Circa 1992, when I first used a computer, I felt uncertainty and awe. This was an information powertool, and I had better know what I was doing. Since then, a few companies have grown massive by redefining personal computing as a sleek and magical experience. Users are no longer supposed to understand how software works.
On the one hand, this lowers computing’s barrier to entry. It’s good that more people can benefit from shared digital information. On the other hand, using a tool you’re not supposed to understand is undignified and disempowering, especially when it malfunctions, which software often does.
The tech-explainers are for folks who don’t make software, but often wonder about it. It’s such a big part of your life, you deserve some explanation.