"I don't know anything about computers"

[KoO]

"I don't know anything about computers" Ya YES but your computer knows lots about YOU.

[jeffreyC]

I do support users, on a non-professional basis. It's quite frustrating that some people won't make the effort to find out a little about something they use a lot, but in my experience it's not just with computers. How many car owners even bother opening the handbook that comes with their car? I don't reckon it's many!

Chris

But strangely enough they still drive the car............... much as I wish many of them would stay off the road.

[dolphin_oracle]

I was once told that 99% of tech support is being willing to push the button.

[radonrose]

How many car owners even bother opening the handbook that comes with their car? I don't reckon it's many!

Exactly this. A lot of people nowadays use computers, but most of them did not have mandatory training at first. Whereas the important stuff of a car's handbook are taught in driver's lessons as well (you still need to read it, as more and more technologies are integrated into automobiles).

the fear of the unknown is a factor here, though i still blame education. why? because its what changed the most from something that could work to something that doesnt. education, vs. fear of the unknown. the problem is that education is lacking.

When I was in elementary school, not all schools had English classes. In junior high, students were separated into beginners and advanced, so as to prepare each group in a different way for senior high, where a basic knowledge of English was mandatory. On paper, this was perfect; beginners were supposed to learn English strictly as a language, and advanced students were supposed to dwell into more cultural aspects like literature and poetry, without losing contact (and in some high schools this worked as expected).
Computer classes started in junior high school as well, and we were unofficially separated into beginners and advanced users as well. But this was only for leniency, and most of us didn't learn anything after at least four years, one hour per week. I remember students who had experience with MS Paint and Office from home, finishing high school knowing nothing more. I've studied info/com, and I remember people not knowing how to install Dev-C++ for first semester homework.
But I've also seen people at my parents' age being offered free lessons in their workplace, offered one hour off of work to take a two-hour lesson, and they opted out. This made me cynical enough to say that we either make lessons mandatory, or just leave the computer-phobics out on their own.

[richb]

I was once told that 99% of tech support is being willing to push the button.

I have told people to just push every button you see, You will learn something.

[rokytnji.1]

I don't over think these things. The online world is burning me out as it is.
Yeah, I noticed.

I take into consideration I did not learn Spanish in a day. So I give some slack.


Like computers. Learning new language can be intimidating also. Learning Linux after becoming Windows expert.
I equate with knowing the Kings English in Jaurez Mexico. Useless.

Example. sda1 vs c drive.

[freemedia2018]

some folks, even get lost, when "an Icon" is *not* in it's usual place:
- they don't look around the Entire Desktop Screen - - which ain't that big .. ..

this is a perfect example really. lay everything out in a 2x2 grid, and people will expect to find something in the same place, regardless of how the grid works.

three things go wrong there: first, they arent taught how to find things. second, the grid is not reliable (im not saying a grid of icons should be reliable, but there are so many other things that get moved around without good cause, leading to problems and need for the same superficial retraining.) third, the lack of a solution that doesnt require knowing what spot on the screen to find something.

[Mauser]

Interesting observations and opinions. When it comes to computers some people are born with the ability to be savvy while others aren't. It's like you are born mechanically inclined or not and if you have two left hands there is no teaching that can change that. Same like Linus Torvalds said that he is horrible when it comes to computers and doing the kernel is his thing. The other thing I remember watching a video years ago that explained it best about Linux is it's easier if you never used Windows or Mac. Once you use either long enough it's tough to break old habits. The hardest for me coming from Windows to Linux is the command line because I born without the ability to learn it even though I have tried since the early 1980's. What I do now is save commands in a document on what they do when someone posts it. I was born with excellent mechanically abilities mentally and physically. We have people from all different backgrounds and education in the Linux community, not everyone went to school to learn computers like in my case there was no such thing as computer classes in school.

[Artim]

My school has mandatory "computer literacy" classes, but they're all classes on how to Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Office, Microsoft this and Microsoft that! Even the kids who have Macs have to learn all that Microsoft stuff. It makes me wonder if the school is getting some kind of money deal to push MS products. I'm breezing through the class, but not one bit happy about it. I asked the teacher why we should be locked into a single vendor when there are (better) alternatives. No one knows.

[freemedia2018]

My school has mandatory "computer literacy" classes, but they're all classes on how to Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Office, Microsoft this and Microsoft that! Even the kids who have Macs have to learn all that Microsoft stuff. It makes me wonder if the school is getting some kind of money deal to push MS products.

bill and melinda gates foundation.

thats not computer literacy, its consumer training. microsoft has exploited public schools for decades. apple is no saint, either. the schools should be ashamed.