Frustrations of a computer geek...........

[peachexploration]

Why is it that some people can't remember how to cut and paste after they've been trained on it in about 50 computer classes but can remember every law created in the state of Florida? :evil: Sorry, there goes my alter ego, Alice, again. :twisted: UGGGHHH!!! Frustrating... :headwall:

[Genesius Redux]

Why is it that some people can't remember how to cut and paste after they've been trained on it in about 50 computer classes but can remember every law created in the state of Florida? :evil: Sorry, there goes my alter ego, Alice, again. :twisted: UGGGHHH!!! Frustrating... :headwall:

They're lawyers, Peach. :lol:

[Sagitta]

Tell me about it!! Actually this is something that any competent person should know. There are certain basic computer skills that should be presumed knowledge, such as being able to talk, and "cut and paste" falls right in that category IMO.

[Genesius Redux]

Tell me about it!! Actually this is something that any competent person should know.

They're lawyers, Sagitta. :lol:

[Bob]

hahaha!

Maybe it should be a law. If you can't cut and paste, you can't own a computer!!

Maybe it should be a law. If you can't cut and paste, you can't own a computer!!


Maybe it should be a law. If you can't cut and paste, you can't own a computer!!


Maybe it should be a law. If you can't cut and paste, you can't own a computer!!

(painstakingly typed in repeatedly)

[SDsalsaguy]

(painstakingly typed in repeatedly)
:doh: :uplaugh: :uplaugh: :uplaugh:

[peachexploration]

I know guys, I know..... :nope: And you know what? Right after that, they asked if I could teach a class just on Cut and Paste. :shock: :doh: I can't believe they asked me that! :? I needed a double espresso after that one. :roll:

[peachexploration]

(painstakingly typed in repeatedly)
:doh: :uplaugh: :uplaugh: :uplaugh:

Hilarious! :lol:

[SDsalsaguy]

...they asked if I could teach a class just on Cut and Paste. :shock: :doh:
:headwall: :headwall: :headwall:

[danceguy]

I feel for you Peach! As a computer tech and on-call IT support person...honestly 90% of my calls are for people who forget their email or domain password! :shock:

I'm thinking I may have to start tattooing passwords on their behinds or something.... :snake: :headwall: :snake:

And don't get me started on the college professors...basic computing needs to be part of their studies before they are ever allowed to teach! :oops: :oops: :shock: :oops: :evil:

SG

[Sagitta]

I know guys, I know..... :nope: And you know what? Right after that, they asked if I could teach a class just on Cut and Paste. :shock: :doh: I can't believe they asked me that! :? I needed a double espresso after that one. :roll:


That's so funny!!! :lol: ROTFL! I can't help it. Tell them if they pay for my ticket and accomodation I'll be happy to teach them "CUT and PASTE" and all those difficult tasks they struggle with. With the money they earn it shouldn't be too hard. Let that coincide with the backyard df reunion that Pygmalion is organizing and then I'll abscond from my real job for a few days.

[Genesius Redux]

I know guys, I know..... :nope: And you know what? Right after that, they asked if I could teach a class just on Cut and Paste. :shock: :doh:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Maybe then you could do, like, Intermediate C&P, a whole series of graded classes, leading to special seminars on Cutting techniques and such!

[peachexploration]

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You guys are hilarious! ROTFL!!!!

Thanks so much ALL of you. I feel much better now. Really needed to laugh today.

[tj]

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You guys are hilarious! ROTFL!!!!

Thanks so much ALL of you. I feel much better now. Really needed to laugh today.

You could always do what those of us in the telephone industry say...

If you're having problems with your phone, call us... 8)

[peachexploration]

:nope: :nope: You know, I just don't get it. If the "company policy" is "No computer games whatsoever on the "Company" computers, what exactly does that mean? :? Every once in a while, a user will download some gamepak on a company computer right after reading the company policy. Then when we reprimand them, we get looks like this... :shock: I just don't get some people. :nope: :lol:

[dr daffy]

hahaha... that's absolutly hilarious...

