People not "in tune" with technology

[Eri]

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A lot of you seem to have the impression of "well you can't sew a shirt or do insert thing here" but that's not a valid comparison. Sewing a shirt is not important to humanity at all. Baking cakes is not either. Neither is interior decorating. Computers are.

When people buy cars, we expect them to at least know how to drive them right? (Not that they do, people can't drive for shit)(I know lots of people who are still scared of hitting the "inside air" button) But yet so many have a computer and can't even do the basics, was the point. Nor do they know the basic terms such as what a driver is. I shouldn't have to explain why computers are important, they and the internet are one of humanities greatest discoveries/achievements, not baking a cake.

 

[Waaghpowa]

It bothers me as well. It confuses me how little people understand basic operation and understanding of computers, yet they're ok with putting their lives on them. Part of it could be to do with the whole "user friendliness" thing. Now I have no problem with user friendliness, just so you know. Given the nature of the internet, it's not terribly difficult to educate yourself or at least do a little research.

Couple things that bother me, somewhat related to this discussion.

It annoys me when people misuse computer terms like "crash" and "download". Also one or two times at work, I had someone ask "If there's something wrong with my Wii, do I call Wii?" oi.

 

[Waaghpowa]

"well you can't sew a shirt or do insert thing here"

If you buy a shirt, you should know how to sew damn it!

 

[Eri]

It annoys me when people misuse computer terms like "crash" and "download".

Don't get me started on how many people misuse "hacker" when they actually mean they gave their password away to a keylogger or a friend, or they left themselves logged in. "I got hackxed11!11" No, you didn't.

There is no reason computers should be an exceptional case.

v

I shouldn't have to explain why computers are important, they and the internet are one of humanities greatest discoveries/achievements, not baking a cake.

 

[Queen Michael]

I write 74 words per minute. Is that good?

 

[Eri]

I write 74 words per minute. Is that good?

Yes, that is quite far above an average user.

 

[Zipa]

I really hate people who ***** that their 12+ year old operating system won't run the latest programs and games that are basically new. Seriously upgrade you cheap skates.

That and people who get the your computer is infected popup/virus and click it anyway despite it being in a UI and theme that is nothing like the one the rest of their pc uses. Seriously.

 

[McMullen]

I think people should know enough about computing to use different tiers of sane passwords, to not use Internet Explorer or any other excessively vulnerable piece of software, to use ad and script blockers to slow the spread of botnets, to CLEAN THEIR FRIGGIN HEAT SINKS ONCE IN A WHILE, to navigate their own hard drive, and to search online for solutions to other problems.

The thing that most bothers me about Microsoft is how, for the last decade, they've been tailoring Windows for people who don't know those things, and actually make it harder for those who do. The Xbox OS should be approaching the usability and versatility of Windows, not the other way around. So, in a way, the computer illiterate are in fact making things worse for the computer literate, even ignoring their contribution to the proliferation of malware.

Even the Xbox is subject to this. Hell, if you try to clean your heat sinks on a 360, something every responsible PC owner should do at least twice a year, you void the warranty. What the hell?

 

[Eri]

I shouldn't have to explain why computers are important, they and the internet are one of humanities greatest discoveries/achievements, not baking a cake.

Name me one thing you need from a computer that you can't get by using the browser.
Unless your job revolves around the computer or it's a hobby of yours, knowing how to type (speed is irrelevant) and opening google is more than enough.

OpenOffice or Microsoft Word?

The control panel?

 

[Twilight_guy]

Hey, I'm a programmer and I never learned how to type properly.

I think its dumb to just generically say 'I know more then you, why don't you learn more'. If you have a good argument for why people need to know more, that's cool but I don't see it here. As with most things, if a person is not interested in learning the details, they learn what they need to to survive and don't bother with anything else. You don't learn the design principles of the combustion engine when you learn to drive, why learn the details of computers if you just need to get your e-mail?

 

[Eri]

I shouldn't have to explain why computers are important, they and the internet are one of humanities greatest discoveries/achievements, not baking a cake.

Name me one thing you need from a computer that you can't get by using the browser.
Unless your job revolves around the computer or it's a hobby of yours, knowing how to type (speed is irrelevant) and opening google is more than enough.

OpenOffice or Microsoft Word?

The control panel?

Most people can know how to operate Word. Why would anyone need the control panel?

Uh...because it you know...controls stuff? It lets you set up accounts, cancel print jobs, back up your computer, view connected devices, uninstall things, change your language, change your battery options (laptop), check your system specs.

You can't see why any of that would be important?

