03:19:31 AM 1024 Views
you would of have had to know who he is to know he was doing that though *NM* - 08/05/2011 06:16:39 PM 521 Views
Yes, and the fact he WAS doing that is why I expected nearly everyone to know who he was. - 08/05/2011 07:12:41 PM 1050 Views
I am not saying they shouldn't know who he is just that is isn't that shocking that some don't - 09/05/2011 02:35:02 PM 920 Views
I get that, it's the size of the "some" that kinda floors me. - 09/05/2011 05:02:46 PM 1043 Views
Rumsfeld was a bit of a tool but he was right about a lot of stuff - 09/05/2011 05:05:56 PM 963 Views
I did think he took heat unfairly for that comment; he's an interesting figure. - 09/05/2011 05:59:58 PM 1145 Views
see that is why political comedy isn't really comedy - 10/05/2011 02:15:48 PM 1009 Views
He was a college offensive lineman. - 12/05/2011 01:47:52 AM 1073 Views
It was the media tqaking offense not just internet nutjobs - 13/05/2011 04:16:34 AM 1164 Views
You're "the media" now? - 13/05/2011 10:27:42 PM 1159 Views
you live in a fantasy world *NM* - 16/05/2011 02:27:20 PM 538 Views
Not a rebuttal. - 16/05/2011 09:10:33 PM 1039 Views
I am trying to be more concise and that summed it up *NM* - 16/05/2011 09:26:32 PM 536 Views
Concise is nice, but that response was solely about me rather than my arguments. - 18/05/2011 11:30:38 PM 1014 Views
No it was about your reply I am just to lazy to break it down - 19/05/2011 12:54:38 AM 979 Views
"You live in a fantasy world" is 100% about me. - 19/05/2011 01:53:07 AM 846 Views
OK *NM* - 19/05/2011 03:15:04 PM 496 Views
Check. - 20/05/2011 12:08:24 AM 1310 Views
13-17 year olds. - 05/05/2011 01:51:27 AM 1207 Views
Call me crazy, but I tend to notice people who want to kill me when they've shown the ability. - 06/05/2011 02:53:26 AM 1052 Views
Re: Call me crazy, but I tend to notice people who want to kill me when they've shown the ability. - 06/05/2011 09:21:10 PM 1111 Views
As I asked below, did you click the link? - 06/05/2011 11:35:45 PM 935 Views
Re: As I asked below, did you click the link? - 09/05/2011 05:37:29 AM 948 Views
And yet you found a way; full marks for effort. - 09/05/2011 07:50:32 AM 1244 Views
Re: And yet you found a way; full marks for effort. - 11/05/2011 02:52:45 PM 1213 Views
Well, based on the consensus, I can't really argue with that first line. - 11/05/2011 11:33:53 PM 1130 Views
well then, let us who've somewhat recently been educated as to internet searches assure you... - 11/05/2011 11:41:54 PM 975 Views
Educated about how to conduct them, or how they ARE conducted? - 12/05/2011 01:13:25 AM 1028 Views
Re: Educated about how to conduct them, or how they ARE conducted? - 12/05/2011 04:50:23 AM 993 Views
So we're back to criticizing claims of superiority I've never made? - 14/05/2011 07:06:10 AM 1254 Views
Thanks for the mis-analogizing. - 10/05/2011 06:26:40 AM 1420 Views
Not a mis-analogy, but perhaps ambiguous. - 10/05/2011 07:02:31 AM 1045 Views
Re: Not a mis-analogy, but perhaps ambiguous. - 10/05/2011 04:58:59 PM 1059 Views
Re: Not a mis-analogy, but perhaps ambiguous. - 12/05/2011 01:22:38 AM 1030 Views
Re: 13-17 year olds. - 06/05/2011 09:14:47 PM 1033 Views
What are you doing to earn a living now? *NM* - 05/05/2011 03:04:28 AM 541 Views
Jeg øver norsk, men ikke mer nå. - 06/05/2011 02:54:44 AM 1039 Views
Debt collection is kind - 06/05/2011 07:16:53 AM 974 Views
Just don't repeatedly say you're seriously buying tickets to come kill them. - 06/05/2011 11:40:51 PM 953 Views
Theres a reason you're banned from skype chat. Dont be a cunt - 07/05/2011 02:22:30 AM 1001 Views
it must be a very good reason if they haven't banned you as well - 09/05/2011 05:09:07 PM 987 Views
And that is your analysis? Really. Kids sure are dumb to ask questions and do research. - 06/05/2011 10:15:41 PM 956 Views
I wish there were an applause smiley. - 06/05/2011 11:02:01 PM 1034 Views
I don't think the article says much of anything at all. - 07/05/2011 03:28:35 AM 881 Views
Maybe; I don't always appreciate deadpan jokes online.... - 07/05/2011 03:43:51 AM 1132 Views
I think the linguistic conventions governing search engines and typical conversation differ is all. - 07/05/2011 04:00:38 AM 986 Views
Hopefully that's all it is. - 07/05/2011 04:17:21 AM 952 Views
actually, search engines are getting better towards "questions" now - 11/05/2011 11:06:42 PM 958 Views
Fair enough then, if surprising; objection withdrawn. - 12/05/2011 01:17:28 AM 1084 Views
I think you're reading too much into this - 10/05/2011 12:58:20 AM 1070 Views
Possibly; I really hope so. - 10/05/2011 04:01:50 AM 986 Views
Re: Possibly; I really hope so. - 10/05/2011 05:18:43 AM 1085 Views
Again, fair enough. - 12/05/2011 01:52:07 AM 1025 Views
Re: Again, fair enough. - 12/05/2011 02:04:53 AM 1051 Views
Acknowledged. - 12/05/2011 02:41:38 AM 1021 Views
HA! - 12/05/2011 10:50:50 PM 1205 Views

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