[peachexploration]

I know. Amazingly funny. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[dr daffy]

lol... oh yes... funny and true :lol: :lol:

[Larinda McRaven]

My Mother is useless on the computer.

I sent her a link. It did not open when she clicked on it.

So she called and wanted to know what to do with it. We had a fifteen mintue lesson on cut and paste. The end result was supposed to have been to cut and paste into the address bar.

She called me later to tell me that when she put it into her address book and tried to mail it, it was returned, and she did not know why... :shock:

[Sagitta]

:nope: :nope: You know, I just don't get it. If the "company policy" is "No computer games whatsoever on the "Company" computers, what exactly does that mean? :? Every once in a while, a user will download some gamepak on a company computer right after reading the company policy. Then when we reprimand them, we get looks like this... :shock: I just don't get some people. :nope: :lol:

What about your pc? :wink: :) let's see...hmmm... :shock: :)

[peachexploration]

My Mother is useless on the computer.

I sent her a link. It did not open when she clicked on it.

So she called and wanted to know what to do with it. We had a fifteen mintue lesson on cut and paste. The end result was supposed to have been to cut and paste into the address bar.

She called me later to tell me that when she put it into her address book and tried to mail it, it was returned, and she did not know why... :shock:

Well, at least she tries. :) Larinda, your photo is very nice! Reminds me of the old glamour movies. :)

[peachexploration]

:nope: :nope: You know, I just don't get it. If the "company policy" is "No computer games whatsoever on the "Company" computers, what exactly does that mean? :? Every once in a while, a user will download some gamepak on a company computer right after reading the company policy. Then when we reprimand them, we get looks like this... :shock: I just don't get some people. :nope: :lol:

What about your pc? :wink: :) let's see...hmmm... :shock: :)

:lol: :lol: Believe it or not, I don't have any games on mine. Don't have time to play them. Too busy at the DF. :lol: :lol:

[dancin_feet]

Another frustrated computer person here. I empathise completely. Though it is their complete lack of knowledge and understanding that keeps us in a job!

Though I would be much happier if I could teach them to fish rather than selling them fish!!!

I am always amused (read frustrated) at how perfectly intelligent and literate people cannot read an error message on a computer screen. Even when it is right in front of them! It's always "I'm not a computer person". Aaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!! I feel like yelling at them "You don't need to be a computer person to know how to read!!!".

[peachexploration]

Though I would be much happier if I could teach them to fish rather than selling them fish!!....

... Aaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!! I feel like yelling at them "You don't need to be a computer person to know how to read!!!".

Yeah, your two statements are key points, dancin_feet. :) These are intelligent people which is maybe why it frustrates us so badly....

[dr daffy]

lol... i don't think my mom has trouble with copying and pasting but she can't even check her email. every time she wants to, it's another looooong lesson for her, lol

[squirrel]

Imagine this: my father is an old-school programmer... COBOL, FORTRAN... things like these... but just recently did he get an email account, because my brother left abroad and it's just an easy means of communication...

God, the questions he asks... :shock: I sometimes get the urge to yell at him, 'cause he's an IT guy and knows squat about the internet... I don't think he ever had the curiosity to navigate...

[dr daffy]

haha, that's great

[peachexploration]

I can't believe it! User allowed someone who does not even work in the building, let alone within our agency, to work on their computer. And yes you guessed it! It's all screwed up!!!! So they called me and have the nerve to ask "When will it be fixed?" :shock: :doh: :headwall: Well.....guess what?!? SOMEONE will be without a computer today! :evil: :evil:

[SDsalsaguy]

I feel for you Peach, see.... ARGHHH!!!!! :evil: :x :evil: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall:

Seriously, where do these morons come from? Also, is there any way that you can report them up the chain of command and get them in trouble? Wouldn't that be nice? :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

[peachexploration]

Oh yes, SD. They got a "serious about getting you in trouble with your immediate supervisor ASAP" note from me today. I hate being that way but today, they deserve it. :evil:

[SDsalsaguy]

Sounds like it Peach. Grrr!

