[pvorb]

I think the comparison to spark plugs is misleading when we talk about URLs and security.

It's more like looking in the mirror before changing lanes. It's something you need to check in order to stay safe.

Mirrors, like URLs, are just an implementation detail. But since currently driving works with mirrors, you have to learn how to use them.

[pests]

The benefit is obvious in that instance. There is a very direct connection between checking your mirrors and not hitting a car as you merge or similar.

Where is the cause and effect for a URL or SSL cert? There is no learning experience.

Furthermore as some have claimed, and I've personally witnessed, for some URLS's literally dont exist. Just type whatever site you want into the google box and hope you get lucky.

[Godel_unicode]

I think the spark plugs example is an excellent one. People used to require an extensive knowledge of how cars worked in order to have a prayer of using them effectively. Now they don't, because we realized none of that knowledge is necessary if you design the system correctly.

We have enough historical context to realize that things like parsing URLs by eye is unsafe for the general population, and always will be. The solution is to engineer that need out of existence.

You might want to consider that manufacturers have added blind spot detectors to cars as people are bad at changing lanes safely, even with all the training in the world.

[mirko22]

when did you have to know how spark plugs work to drive a car? And isn’t this why car mechanics exist? On the other hand you had to learn at some point what and RPM gauge is... And we still have it in cars even though you could say you don’t really need it.

[EmpirePhoenix]

My car does not have a RPM gauge, instead it has two arrows that suggest when to gear up or down (it is manual)

One could say the interface was dumbed down to the minimum.

[mirko22]

my brand new one has a lot of gauges... so i’d say my point is still valid. And i find them extremely useful, cos you can make better use of fuel if you know what they mean.