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"Hey guys, isn't it funny how so many people have no idea what's dangerous or not because we, as an industry, do an absolutely shit job of helping people understand computing in any meaningful way?"


Science had this problem until scientific communicators became really popular, which really started with Sagan. Since then I'm not sure we've had anyone near that level, though deGrasse Tyson ("Black Science Man") does a pretty good job (Sagan set a high bar). I'm not sure a character or even community like this exists for tech.


How many people would actually listen if they aren't at least mildly interested in technology?


Not to claim we can’t be better, but:

• Medicine: anti-vaccination

• Chemistry: “X is one atom from being bleach” (so is water)

• Law: Freemen of the land

• Biology: Anything related to GMOs

• Physics: “Will the LHC destroy the universe?”

• Politics: “My opponent literally eats babies in the basement of a pizza parlour”


This industry, more than most others, makes a great deal of information about it available for free on the internet.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.


Ignorance is not a good reason to fearmonger and spread disinformation.




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