[Vince A]

Imagine this: my father is an old-school programmer... COBOL, FORTRAN... things like these... but just recently did he get an email account, because my brother left abroad and it's just an easy means of communication...

God, the questions he asks... :shock: I sometimes get the urge to yell at him, 'cause he's an IT guy and knows squat about the internet... I don't think he ever had the curiosity to navigate...
I feel for your father . . . I too, have come from COBOL, FORTRAN, and I know servers and routers within the new language of computers. I "do" PC's real well . . . however . . .

Yesterday, I buy this new laptop/notebook . . . with every bell and whistle, with high hard drive capacity and extra high-speed RAM, etc . . . you all know what I mean, but you know . . . I cannot get the d**n thing to work for me. I feel computer-illiterate with this thing . . . it doesn't have a curved wireless keyboard, so it's tough to type on . . . but it IS PRETTY! :cry:

Tell your father to hang in there . . . it'll come to him!

[DWise1]

Imagine this: my father is an old-school programmer... COBOL, FORTRAN... things like these... but just recently did he get an email account, because my brother left abroad and it's just an easy means of communication...

God, the questions he asks... :shock: I sometimes get the urge to yell at him, 'cause he's an IT guy and knows squat about the internet... I don't think he ever had the curiosity to navigate...
I feel for your father . . . I too, have come from COBOL, FORTRAN, and I know servers and routers within the new language of computers. I "do" PC's real well . . . however . . .

Yesterday, I buy this new laptop/notebook . . . with every bell and whistle, with high hard drive capacity and extra high-speed RAM, etc . . . you all know what I mean, but you know . . . I cannot get the d**n thing to work for me. I feel computer-illiterate with this thing . . . it doesn't have a curved wireless keyboard, so it's tough to type on . . . but it IS PRETTY! :cry:

Tell your father to hang in there . . . it'll come to him!
Although I started with FORTRAN and did pick up a COBOL manual once (but immediately dropped it and washed my hands, so no damage done), I've quite-to-fairly savvy working in DOS, Linux/UNIX, and Windows.

I dropped by my sister-in-law's house to do a test compile of a few C programs on his iMac with OS X (the one with BSD UNIX under the hood). What a horribly confusing thing that is! "User friendly"? No way! I couldn't figure where it was hiding the terminal. Finally, I had to look up "terminal" in the help and while it linked me to opening a terminal window, it still never did tell me how to do it on my own! But once I got to the shell (tcsh, judging by the prompt), I could finally get something done. Well, almost. Turned out that the C compiler hadn't been installed, so I couldn't run my test -- it has perl and awk, it even has the Java compiler, but no C compiler.

Why does Apple have to make the Mac so hard to use? I had even been able to consider buying an iMac next time around, since the BSD kernel would actually make it useable, but now I'm not so sure. And with Bill trying to make Windows ever more Mac-like, Linux is looking better and better all the time.

[DWise1]

Why is it that some people can't remember how to cut and paste after they've been trained on it in about 50 computer classes but can remember every law created in the state of Florida? :evil: Sorry, there goes my alter ego, Alice, again. :twisted: UGGGHHH!!! Frustrating... :headwall:
Oh, I see you've met my wife.

[DWise1]

Tell me about it!! Actually this is something that any competent person should know. There are certain basic computer skills that should be presumed knowledge, such as being able to talk, and "cut and paste" falls right in that category IMO.
A couple jobs (and 14 years) ago, I was the only programmer in a company that made computerized greenhouse control systems using PC XTs programmed in Turbo Pascal. The company president considered himself a computer expert because he had helped with the very first monitor program in Apple BASIC running on an Apple II.

About a couple times a year, this computer expert would call me into his office to tell him again how to copy a file to a floppy.

Did I mention that his favorite way to exit a program, any program, was to reboot the PC?

