24 Apr
1999
24 Apr
'99
3:16 a.m.
On Fri, 23 Apr 1999, Richard Erlacher wrote:
No, Sam, those were not necessarily MY attitudes. I,
after all, was only 6
years old during most of 1952. However, I'd submit that my statement is
more or less correct, inasmuch as most Americans had no idea what a digital
computer was in 1952. My grandfather worked for one of New York's large
What does having "no idea what a digital computer was in 1952" have to do
with being able to afford one? Can you make an argument and stick to it
please?
<...>
whatever was the model of the day, and they got the
work done. That's what
the average American thought of when you asked him about a computer, though
most didn't really even recognize the word.
Ok, thanks for that history but it does nothing to further your argument,
nor does it have any relevance to your assertion.
In 1954-55 a friend of my parents bought an airplane
for $300. He also
liked those British sports cars, which traded, 2nd-hand for about $300 in
the late '50's, though they were not that "reasonable" by the time I
wanted
one (goodness only knows why I wanted it).
Oh?? I thought $300 was hardly an amount one could afford to be spending
in the 50s! Seems like it wasn't that big of a deal after all.
Back to the attitudes . . . I certainly hope that you
don't purport YOUR
attitudes to be typical. I know mine aren't. What brings balance to a
discussion is the presentation of perceptions.
No, I'm not so arrogant (or myopic).
One other point . . . I don't know how you can
claim to know about what's on
the mind of an "average" American. People who, ten years ago, were rabidly
I made no such claim. However, you pretty much DID make such a claim.
Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com
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