When I see CV’s come into my company for technical jobs and that person has some form of IT degree something inside me dies. Now, I am old enough to recognise that. I have and do and will continue to employ people with IT related degrees. But just because you have a degree in some discipline of computing doesn’t mean you know jack shit that is any use to me. <\/p>\n
The following is an example of why. <\/p>\n
Akemi has just started a three year full time degree called ‘Internet Computing’. Let’s read the yada yada of what that actually means. From the web site:<\/p>\n
The internet has become central to a wide range of commercial, educational, and leisure activities.\u00a0 As a result, the internet is used directly by a diverse collection of individuals and organisations, with different requirements and priorities.\u00a0 This course provides knowledge and understanding of the architecture and design of web-based systems and web development tools.\u00a0 it also provides skills that underpin the development and evaluation of collaborative and interactive web sites in commercial settings.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Nope, I’ve got no idea what that means. Currently she’s learning about ARM Processor architectures and Java and bash scripts and management techniques! So today she’s asking about aliases. I rarely use aliases (I don’t like having commands working on one machine that don’t work on another) so I give my stock response. <\/p>\n
Her: I can’t get this alias to work<\/p>\n
Me:\u00a0 No idea, google it<\/p>\n
Her: Not allowed to, we must use man<\/p>\n
I google it<\/p>\n
Me:\u00a0 Do this<\/p>\n
Her: How did you find that out?<\/p>\n
Me:\u00a0 I googled it.<\/p>\n
Her: I am not allowed to do that. I must use man<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Now what sort of goddamn computing course forces you to search ‘man’ for answers whereas you can find informed, understandable, easy to read answers virtually anywhere else. man was useful for finding out information approximately never<\/b>. OK, OK – you could argue that before widespread availability of the Internet, man had a part to play. But you’re wrong. I remember back in the early 90’s sitting with a hulking big professionally published and printed copy of Linux How-to’s, tutorials etc because ‘man’ was no bloody use. I think ‘man’ was named by a woman as a jibe. It has all the information you want but it’s bloody impossible to make any use of it. <\/p>\n
Have you ever<\/b> tried to get anything useful out of man? Try it. <\/p>\n
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