[SDsalsaguy]

:doh: :headwall: :doh:

[DancePoet]

My family had a computer back in the early 70's when I was a kid. We all learned how to use it because my father said it would be a skill needed in the future.

When I took my first job out of college back in the late 80's there were 40 people applying for 7 management positions, one of these being a manager of a data processing department. The guy who was interviewing offered me the computer position because I was the only one out of all the applicants that was "willing" to work with computers.

Today, as we all know, they are everywhere. It continually frustrates me as to how little I know about computer, and I never seem to have enough time to catch up on my computer knowledge and skills.

However, I do know how to "cut and paste". :)

[DWise1]

My family had a computer back in the early 70's when I was a kid. We all learned how to use it because my father said it would be a skill needed in the future.

When I took my first job out of college back in the late 80's there were 40 people applying for 7 management positions, one of these being a manager of a data processing department. The guy who was interviewing offered me the computer position because I was the only one out of all the applicants that was "willing" to work with computers.

Today, as we all know, they are everywhere. It continually frustrates me as to how little I know about computer, and I never seem to have enough time to catch up on my computer knowledge and skills.

However, I do know how to "cut and paste". :)
Already armed with a BS Computer Science and five years professional experience in aerospace, I interviewed at another big aerospace firm for a software engineering position circa 1988. At one point I was shown how the editor worked on the specialized IBM terminal they were using -- I mean all the terminal did was edit files, kind of a glorified EDLIN only slightly better. Then the guy just sat there looking at me and I finally realized what was going on: he wanted to see if I could type on it! Having been a touch-typist for about 20 years, it was a no-brainer. I can only imagine what some of the other interviewees must have been like that they found it necessary to include this practical test.

PS
With all the new stuff coming out and the old stuff changing, there's never enough time to even keep up with everything, let alone try to catch up. But it's still so much fun trying to. Or at least it's interesting.

And if you don't, then you become obsolete like your area of expertise. Like I used to be real expert on DOS systems programming. Guess how much demand there is for that now.

[tj]

About a couple times a year, this computer expert would call me into his office to tell him again how to copy a file to a floppy.

Did I mention that his favorite way to exit a program, any program, was to reboot the PC?

Lol! Sounds like a good storyline for Dilbert.

(I like the Dilbert where he tells the pointy-haired boss that he sent some spare electricity to the computer to make up for using the fax machine...
hmm... maybe too obscure of a reference? Lol)

[DWise1]

About a couple times a year, this computer expert would call me into his office to tell him again how to copy a file to a floppy.

Did I mention that his favorite way to exit a program, any program, was to reboot the PC?

Lol! Sounds like a good storyline for Dilbert.

(I like the Dilbert where he tells the pointy-haired boss that he sent some spare electricity to the computer to make up for using the fax machine...
hmm... maybe too obscure of a reference? Lol)
OK, here's an obscure one from "User Friendly" (http://www.userfriendly.org), the fourth book entitled "Even Grues Get Full" (pg 55).

Miranda tracked down the script kiddies who had brought their server down and was confronting them in a chat room on-line. She challenges them to take her down and they gleefully accept and ask for her IP address. She tells them "127.0.0.1" and smiles as she watches them all go down.

That one nearly had me rolling on the floor. Great geek humor. Wil Wheaton loves it too.

NOTE: Script kiddies don't really know what they are doing and cannot write their own mal-ware, but rather "hack" by using programs they find on the Web. Hence the script kiddies in question didn't recognize the IP address for "localhost", i.e. their own computers, and so were actually launching their attacks against themselves.

[tj]

About a couple times a year, this computer expert would call me into his office to tell him again how to copy a file to a floppy.

Did I mention that his favorite way to exit a program, any program, was to reboot the PC?

Lol! Sounds like a good storyline for Dilbert.

(I like the Dilbert where he tells the pointy-haired boss that he sent some spare electricity to the computer to make up for using the fax machine...
hmm... maybe too obscure of a reference? Lol)
OK, here's an obscure one from "User Friendly" (http://www.userfriendly.org), the fourth book entitled "Even Grues Get Full" (pg 55).

