The Soap Box

As a child I'd heard the phrase "Jack of All Trades" so many times I thought it was a compliment. "My, he's just a jack of all trades," was heard from all whenever something would go wrong. Just call on your friend Jack.

It was many years till I finally heard the phrase in it's entirety. "Jack of all trades, master of none." Suddenly this didn't seem as wonderful as it used to. At the tender age of 11, I was suddenly not as sure as I used to be.

I look at myself, now, and all that I do. It isn't due to a lack of other skills that I've persuade graphics. In fact, a friend of mine, T.J., would introduce me to his friends, "This is David. He's my hero, he can do anything."

Other than the tongue firmly planted in his cheek,it's a scary thought. No one is able to do EVERYTHING. For example, in medicine you need to specialize. The real money isn't in general practice, but in some specific area... I don't know, perhaps something like proctology. (I am trying to resist the urge to make a poor pun at the end of this sentence. I failed.)

I look at the top graphics programs that I can afford for my PC. The bulk of them are made by companies who specialize.

  • Crystal Graphics
  • Adobe
  • Metacreations
  • and on and on.

"Master of None"

This brings to mind images of a haphazardly done job, gum, bailing wire fixes, and certain software companies. My pet soap box is ranting about companies who make operating systems. I'd rather not have my OS manufacturer be a jack of all trades. I want my operating system to be minimal -- the GOP (republican) view of computing. I want as little overhead as possible, as little involvement in my programs as can be. Some things an OS does well, and others it doesn't.

I wish the programers of Windows NT would focus on speed and stability, including only necessary functions in the operating system. While allowing for modularity in options that aren't needed by everyone. Let me find the specialist I want for my browsing, for my file management, for my life.

I wish Microsoft would stop trying to be, "The jack of all trades and the master of everyone."