Comments for The most frustrating thing I hear...

Comment from Patricia Van Dusseldorp on 2007-08-13

2007-08-13T16:19:33Z

You are absolutely RIGHT ON! The pace of technology is not and will never stand still. If we don't get on-board, we'll surely be left behind. This is really sad when I hear it daily for gen-y 20 somethings. Constant daily learning is the only way to begin with the end in sight where it is readily accepted that data is knowledge and knowledge is power. Without which we are relegated to mediocrity. Why are many foreign educational institutions turning out students who in turn are sought after by American industry? Because they have embraced the concept of 'constant learning' beginning at an early age. Only then can attitudes be molded for success through technology. When we turn out high school graduates that excel in math and science which are significantly less than half the class we will never keep up.
From a 50 something baby boomer with nearly 40 years experience in one the fastest changing industries in the world - telecommunications though now is more accurately called communications in the 21st century!

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Comment from Ron Powell on 2007-08-13

2007-08-13T13:52:56Z

I to share your frustration, I'm +60 and started using computers when they required 2 disk to run. But the one thing I've learned is that anything I try to do I go at it with the additude that THeir is nothing I can't learn and do. I've got jobs over the years with this type of additude and telling the employer that I can do it, willing to work for them free for 2 weeks to prove it, if I'm wrong then we part friends.
I'm retired now and still tackle everything I do with the same get it done additude. It's fun to do or learn something new, and the computer and it complexities is(Spelling is one of my BEST)is
a blast.

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Comment from William Thomson on 2007-08-12

2007-08-12T15:55:59Z

I share your frustration about individuals who get in this mode of thinking. When someone calls me and says their computer is acting up and I ask what are the messages or what were you doing at the time and they cannot remember one specific detail I want to say "Have you lost your ability to read and write?" But I bite my tongue and ask them to collect some specific information.

I think people get in this mode because they have lost their desire to learn.

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Comment from Marika Kaniewski-Jensen on 2007-08-12

2007-08-12T15:14:42Z

Thanks a lot for the fine article, which I showed to my husband (80). He is struggling hard to cope with a computer and his microscope and doing pictures of chemistry stuff. At least, now he smiles when something goes wrong and he wants me to explain, why. AND he thinks that he will be able to remember all the different steps after all. Thanks again, Leo

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Comment from Frank Guerrero on 2007-08-11

2007-08-12T06:23:02Z

This is great, vvery well said.
I'm going to print these articles
And give them to at least 3 other people I know that feel that way about themselves
Frank Guerrero

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Comment from Doug McIver on 2007-08-11

2007-08-11T18:00:04Z

I am going to disagree and claim there are some stupid users. I have been doing PC/network support for 17 years and I can tell you who the stupid users are. They are the ones that call you up to fix their problems and then proceed to tell you how to fix it. When you try to relay to them what the you think should be done they will argue with you till the end of time. You then wonder why they even bothered calling you if they already know how to fix it.
The smart users are the ones that are willing to listen and learn. I wouldn't know how to do any of the jobs that my clients do so why should my clients think they should know how to do my job.
As I said, I've been doing this for 17 years but I still do things like read Leo's blog because there is always something new to learn in the world of computers. There are 'NO' computer experts that know everything there is to know, so don't worry that you may not know as much as the next guy.

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Comment from John Burkett on 2007-08-11

2007-08-11T14:57:53Z

I believe that people who say this are actually saying something different than what they mean. What they mean is "I'm ignorant about computers" which is an acknowledgment that they don't know much. I agree that that too could be a negative aspect to their willingness to learn. If people would then make a simple change and say "I'm ignorant about computers, but willing to learn", then that would represent a complete reversal of attitude from what we started with. John B.

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Comment from Natalie Kehr on 2007-08-11

2007-08-11T14:04:39Z

I run a computer club for elderly people, and spend most of my time telling people that you are perhaps entitled to call yourself stupid if you can count to 467, but don't understand why the next number is 468. However there is nothing inherently logical about the way computer/human communication has developed, so there is no reason to feel inadequate if you don't know something about computers. Where possible I start each weekly meeting by telling them the questions I have had to pose to my guru during the previous week. Despite this I am not sure if they believe that I don't know everything. I haven't decided if I should admit to them that I have no idea what to do with my network settings when that goes wrong or when I travel.

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Comment from Marie Leclercq on 2007-08-11

2007-08-11T12:42:09Z

ooooooooohh how i agree with you Leo,unless you are brain dead no one in this world is stupid, but making the effort to learn is the setback. I stared learning the computer when i was 67 and yes it was very hard, but with your tips and my will power i'm getting there.

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Comment from Ron.H on 2007-08-11

2007-08-11T10:34:57Z

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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Comment from Jim Farley on 2007-08-10

2007-08-11T04:27:53Z

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

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Comment from Kathy on 2007-08-10

2007-08-11T02:59:33Z

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.

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Comment from Ross on 2007-08-10

2007-08-11T02:18:57Z

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.

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Comment from Jeffrey on 2007-08-06

2007-08-06T23:55:47Z

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.

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Comment from Leo A. Notenboom on 2007-08-06

2007-08-06T19:57:51Z

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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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Comment from Mary on 2007-08-06

2007-08-06T12:45:46Z

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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Comment from etharooni on 2007-08-06

2007-08-06T08:17:54Z

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.

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Comment from Poncho on 2007-08-05

2007-08-05T09:14:43Z

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".

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Comment from Greg on 2007-08-04

2007-08-05T04:18:57Z

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.

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