Lol! I remember the ol' Grue reference. Jeez that was a long time ago!


Miranda tracked down the script kiddies who had brought their server down and was confronting them in a chat room on-line. She challenges them to take her down and they gleefully accept and ask for her IP address. She tells them "127.0.0.1" and smiles as she watches them all go down.

That one nearly had me rolling on the floor. Great geek humor. Wil Wheaton loves it too.

NOTE: Script kiddies don't really know what they are doing and cannot write their own mal-ware, but rather "hack" by using programs they find on the Web. Hence the script kiddies in question didn't recognize the IP address for "localhost", i.e. their own computers, and so were actually launching their attacks against themselves.

Lol! (Should I be admitting that I understand the joke?!?)

[squirrel]

:( I don't really understand it... I mean, when you explain it, it's no longer a joke, is it???? :shock: :shock:

[tj]

:( I don't really understand it... I mean, when you explain it, it's no longer a joke, is it???? :shock: :shock:

Yup. It's not really worth the time to explain.

[squirrel]

I understood the explanation above, but when a joke needs explaining, it's no longer a joke... :)

[Vince A]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[DWise1]

:( I don't really understand it... I mean, when you explain it, it's no longer a joke, is it???? :shock: :shock:
Actually, it's worse when you have to explain it after somebody asks. The only reason I added the footnote was to avoid that situation. Those who understood it already didn't need the footnote and those who didn't understand wouldn't have to ask.

But even if an explanation is needed (as can often be the case due to lack of the cultural/subcultural background the joke requires), the joke can still be appreciated. For instance, I had no idea what a "grue" was and had to Google to find out.

Similarly, a DP manager friend couldn't understand a gag program that promised a free coffee-cup holder; when you run it, the CD drive tray pops out. The joke is based on a famous tech-support story of a clueless customer who called in to have the coffee-cup holder replaced and it turns out to have been the CD drive tray.

[squirrel]

I know the joke... it was really funny... but I knew it with "a place to put your beer" not a "coffee - cup holder" :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[DWise1]

I know the joke... it was really funny... but I knew it with "a place to put your beer" not a "coffee - cup holder" :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Yes, well, in our segment of cyberspace we tend to consume caffeine while at the computer. ThinkGeek.com sells all kinds of caffeine drinks, candy, chewing gum, even soap. We save our beer drinking for those rare times of the day that we are away from our computers (it happens).

[Chris Stratton]

I'm pressing the foot pedal but the computer won't turn on.

[DWise1]

I'm pressing the foot pedal but the computer won't turn on.
Yes, that's another classic story.

Closer to home, my sister-in-law's husband has been using a Mac for since the late 80's and, as a PhD and author, it is the primary tool of his profession. As a teacher, my sister-in-law has also used the Mac quite often both at school and at home.

They were totally bewildered by that second button on the mouse. Even after I explained it to them and demonstrated it for them, they still don't understand it.

I won't even mention his complete bewilderment at why anyone would want to use a text editor.

[peachexploration]

So today's scenario is:

User whines and complains for six months about why they haven't gotten a new computer. Luckily for them, their computer gets fried by a virus. Wonder whose fault that was? :roll: .....So they get a newer computer with the appropiate software programs. User whines and complains that computer is too slow. I check it, don't see a difference. Follow the same procedure they do for the work assignment. Still don't see a difference other that it's much faster. Ask the user to demonstrate. What's the big difference? One click of the mouse button. :evil:

This user is from the same group that wants a class in "Cut & Paste"!!!! :evil:

[cl5814]

This user is from the same group that wants a class in "Cut & Paste"!!!! :evil:

I felt that maybe i needed a class in cut & paste today, but then it might just be micro$oft that wasn't cooperating. Tried to copy and paste between outlook and IE and ended up retyping what i wanted to copy - was only a few words.

