The most frustrating thing I hear...

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The difference between most computer savvy people and non-savvy people isn't intelligence or being more logically minded. I got my computer knowledge by not being afraid to say "hmmm... I wonder what happens if I press this button here?"

Back up your important files and don't be afraid to push buttons to see what they do. It's the best way to learn.

I have recently hit a series of "no-go"s and head scratcher issues across several computers that I am working on. I have since corrected a couple of the issues and feel that I will correct the others in due course. I had to step away from all for about a day and a half. The point is, stress release and cool down time. I hit a bucket of golf balls as my stress release, but the time away is what gave me "fresh eyes".

thank you. this is what I have been trying to tell my mom. I will start to say some sort of interesting statement about technology and she won't bother to listen to the rest of it, as she does a "way over my head" gesture. I think if she just would try to listen, she would understand most of it.

Leo, "I'm stupid when it comes to computers." And I'm not ashamed to admit it. But I subscribe to your newsleter, I submit questions, I read books and I visit other help sites. I've learned a lot and I will continue to learn. But compared to people like you and other frequent contributors, "I'm STILL stupid when it comes to computers."

OK, maybe "stupid" implies I can't learn new things and I should call myself "ignorant". But it's semantics. It doesn't mean I have a defeatist attitude or that I'm not willing to learn or try new things. Just wanted to clarify that. :-)

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You've nailed it yourself: you are NOT stupid.

You're right, ignorant is perhaps a more appropriate word, but it has more
negative connotations than I like to hear.

Uneducated, perhaps. There's simply stuff you don't know. "Stupid" would be
unable to learn that stuff. You sound both willing and able.

You're not stupid, and you shouldn't call yourself that. :-)
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I work in the phone tech support department of a computer manufacturer, and I find way too many people worried that they will break the computer by rebooting when it asks or otherwise following legitimate windows prompts. We live in a panic mode society and all the news reports about this and that upcoming crises make some people worried about the consequences of getting in there and learning. For those of you who say "stupid" or "ignorant" computers are tougher than you think as long as you don't physically damage them in any way.

As a retired teacher of alleged stupid people, I can only agree completely, but noy juust about computers. Everyone is self limiting or self enabling. Even if you decide you're dumb because some idiot teacher said you were, you decided to agree. Decide to be smart. You will be, beginning with that decision.

I live in a retirement community and most say they're too old. I've helped several through basic things and they're hooked. I'm a senior citizen who's addicted to my computer and loves your column.

Hi Leo!

I have been involved with computers for just shy of one year, after years of "fighting" it, and actually only did so because a friend forced me to take his daughter's (that she no longer needed and was old, but way too good to simply throw out). I've always known that my time would come, so I started following the technology column in my local newspaper, clipping and saving long before I got this one. Then my roommate gave me a book he had, but never read, called "PCs for Dummies", by Dan Gookin - probably the single most influential and informative event that started my thirst for more knowledge. Your commentary reminded me so much of what the book constantly reiterated: the computer may be a powerful piece of technology, but it's still just a machine, and one that has limitations set mainly by the user. The author echoed what you said ("Computers can be damned complicated, and yes, they often are very frustrating, but that's not your fault.") by reminding all readers that when things go wrong, it's not always our fault. And as another commenter mentioned, sometimes the best thing to do when a seemingly unsurmountable problem arises, is to just walk away for a while.

I may not be stupid, but sometimes in my zeal to discover and/or try something new, I have done many stupid things. I have learned from every one of them. Like the time I thought that the more anti-malware I installed, the safer I'd be and proceeded to fry the boot sector of my disk, which could only be fixed by a clean reinstall of the OS. Got a good laugh from my tech, but it wasn't funny. I learned: what a "clean install" actually meant; the importance of backing-up; more is not always better; it's crucial to know the limitations of the PC, i.e. its resources, especially memory; and that unless I try to use the computer in the bathtub, it's not life-threatening, no matter what happens.

My friends and family are all amazed at how quickly and how much I've learned. Most of them say it's because I have more time to pursue it, and while this may be partially true, the fact is that I take the time. I subscribe to a trade magazine(as was suggested), I read all kinds of online forums, I get great newsletters like yours and Gizmo Richards' "TechSupportAlert", in short, I have become involved. My sister said that I'm now officially a computer geek, because after using her computer, I spent an hour writing out details on how she could improve her system to get the most out of it. (I also showed up with a U3 flashdrive around my neck, customized, of course!) For me, this was a great compliment!

At 52, I thought that I would be too stupid to learn anything about computers and would be "way behind" those who have used them for a while. How pleasant to discover otherwise! I have a knack for this because I embrace change and am willing to change with it. It's been an incredible adventure so far, and it's exciting to know that the journey has only just begun. There's so much more to absorb and knowing that is very humbling.

It's the contributions of people like you that also help to make this fun! Many thanks for sharing!

Jim Farley

I cant? the fact that you try negates that WORD.
I would like a dollar for every mistake I have made, that's how you learn try not to do it next time,
And I say try as you will do it again at some time in the future.
The funny thing is when you do make the mistake you know as soon as you hit the key, even before it executes your command, oh oh to late.
Remember with computers if any thing can go wrong IT WILL.
Regards to all.
Ron H

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