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[Nilocy]

Douglas Rushkoff: Program or be Programmed is an interesting novel, which I haven’t read yet, that begs some interesting questions about the future of education, society and all that jazz. I've linked a video interview with him and I believe I've got the jist of what he's getting at.

Basically now during this media revolution we've hit a stage where its going to revert to those social elite who know how to read/write code programs if the people don't know, in general, how to program. Everything today is pretty much dictated by those who program, from the PC you're on, to the bus you take to work, the machines that make everything you use, so these people have vast amounts of potential power over those who don't/can't program. http://www.boingboing.net/2010/10/01/richard-metzgers-dan.html

There’s also an interesting BBC news report on how the American military is lagging behind other superpowers (BRIC nations) in the digital warfare front. They've got plenty of people who want to fly UAVs but no-one to programme them at all.

I unfortunately fall into the 'can't program' group and I'm starting to find it increasingly disturbing that I owe people who programme my entire modern life, well that vast majority of it. My point here is that I think there should be a larger emphasis on teaching children how to use computers rather than software, like Rushkoff was talking about, as we're pretty much entirely reliant on digital technologies that hardly anyone knows how they work.

So yeah, what do you guys think about this? I'm assuming there’s going to be a disproportionately high number of programmers here than non-programmers.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Don't hurt me oh gracious programmers I'm only exercising my rights to free speech! Don't haxxor meeee!

[ed boy]

Programming ability is not a boolean.

I do some programming, but certainly not on a commercial level.

Part of the nature of a capitalist society is that people specialise in different areas - it produces a more efficient society overall.

You might as well say that you're completely dependent on farmers, since they provide all your food. I'm sure you wouldn't know a thing about farming techniques or have the neccessary equipment to farm, yet people nowadays are not classified into the elite (those who farm) and the rest of us.

[Nilocy]

Good point, but I have to disagree using the farmer an analogy though. We've always had farmers, and I'm pretty sure the first people who started farming were pretty high up there, and this was quite true for a very long time. Large farm/land owners usually had mansions and what not back in pre industrial times (and still do to some extent).

What I was getting at was that it was more akin to pre public schooling, a lot of people didn't know how to read or write yet were subjected to that media type for quite some time before learning how to read and write became standard. And todays issue with this has some striking parallels, people are constantly subjected to digital media yet have no clue how it works underneath.

[Shrugging Khan]

Saying that the programmers are the elite of today is like saying confederate cotton slaves were the elite of back then (and there). Just because somebody provides for a society's basic needs doesn't make them powerful.

[darkrider2]

When robots rule the universe, yes, programming will be a powerful trade indeed.

[G-Flex]

There’s also an interesting BBC news report on how the American military is lagging behind other superpowers (BRIC nations) in the digital warfare front. They've got plenty of people who want to fly UAVs but no-one to programme them at all.

Not the military, but I've heard from a friend of mine that the FBI cybercrimes division is massively underfunded and now is actually expected to do what amounts to IT support for the rest of the bureau. Basically, they don't have time to bust up drug rings because HEY MIKE I CAN'T GET MY PRINTER WORKING?

Compare this to some other nations who are actually trying to recruit younger, more computer-savvy people because they realize the importance of this sort of thing.

[Eagleon]

Saying that the programmers are the elite of today is like saying confederate cotton slaves were the elite of back then (and there). Just because somebody provides for a society's basic needs doesn't make them powerful.

Yes it does. With the help and cooperation of every other programmer out there, they could bring the world to its knees. That is power. But it's not power that's going to be used, because the whole group does not care enough about any one thing. I can think of a couple things that I'd like to see western society's arm twisted for (couldn't we all?), but boycotts/conspiracies never last too long when there's jobs on the line. It's the difference between, say, the combined pushing power of everyone over 17 in the world, and a jet liner. The latter is a hell of a lot more likely to get you to London from New York, since the former would likely mostly be eaten up by sharks and storms in the atlantic, even though you could probably build a ridiculous amount of pyramids with the first and none at all with the second. Derp.

[Shrugging Khan]

Yes it does. With the help and cooperation of every other programmer out there, they could bring the world to its knees. That is power. But it's not power that's going to be used

Power that can't be used..."useless power"...that's not really power in my book.

[darkrider2]

From what I see you need a common goal or a common enemy in order to get people to work together. What could every programmer in the world need...?

[sonerohi]

/b/ organizing as an actual political force rather than a mem-train.

[Criptfeind]

Programmer are powerful the way that all groups of needed professionals are powerful. They are simply becoming needed and thus joining the ranks of the powerful is all.

You never hear about how accountants are all powerful but if they teamed up I am pretty sure it would be easy for us to rule the world.

[Virex]

/b/ organizing as an actual political force rather than a mem-train.

This comes close, fortunately it's taste is a wee bit better...

[DJ]

You never hear about how accountants are all powerful but if they teamed up I am pretty sure it would be easy for us to rule the world.

It'd be the lamest James Bond movie ever.

[Criptfeind]

Dude.

I can do this.

I have connections.

Accounting connections.

[darkrider2]

Dude.

I can do this.

I have connections.

Accounting connections.

I can totally see the FBI setting up an ambush and taking down a rogue clan of crazed accountants.