Pat Goss is a wuss
In my tenure managing an auto repair shop, we have jump started probably an averge of three cars a day for 300 days a year and never had a single electrical failure as a result. Computers tend to fail because they have highly sensitive circuits that operate on tiny voltage and carry out complex functions at a rate of 4 BILLION hertz with no electrical storage potential. Car electronics operate on anywhere from 12 to 200 hertz with a huge lead-acid battery to absorb spikes.
Sparking a computer is like punching it in the face. There is a high probability of damage. Sparking a car is like punching a rock through a mattress. Its unlikely you'll pulverize any rocks.