[peachexploration]

I felt that maybe i needed a class in cut & paste today, but then it might just be micro$oft that wasn't cooperating. Tried to copy and paste between outlook and IE and ended up retyping what i wanted to copy - was only a few words. I doubt that cl5814, my situtation is a little extreme. In your situation, it's probably as you've said. Just a little glitch in microsoft, that happens to all of us from time to time. :)

[peachexploration]

Question: What's the point of having a Pop-Up Blocker that doesn't work? :? :eyebrow:

[Sagitta]

That raised eyebrow emoticon looks as it is has a furrowed, worried expression on its face. :)

[peachexploration]

Yeah, didn't notice until you mention it, Sagitta. It fits my question even more now. :lol:

[Larinda McRaven]

I won't even mention his complete bewilderment at why anyone would want to use a text editor.
But you just did :D :wink:

This user is from the same group that wants a class in "Cut & Paste"!!!! :evil:
Yup I have given my Mother this lesson over the phone 7 times!http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0304/alles_moegliche/mixed-smiley-037.gif

[squirrel]

Some people can never understand the miracles of modern technique! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Sarah]

Similarly, a DP manager friend couldn't understand a gag program that promised a free coffee-cup holder; when you run it, the CD drive tray pops out. The joke is based on a famous tech-support story of a clueless customer who called in to have the coffee-cup holder replaced and it turns out to have been the CD drive tray.

You guys are probably already familiar with Simon Travaglia. But just in case you aren't - www.theregister.co.uk/odds/bofh/ ;)

Cheers
Sarah

[peachexploration]

:headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall:

:? :? :? :? :evil: :roll: :eyebrow: :bkick:





Whew! Glad I got that off my chest.... 8)

[SDsalsaguy]

:lol:

[MacMoto]

:headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall:

:? :? :? :? :evil: :roll: :eyebrow: :bkick:
A good day at the office, I take :lol:

[peachexploration]

Yup SD & Mac. The smilies said it better that day. :lol:

[peachexploration]

ROTF LMAO!!!!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

NEVER in a million years would I have expected a "Computer Help Desk Request" today like this one: Toliet in the mens restrom in room ### is constantly flushing. Please send someone to fix.
Thank you, Yup! Fridays rock! :rocker: Boy am I glad it was no one on my watch. :doh:

:lol: :lol: :lol: Too funny!!

[pygmalion]

:lol: :lol: Maybe he thinks the toilets are computerized? :roll: :lol:

[peachexploration]

Yeah, some sort of computer chip malfunctioned in the handle. hahahhahahaha... Isn't that just a hoot! :lol: Hmm, let's see Microsoft version 3.2 Flushomatic...... :P

[pygmalion]

ROTFLMAO!!!

[NeoDevin]

Check this out for more stories of how stupid some people can be when it comes to computers (http://www.rinkworks.com/stupid/)

[DWise1]

Check this out for more stories of how stupid some people can be when it comes to computers (http://www.rinkworks.com/stupid/)
Should be required reading.

[pygmalion]

Absolutely hilarious! I liked the stupid tech support examples best. (Probably because I've dealt with some real twits at the help desk, from time to time. :x )

No, scratch that. The internet ones were pretty funny, too.

[peachexploration]

:? :? :? :?

User: Can I get my old computer back?
Support: Why would you want an old computer?
User: No, the one I got after that.
Support: The one you got a virus on?
User: Yes.
Support: No, we are working on that one. You now have a new one that works properly.
User: But it was faster.
Support: No it wasn't it had a virus. And both computers are 3GHz in speed and Pentium 4s.
User: It was a newer and faster computer.
Support: How did you know this?
User: Um, it was one of the black ones.
Support: They're both black.
User: Oh, I guess you would know, you're the computer person.
:headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :bkick: :bkick:



Well, at least I know my colors. :lol:

[peachexploration]

Any of the techies here use Symantec Ghost v7.5 software? Got a question about a network card...