 

[Aeonknight]

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A lot of you seem to have the impression of "well you can't sew a shirt or do insert thing here" but that's not a valid comparison. Sewing a shirt is not important to humanity at all. Baking cakes is not either. Neither is interior decorating. Computers are.

When people buy cars, we expect them to at least know how to drive them right? (Not that they do, people can't drive for shit)(I know lots of people who are still scared of hitting the "inside air" button) But yet so many have a computer and can't even do the basics, was the point. Nor do they know the basic terms such as what a driver is. I shouldn't have to explain why computers are important, they and the internet are one of humanities greatest discoveries/achievements, not baking a cake.

Sewing a shirt isn't important? Last I checked you wore clothes too. Clothes that someone else made, whether it be a machine someone designed or a little starving boy in a third world country.

From one computer geek to another, stop trying to inflate your sense of self worth. Just help the person fix their shit and move on.

 

[Formica Archonis]

My school made us type with orange covers on so we'd have to touchtype. We were in second grade.
Catholic school dicks.

Par for the course at Catholic school.

I don't touchtype and I'd quarter my speed if I tried, but years of typing (over 25 now) allows me to type about as fast as most touch-typists, and I use most of my fingers. Nothing beats my uncle, though. A journalist for years, he only typed with two fingers. But damn, did those two fingers MOVE!

 

[Eri]

Sewing a shirt isn't important? Last I checked you wore clothes too. Clothes that someone else made, whether it be a machine someone designed or a little starving boy in a third world country.

From one computer geek to another, stop trying to inflate your sense of self worth. Just help the person fix their shit and move on.

In the grand scheme of things, no, it's not worth much compared to computing. If I have an inflated sense of self worth, you have a severe lack of understanding of where things lie in order of importance. Computers are what humanity is and will use to advance themselves, shirts do no such thing. They advance nothing, they are nice to have sure, and they certainly have their place, but that place is not in this argument.

 

[kasperbbs]

Hm.. An excuse you say? Perhaps i don't need to be able to type like a secretary and i only use a computer once every few hours to print some stuff and approve orders at work. Why would you need to be a pc expert if it simply is of no use to you?

 

[Aeonknight]

Sewing a shirt isn't important? Last I checked you wore clothes too. Clothes that someone else made, whether it be a machine someone designed or a little starving boy in a third world country.

From one computer geek to another, stop trying to inflate your sense of self worth. Just help the person fix their shit and move on.

In the grand scheme of things, no, it's not worth much compared to computing. If I have an inflated sense of self worth, you have a severe lack of understanding of where things lie in order of importance. Computers are what humanity is and will use to advance themselves, shirts do no such thing. They advance nothing, they are nice to have sure, and they certainly have their place, but that place is not in this argument.

In the grand scheme of things, people need things like clothing, food, shelter, etc. to survive long enough to make any advancements computers could possibly offer. Surprised you don't see that if you're looking at the big picture.

But even discounting something as "insignificant" as clothing, take vehicle repair for example. trucks are still a major logistical component for how the whole system runs, and I doubt you even know how to change your oil. So again, yes computer skills are nice but don't think it discredits the importance of other fields.

 

[Eri]

The thing is computers are merely an accessory to most peoples lives that make them easier. They are not needed and are not really very important

How you can even say that with a straight face is beyond me, computers are (not my opinion, fact) one of the most important things ever created. Not needed or important? There's really not much else I can say if you truly think that.

 

[Eri]

The thing is computers are merely an accessory to most peoples lives that make them easier. They are not needed and are not really very important

How you can even say that with a straight face is beyond me, computers are (not my opinion, fact) one of the most important things ever created. Not needed or important? There's really not much else I can say if you truly think that.

You keep saying they are important but you have not once given a reason why. All you keep doing is repeating the exact same thing but you never say anything to back it up.

So once again I shall ask you why is knowing how to use useful to the average person.

The questions not why they would be useful, but why would they not be? Are you seriously going to tell me no "average" user ever needs to cancel a print job? Never needs to set up another account for their child or someone else? They never need to adjust their laptops battery settings? They never need to uninstall things to make more space for other stuff? They might need to change the language or be impaired and need to change accessibility options.

None of that seems worthy of knowing?

 

[loa]

I've noticed that the same thing is still going on, people[...] cannot functionally run a computer.

No, I don't consider turning it on and using the web browser and using Microsoft Word to be functional.

Why not?

 

[Eri]

I've noticed that the same thing is still going on, people[...] cannot functionally run a computer.

No, I don't consider turning it on and using the web browser and using Microsoft Word to be functional.

Why not?

See the reply right above you for a few reasons.