I like this quote

[chhotii]

"Anyone who says that the solution is to educate the users
hasn't ever met an actual user." -- Bruce Schneier

Yeah, but does anyone say this anymore? Discuss.

Comments

[infinitehotel.livejournal.com]

I think that depends on your definition of "educate".

Rote repetition, swift discipline in response to deviation, and the use of peer ridicule to reinforce compliance (for example, posting interesting tidbits from unencrypted emails to the office bulletin board) *will* eventually educate the users to do things your way.

It's just not much fun. :/

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

It's my opinion that too many techies denigrate users unfairly. Think of it this way: they are users because they Aren't Techies! They really don't need to know the details that techies think are necessary.

I consider it more like the operation of a car. "users" are the standard drivers, and "techies" are mechanics. All users need to know is that they should regularly add gas to the tank. You start the car by putting the key in the ignition and turning the key. You move the car by using the gas pedal and brake pedal, and turn the car using the steering wheel. Most users have an inkling that regular oil changes is a good idea. Anything more "techie" than that means they simply bring the car to a "techie" who will once again put the car in the condition of "functional".

Thus with computers, the user wants to hit the 'on' switch, click on the item they want, and that item works. If anything happens that isn't normal, they contact a techie and they will make the computer once again "functional" (or at least walk the user thru the steps to do to fix the computer). The user doesn't really care what they are doing, they are blindly doing whatever the techie tells them to do.