I had to write a quick note on brilliance conjecture’s blog post. (I don’t know the name of the author. I think the web site and my browser may be having issues.) The author writes about asking his mother one day why she didn’t try to fix a tech problem herself and her response that she was afraid that she’d break something. Apparently, the author attempted to explain that exploring options and experimenting wouldn’t necessarily “break” anything. To which the mother replied that the author’s experimental approach was due to his/her irresponsibility.
I remember fixing some sort of machinery in a relative’s workplace once. The relative’s supervisor was (I thought) unduly impressed at my ability (not that I didn’t enjoy the attention) and commented to my relative that this younger generation seemed so much more technically inclined. My relative commented that they had grown up in an era which taught them to refrain from experimenting, lest they “break something,” and most of the younger generation hadn’t experienced the same constraints. I’m guessing that the author’s mother was one of those who encouraged her children to express themselves more freely.
I do think it’s funny that the author’s mother is equating her fear with being responsible. That sounds like a big fat tub of denial to me. If I get lost every time I go to a city, the responsible thing for me to do is to buy a map and find my way around, not call my best friend who is a native and ask for directions every time I visit that city.