~70% of people are completely worthless in the information age

[Arch0wl]

https://www.nngroup.com/articles/computer-skill-levels/

merry christmas

[lurker]

that low huh

[Arch0wl]

I was surprised too

[gold stinger]

All the examples for each level of technology proficiency could be solved with ctrl+f and a little bit of work, maybe a calculator for level 3.

lmao

[-JiZ53-]

define completely worthless. surely these "worthless" people are a necessary part of the equation? there's a lot of money being made off of these worthless people

[Ecinizeerf]

I agree that "completely worthless" is just hyperbole. But when the truth is the phrase "fairly worthless" is more accurate, you shouldn't really feel much better.

[Cavernio]

"worth"

[Celirra]

I mean I don't see a problem with worthlessness.

The more worthless people there are, the more those with worth can gain.

Something something capitalism something something rich get richer something something child labour something something being the top 1%

[aperson]

The primary source has a much more interesting take than this UX hot take that "wow most of our user base is illiterate!"

• Variation across countries/economies in adults’ average proficiency in the three domains assessed in the Survey of
Adult Skills is substantial: some 97 and 82 score points separate the highest- and lowest-scoring countries in literacy
and numeracy proficiency, respectively, although many countries score within a relatively close range of each other.

• While the proficiency of adults differs across countries/economies, it varies to an even larger degree within countries,
with a difference of 62 and 68 score points between the 25% of adults who attained the highest and lowest scores
in literacy and numeracy, respectively. Countries with higher mean scores tend to have less variation in scores, with
negative correlations at the country level ranging between r=-0.44 in literacy and r=-0.52 in numeracy. [Emphasis mine]

In terms of metrics: "The results are represented on a 500-point scale, ranging from 0 to 500."

In terms of socioeconomic factors, geography is one of the key factors. Additionally, countries seem to have a technological penetration rate that needs to be measured. Countries with sufficiently high technological penetration have many fewer people on the fully illiterate side of the spectrum.

Beyond this, it seems that some of the largest correlation in the study correlates verbal/mathematical illiteracy with technological illiteracy. Given the testing methodology, especially for the numeracy section, I don't think this is surprising. The take home message here seems to be that if you want technological literacy, then verbal and mathematical literacy are prerequisites, and the technological ubiquity of the environment you live in will increase mean scores once these prerequisites are met (see Japan as an outlier on these sections).

This forum seems to way overrate the amount of technological literacy that's required to survive and be productive on society. But then again, we're posting in a video game forum where everyone's quality of life is probably in the top global 10%.

[Cavernio]

Originally Posted by aperson

But then again, we're posting in a video game forum where everyone's quality of life is probably in the top global 10%.

"quality"

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...scientists-say

[aperson]

Originally Posted by Cavernio

"quality"

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...scientists-say

What are you actually trying to say here?

[Arch0wl]

Originally Posted by aperson

This forum seems to way overrate the amount of technological literacy that's required to survive and be productive on society. But then again, we're posting in a video game forum where everyone's quality of life is probably in the top global 10%.

I don't overrate it at all. My mom figured out text messages just a year ago. I blew her mind when she realized I could text her a picture of where I was standing to help her find me in a parking lot. This happened just last summer. She did not know this was possible or a thing people could do.

She's also about 120 IQ -- I tested her. And she's probably severely ADHD, worse than me, which I have no doubt is where mine comes from. Other interesting IQ things: after ADHD treatment my measured IQ went from 125 to 150+, on the kind of tests Reach used to give out. It was fucking bizarre thinking of myself as "kinda smart but not as smart as Reach/Rubix/you" to "could be PhD in some hard science at an Ivy if I wanted." ADHD is also why I was such a shithead on FFR -- starting conflicts with people was the only thing that could get me to focus that I had access to at the time. (I eventually subbed this with binge drinking and extremely dangerous top-speed shit at 3AM which I am glad I no longer do. I have driven 60+MPH laps drunk in a suburb that the HoA wanted to be 20MPH and crashed into a speed limit sign. I sped off and parked at my house and leg pressed the sign back into place; no one has any evidence of the damage or even knows I did it. ADHD medication has -- I'm confident -- kept me from being a convicted felon.)

But yes, circling back to what you said, FFR is not just "a video game forum where everyone's quality of life is probably in the top global 10%" it's a video game forum for a HIGHLY SPECIFIC variant of a video game simulator that requires the user to have fluent knowledge of file/folder trees and what parts go where, plus incredibly game-specific knowledge if the player is to create charts, and on top of that understanding of musical rhythm plus graphic design if the player desires to release a whole file.

In terms of nerdery we're up there with Dwarf Fortress and probably above mainstream Minecraft modders. We're probably one of the most tech-competent gaming forums to ever exist and it's important to keep that in perspective before we forget our place on Mt. Olympus or whatever.

[lurker]

why do i need to worry about using a computer anyway my phone does all of that stuff

[leonid]

I have computer skills but am still worthless what do

[rushyrulz]

Originally Posted by leonid

I have computer skills but am still worthless what do

yes, pls advise.

[lurker]

the internet's just one of those pesky liberal fads give it another few years and it'll be out of style

[Spenner]

I have the computer skills I need to perform high levels of development (design/workflows/graphics technologies for print and web (getting there)). but once you learn the process of building something it's like using lego bricks. It's a period of ignorance, nobody WANTS to utilize those skills.

[SKG_Scintill]

being artistic is useless
except it keeps humans from losing their humanity

[lurker]

Originally Posted by SKG_Scintill

being artistic is useless
except it keeps humans from losing their humanity

i disagree
humanity is incapable of creating anything on its own with any value outside that to other humans
in fact nearly all humans have no creativity whatsoever on a relative scale (largely but not entirely due to poverty) and those who do use processes and algorithms which can be recreated by machines
i know because my research involves making human creativity obsolete

[aperson]

Originally Posted by lurker

i disagree
humanity is incapable of creating anything on its own with any value outside that to other humans
in fact nearly all humans have no creativity whatsoever on a relative scale (largely but not entirely due to poverty) and those who do use processes and algorithms which can be recreated by machines
i know because my research involves making human creativity obsolete

I can't wait until we automate software engineering away. Gonna be a great day