this post was submitted on 10 Feb 2024
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It's helpful to take a few steps back from time to time to reassess where we're each coming from on our knowledge of tech (or anything) to better communicate.

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[–] [email protected] 30 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. And for many people, computers are basically at that level. As long as it works, it's convenient magic.

[–] shneancy 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

honestly it's magic even when you understand it. Computers are pieces of rocks drawn on with runes in rare mineral ink, infused with lighting, and then made to do maths by generations of magicians perfecting the translation from the primal language of what can be only described as a pulse of being only made apparent by the times when it's not being, to words humans can comprehend, then with that maths they somehow they create illusions of entire new worlds, and did I mention they can telepathically communicate with other magical rocks? all through mystical waves all around us created by beacons big and small in key locations. Previously, to talk with a person on the other side of the planet, a single attempt to communicate would require months, if not years, now? seconds. if not less. Computers are magic.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

You can hardly call them rocks. Sure, they are Si based, but it's so beyond purified and rearranged, that you should think of it as just any other chemical plating. I loved that my engineering degree covered a bit of the basics of computers, math and and logic, because I actually can conceptualise the different levels of computation and abstraction that are required. Starting from how theoretical logic works, binary logic gates, machine code, programming, protocols, networks, as well as the physics of radio communication and electricity. It's mind blowingly hard to fully understand but I can say I don't find it magical at this point.

[–] shneancy 4 points 10 months ago

mehh, I can find wonder and magic even in things I can fully understand. It's just a matter of perspective