[peachexploration]

Any of the techies here use Symantec Ghost v7.5 software? Got a question about a network card...

Yup! The Peach strikes again. :twisted: :rocker:. I slam dunked the Ghost. That'll teach software to mess with me! :lol: :wink: :P

[Bob]

You rock Peach!

I didn't see the post, I may hve been able to help. Glad you worked it out!

Show that ghost who is boss!

[peachexploration]

The Peach strikes, again!!! :rocker: 80 Gigs rule!!! Silly computer, tricks are for kids. :twisted: :P :lol:

[peachexploration]

You rock Peach!

I didn't see the post, I may hve been able to help. Glad you worked it out!

Show that ghost who is boss!

Yeah, Bob. I just bypassed the crazy network card altogether and instead of doing multicast across the network, I did it locally with a USB external hard drive. Took all of 3 minutes to load my images. Cool. 8)

[Bob]

80 gig? welcome to the late eighties!

We are talkin terrabytes now sister!!!

:twisted: 8)

[peachexploration]

No, for the project I'm working on, 80 gigs is all I needed. 8) :wink:

[Bob]

Gahhhh!

When did absurd amounts of storage become about "need"?!?!?

Don't you know that geeks are rated soley on processor speed, storage space, and their ability to use terms like grep in a sentence?

I may have to file a grievance against you to the geeks union :shock:

[peachexploration]

:eyebrow:

:lol: :lol: Bob, you are too much. :lol:

[Bob]

:wink:

[Bob]

Yeah, Bob. I just bypassed the crazy network card altogether and instead of doing multicast across the network, I did it locally with a USB external hard drive. Took all of 3 minutes to load my images. Cool. Cool



Say! That is a nifty little solution! I like it!

(plus it gave me the chance to use the word "nifty" :? )

[Bob]

I must have one!


http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/6b3b/

[peachexploration]

Even cooler than the one I have. At least it's supremely functional. :D I like it! Oh shucks, at the highest storage, only comes in 128mb. The 1GBs are already here so I'm sure it won't be far behind in the swiss knife model. I just love technology. :lol:

[Sagitta]

I have a small portable 512MB USB memory stick. :) And if I get someone to sublease my 2 bedroom I will be able to splurge on something! A digital camcorder so my df friends can see me performing? A portable laptop so I can get soem cool software and start djing parties where people are at a loss. If I had this I would eb abel to have dance party at my cousin's place yesterday night. :?

[peachexploration]

....A portable laptop so I can get soem cool software and start djing parties where people are at a loss....

DJing from your laptop. You must have some mean speakers and subwoofer? :o

[DWise1]

....A portable laptop so I can get soem cool software and start djing parties where people are at a loss....

DJing from your laptop. You must have some mean speakers and subwoofer? :o
Actually, my Lindy instructor DJs for our events and he does it from his laptop. As far as I can tell, he plugs it into the venue's sound system.

[pygmalion]

How?

[peachexploration]

...Actually, my Lindy instructor DJs for our events and he does it from his laptop. As far as I can tell, he plugs it into the venue's sound system. Oh yeah, through the PA system with an adapter plug. Forgot about that. Cool. :) Can't really mix on the spot but depending on the event, you may not want that anyway. :)

[pygmalion]

Eek! Reminds me of a lecture I organized once. What a disaster! The speaker showed up late, with everything on his laptop, and needed tons of A/V support. Of course, the main A/V guy was out that day. Nightmares revisited. *shudder*

[peachexploration]

Two printers: One design for high-bulk, black and white printing, 30pages per minute. The other for color presentations, 8 pages per minute. Why would you send a 250-page black & white document to the printer for color presentations and then complain that it's too slow? :? And on top of that, complain again because you broke it due to improper use and the cost to fix it is coming out of your budget :?: :?: :?: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall:

Repeat offenders bug me!
:evil: :evil: :evil:

[SDsalsaguy]

Why? That's an easy one peach... dain bramage :!: :!: :!:

[peachexploration]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[pygmalion]

