The Mabley Archive: The computers took over and the battles for control began

In 1988, when longtime Glenview resident Jack Mabley brought his column to the Daily Herald, he made a couple of requests: 1. Let him keep his ugly, old green chair. 2. Launch an edition for his hometown. He kept the chair. And now, more than a decade after his passing in 2006, his second request has been granted. This column is from Feb. 17, 1997.

When I left the Tribune in 1982 I believe I was the last writer still using a manual typewriter. Computers took over as I left.

I don't write the "looking backward" columns often, but today it is irresistible. Our office computers, which are no better nor worse than most computer systems, are ... misbehaving. Malfunctioning.

Most people who use computer keyboards and screens are familiar with the frustration and anger and hopelessness generated by a blank screen, or a useless mouse, or an hourglass on the screen that won't budge.

I'm not even immune on my aging, uncomplicated Mac at home. The machine works pretty well, but last night the network twice put red "Stop" signs on the screen and in effect told me to take a hike.

Now for the good old days before computers. I worked in several newsrooms. We had Underwood and Remington and Royal manual typewriters.

We wrote our stories on thin paper and had to pound the keys because there were eight carbons under the top page.

The top page went to the city editor, another went to the copy desk, and I haven't the faintest idea where the rest went.

To convey copy from my desk to another desk we had humans. We yelled "Boy" or "Copy" to get their attention. It was noisy.

In my earlier days we had a telephone switchboard with an operator, a woman who knew where everybody was at any time.

If so and so had a hangover, she could detour a call.

Stories were edited and sent to the composing room, where printers sat at unbelievably complicated linotype machines and set copy in hot lead.

These cumbersome hunks of lead, literally thousands of individual slugs on a single page, were assembled on a metal table, called a stone, put in a page form, and sent to the press.

The system involved a lot of people every step of the way. It was slow and expensive.

And guess what: It produced a very nice product - a daily newspaper comparable to today's papers, with the exception of color.

And we loved it.

Would I go back to the old system of hot type and copy boys and L.C. Smith typewriters? In a minute.

Computers have taken over every aspect of our lives. With each new advance in computers, more people lose their jobs.

And all of us become more vulnerable to breakdowns.

I'm not working toward another Year 2000 piece. That's another matter.

We have enough problems with Year 1998.

When a satellite went berserk two weeks ago, pagers and cellular phones and other communications blanked out.

What will happen when solar storms expected in November and in December 1999, play havoc with satellites?

Computers keep track of the complicated routing of railroad cars, which deliver more of our food and goods and freight than any other means.

There is a severe shortage of cars in some parts of the country because the computers have lost them. Businesses relying on "just in time" delivery of parts and material are suffering.

In her column in the Herald Friday, Ellen Goodman blamed computer programmers for our problems.

She is wrong. The problem is managerial. The programmers just develop systems and improvements and innovations.

Managers make the decisions, and most decisions involve making a good financial showing for the next quarter.

They've dug a hole, and it's getting deeper.

You're reading this because I found a way to get it to the editors. Without yelling "Boy."