The "American Wisdom Series"

Presents
Pamphlet #1000
 

Suppose computers were taught the same way as the Bible is taught in Sunday schools.

This is how it would go:

A well meaning, good hearted individual, who was willing to give of his or her time to help others, would volunteer to teach computer class.  The fact that this person is computer illiterate is beside the point, because we know his or her motives are pure. And not to worry, because those who will be the students are just as computer illiterate as the instructor, so we'll have the usual blind leading the blind.

Everyone assembles in the classroom and after the usual introductions, the class begins. The instructor picks up the Computer Bible, opens it, and reads a verse, "Thou shalt boot the computer". The instructor then looks up and says, "Sally, what does 'boot the computer' mean to you"?

Sally says, "Well, a boot is something you wear on your feet, and so, I suppose it means to kick the computer."

"That's good Sally. John, how about you?"

John, who is the would-be scholar of the group, looks up the word "boot" in the dictionary and finds it also means "a casing, or protective cover", as in placing a boot over a machine or car. So John says, "It makes sense that you should place a dust cover over such a delicate instrument as a computer in order to protect it, so "boot the computer" means to "cover the computer with a boot." Everyone applauds John's excellent and logical explanation.

The instructor thanks everyone for their participation and then moves on to the next verse where the same scenario ensues. After enough of this kind of teaching, people soon would be of the opinion that the understanding of Computer Bibles is just a matter of individual interpretation.