Boastfully ignorant reporters [Was: Zergo can do secure TTPs]

[Paul Leyland]

> There is some reason to that madness. The general public - Joe Bloggs
> and Co, think computer thingies are as esoteric or arcane as 
> lawyer and
> accountant and medical thingies. When the story teller tells 
> them at the
> start that he is not a techie, Joe B translates that to mean, 
> "Oh good,
> there won't be any computerese, technical jargon I won't 
> understand." I
...

> Sorry to be off topic, but this subject seems to be of sufficient
> interest that no one is yet complaining as far as I've seen.

Entirely on topic, IMAO.

For a policy to be created and implemented successfully it must be
understood.  Letting techies speak unto techies is fine as far as it goes,
but it doesn't go far enough.  If the issues can't be explained to the
population, the legislators and the administrators, there will be problems.


What grates is that few journalists have found devices to catch the
attention of non-techies without boasting of their (the journo's)
incompetence and ignorance.  I'm sure it's possible to explain to
non-technical audiences without the use of this approach.  As has been
pointed out on this list, Paxman can persuade experts to explain arcane
constitutional procedures without feigning ignorance.


Paul