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> Is there any other field in which someone would profess complete ignorance about a topic, and go on to write about it in a national newspaper anyway?

Yes, this happens in every field. This isn't a problem specific to computing, it's specific to journalism.

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I don't think so. Yes, journalists make errors in every field, sometimes big ones. What's weird here is the professed ignorance. You won't find a middle east correspondent saying "I'm sorry, could you give me 1-2 sentences on the difference between Sunni and Shia again? I just can't understand this stuff."

"These are two sects of Islam fighting with each other for centuries, mainly over dogmatic issues: all Muslims believe in the Sunnah, but for the Sunni the Sunnah is of primary importance. There are also other differences between the two."

This is what I'd explain to a child, and I believe it's more or less correct. Once they get more interested, they'll be able to consult more precise although less accessible descriptions.

The problem is that this looks like an explanation but it doesn't explain anything, After reading it, the reader is as confused as before. For example, if you replace "Sunnah" with "Jesus" this is an explanation of the difference between Muslim and Christians.

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