General > General Technical Chat
You know you're old when.....
coppice:
--- Quote from: TimFox on July 10, 2021, 09:59:18 pm ---As a curmudgeon, I continually complain that, in this "Information Age", no one knows anything.
--- End quote ---
"Why do I need to know that? I can look it up when I need to." :)
mansaxel:
--- Quote from: coppice on July 11, 2021, 09:07:21 am ---"Why do I need to know that? I can look it up when I need to." :)
--- End quote ---
This is true. And should be put to good use. What tables and listings of hard facts can't tell you, is the "Why". That's where the effort should be. The "Why" in general does not need better than hand-waving accuracy facts, except for focussed short periods of study, during which maximum effort should be put in getting the right data, to better ground the pondering.
There is a need for good data, but it first and foremost needs to be understood, not remembered.
Cerebus:
--- Quote from: mansaxel on July 11, 2021, 09:36:58 am ---
--- Quote from: coppice on July 11, 2021, 09:07:21 am ---"Why do I need to know that? I can look it up when I need to." :)
--- End quote ---
This is true. And should be put to good use. What tables and listings of hard facts can't tell you, is the "Why". That's where the effort should be. The "Why" in general does not need better than hand-waving accuracy facts, except for focussed short periods of study, during which maximum effort should be put in getting the right data, to better ground the pondering.
There is a need for good data, but it first and foremost needs to be understood, not remembered.
--- End quote ---
“Never memorize something that you can look up.”
― Albert Einstein
GlennSprigg:
--- Quote from: Cerebus on July 11, 2021, 11:30:06 am ---
--- Quote from: mansaxel on July 11, 2021, 09:36:58 am ---
--- Quote from: coppice on July 11, 2021, 09:07:21 am ---"Why do I need to know that? I can look it up when I need to." :)
--- End quote ---
This is true. And should be put to good use. What tables and listings of hard facts can't tell you, is the "Why". That's where the effort should be. The "Why" in general does not need better than hand-waving accuracy facts, except for focussed short periods of study, during which maximum effort should be put in getting the right data, to better ground the pondering.
There is a need for good data, but it first and foremost needs to be understood, not remembered.
--- End quote ---
“Never memorize something that you can look up.”
― Albert Einstein
--- End quote ---
Except basic Times Tables!!!! Kids these days know nothing without a computer, smartphone, calculator, shop-till !! :palm:
CatalinaWOW:
It is a matter of efficiency. You need not memorize seldom used data. But it it is far faster to remember something than to look it up.There are many constants I find worthwhile to memorize.
Language learning is a potent example of a place where you can look everything up, but memorizing is the only right answer. Apologies to Albert.
Multiplication tables in an age of calculators are kind of a grey area. For the bulk of the population, who never use math unless forced that memorization is wasted effort. I would rather spend the time used to force them to learn these tables to convince at least some of them the value of arithmetic in daily life. For those who figure it out the memorization is something they will figure out is useful.
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