tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457872.post6519439195138390811..comments2024-03-26T23:57:42.268-04:00Comments on SpeEdChange: "Fried Chicken 'n Watermelon" at The New York Timesirasocolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412837280249622430noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457872.post-12935020654944240352012-06-03T09:16:30.634-04:002012-06-03T09:16:30.634-04:00You are exactly right in pointing out that the exa...You are exactly right in pointing out that the example the author used in Oakland has underlying racial tones. He used that example to reach a (for lack of better phrasing) "white audience." He made it less about education and made it a part of a bigger issue that wealthier people love to spout off about: welfare. Its ok for a wealthy person to buy their kid two gaming systems a smartphone, etc but it's financially irresponsible for a poor person to do so. <br /><br />I don't think we need certain "desirable" groups of people telling others about financial responsibility. Perhaps many wealthy people have forgotten how irresponsible buying three houses or overextending a home equity line was. <br /><br />Essentially a smartphone is a smart buy. A user can access internet, text, music, apps, etc. Total access for the price of the phone and plan AND you get internet anywhere. No need to pay for internet. There are some limitations to smartphones but overall which is a better purchase, a $1100 laptop or $100 phone. Keep in mind that a poor family might only own one smartphone while a wealthier family most likely has a home computer, laptop computer, smartphones with multiple lines, printer/fax, and ipods. If they have kids, the kids probably have one for each of them too. <br /><br />It annoys me when people try to decide what other people should and shouldn't have, especially when those people think they should have unlimited amounts and others shouldn't have any amounts.<br /><br /><br />My wife and I work in the same county but two polar opposite schools. I have visited her class during their computer time before. You can see the difference between their inexperience with a computer and the kids at our school easily. The kids at my wife's school are learning about how to use Safari while the kids at my school know many of the keyboard shortcuts. <br /><br />The questionable stats of how much time is spent using technology is just another avenue to spew a racial divide. The way the author frames the stats is to suggest that spending a lot of time using technology is bad and finds a way to correlate it with a "less desirable" group of society. This is utterly the wrong way to go. We should be concerned with those who have no access to technology.andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11392628847777427940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457872.post-83066331980870045452012-05-30T13:04:59.384-04:002012-05-30T13:04:59.384-04:00I deleted an anonymous comment according to my sit...I deleted an anonymous comment according to my site rules, which are that criticism - even attacks - are welcome, but they need to be "signed" - or at least offer evidence.<br /><br />I sign my name here, I expect those who disagree with me to have at least the same level of personal courage. <br /><br />But I'm including the comment here to illustrate why...<br /><br />"Anonymous Anonymous said...<br /><br />"I came here hoping to tweet your article, but you lost me the moment you change the tone of the conversation by spouting a distorted and extreme political opinion.<br />"Too bad.<br /><br />"30 May, 2012 12:50" <br /><br />What is "extreme"? What is "distorted"? This is classic Rupert Murdoch styling... attack without even bothering to explain why.<br /><br />There's nothing wrong with lazy faux intellectualism or cowardice. I just don't want to publish them together in my space.<br /><br />- Ira Socolirasocolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01412837280249622430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457872.post-11577121838251481472012-05-30T12:50:26.685-04:002012-05-30T12:50:26.685-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457872.post-2203097728736659032012-05-30T12:22:55.385-04:002012-05-30T12:22:55.385-04:00Great post Ira. I've not been a fan of Richtel...Great post Ira. I've not been a fan of Richtel's work, and I agree that it certainly sounds like he's missed the mark again.<br /><br />The mentality that something is good enough for my kids, but not for your kids, is pretty pervasive in certain circles, and incredibly frustrating.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08098221991466148258noreply@blogger.com