Comments on: The world run by amateurs http://williamtozier.com/slurry/2005/11/02/the-world-run-by-amateurs Pontification without all the gritty gravitas Thu, 17 May 2012 22:47:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Ken Muldrew http://williamtozier.com/slurry/2005/11/02/the-world-run-by-amateurs/comment-page-1#comment-177 Ken Muldrew Thu, 03 Nov 2005 16:30:09 +0000 http://williamtozier.com/slurry/?p=172#comment-177 "I can't give you a brain, but I can give you a diploma". The Wizard (or was it Bill Gates? I can never remember). “I can’t give you a brain, but I can give you a diploma”.
The Wizard (or was it Bill Gates? I can never remember).

]]> By: Bill http://williamtozier.com/slurry/2005/11/02/the-world-run-by-amateurs/comment-page-1#comment-176 Bill Thu, 03 Nov 2005 03:40:42 +0000 http://williamtozier.com/slurry/?p=172#comment-176 I think you're reading too much into it. I'm really just venting about how <i>deeply</i> frustrated I am by a class I'm in. But then again, I think my point is this: A hundred thousand copies of a very powerful tool cannot create more <i>good work</i> than one hundred copies of a less powerful tool, plus some skill. I think you’re reading too much into it. I’m really just venting about how deeply frustrated I am by a class I’m in.

But then again, I think my point is this: A hundred thousand copies of a very powerful tool cannot create more good work than one hundred copies of a less powerful tool, plus some skill.

]]> By: Dan http://williamtozier.com/slurry/2005/11/02/the-world-run-by-amateurs/comment-page-1#comment-175 Dan Wed, 02 Nov 2005 21:10:29 +0000 http://williamtozier.com/slurry/?p=172#comment-175 I like what you're saying, but I have to take issue with your imploration that we the readers have no excuse not to go out and Do Something Awesome. I'd say that there's definitely a lot of power at all of our fingertips, application-wise. But that's just not the limiting factor any more. There are still issues of inspiration, commitment, time, and even know-how -- you and I have the knowledge and aesthetics to unlock the wonderful world of sans serifs, but plenty of people who can operate MS Word (or even OpenOffice) don't. For the most part, these people still get by, because form and function are separate things. Also, some things just aren't rational or efficient. I *could* make a better/prettier app/site/doc, but sometimes it's just me who's going to use it. Sometimes the effort it would take just can't be justified, y'know? It's never access to software that's my problem -- often it's just brute inertia. I like what you’re saying, but I have to take issue with your imploration that we the readers have no excuse not to go out and Do Something Awesome. I’d say that there’s definitely a lot of power at all of our fingertips, application-wise. But that’s just not the limiting factor any more. There are still issues of inspiration, commitment, time, and even know-how — you and I have the knowledge and aesthetics to unlock the wonderful world of sans serifs, but plenty of people who can operate MS Word (or even OpenOffice) don’t. For the most part, these people still get by, because form and function are separate things.

Also, some things just aren’t rational or efficient. I *could* make a better/prettier app/site/doc, but sometimes it’s just me who’s going to use it. Sometimes the effort it would take just can’t be justified, y’know? It’s never access to software that’s my problem — often it’s just brute inertia.

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