Yep. Twits on the loose. They can save the world, but they can't figure out which printer to use. And get your office manager to check which overhead slides they're using too. The color ones run about $1 a page, and the B&W ones cost a few cents. :wink:

[peachexploration]

Yep. Twits on the loose. They can save the world, but they can't figure out which printer to use. And get your office manager to check which overhead slides they're using too. The color ones run about $1 a page, and the B&W ones cost a few cents. :wink:

Oh no, please! No slides, transparencies or anything other than paper for these people. Last week, one of our other highly intelligent people :roll: stuck a whole stack of transparencies in another one of our printers, ruined the printer drum and ran to ask me when it was going to be fixed because they needed it right away. :shock: :bkick: I made them wait two weeks before I fixed it. :twisted: 8)

[pygmalion]

I have spent many a day standing in queue behind PhD-holding, world-renowned scientists who couldn't figure out how to use a printer. Completely boggles my mind.

[Bob]

I had a laserjet on my desk for just such an occasion. The IT moron came by and said that it wasn't "Ford Approved" and that he would have to confiscate it.

I told him that it cost me a thousand dollars, and that if he felt more strongly about taking it than I felt about keeping it he could try to take it off my desk.

For a fleeting moment, he looked like he was going to go for it. Fortunately for all concerned, he just called my boss (who told him that he made the right decision by calling him... and not to worry about the printer).

:twisted:

[peachexploration]

I had a laserjet on my desk for just such an occasion. The IT moron came by and said that it wasn't "Ford Approved" and that he would have to confiscate it.

What? Not Fix Or Repair Daily approved? :lol: We're okay with that at my shop. Just make users sign a waiver stating that when/if they bring in personal stuff, we don't support or replace it if it gets broken. Which is reasonable. :)

[Patapouf]

Oh no, please! No slides, transparencies or anything other than paper for these people. Last week, one of our other highly intelligent people :roll: stuck a whole stack of transparencies in another one of our printers, ruined the printer drum and ran to ask me when it was going to be fixed because they needed it right away. :shock: :bkick: I made them wait two weeks before I fixed it. :twisted: 8)

Well Peach, you learned your lesson. Just remember, the more "intellingent" the person is, the more dumb he is on simple things (Err, how do I use this fax machine?) :lol:

[Bob]

Peach,

Exactly! I am a freelancer. When my deadlines come due, I just can't afford to wait for a printer, or network outage etc.

So I set up my work area to be as efficient as possible (although, I didn't get away with using a Redhat system on the ford network ahah! For that they insisted I use XP.) :P

But using draconian measures like stealing my printer was met with an equally draconian resistance. Fortunately nothing came of it, and I hit my deadline :D

[Bob]

Argh!

Why on EARTH doesn't linux rar have an installer? Man.. command line install, welcome to the late 80's

:evil:

[peachexploration]

I think I may want to learn Linux. I need new aggravation. The previous aggravation is getting old. :wink: No Autoinstall? Bummer. :(

[pygmalion]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Bob]

Yeah, linux is COOL, but can be a bit unforgiving

(of course, the part I was whining about was only typing "make install" at the root prompt of the correct dir :D )

[peachexploration]

:D :D

[pygmalion]

Sorry, folks. I only speak computer user-ese, not computer geek-ese. :shock: :lol:

[DWise1]

Sorry, folks. I only speak computer user-ese, not computer geek-ese. :shock: :lol:
You mean like, "But why did it to that!?"

[dancin_feet]

Just a little achievement that fellow geeks would understand.

I replaced my first motherboard in a computer yesterday!! Was Windows XP so didn't need to reformat hard drive or anything. Booted it up a couple of times and got rid of any error messages with the driver CD that came with it and it all looks clean!!

Yeeeehhhhaaaaaa! :banana:

[peachexploration]

Congrats D_F, good for you! :cheers:

[Bob]

8)

Thats cool, now lets overclock that baby and REALLY get the DF to hum!

[pygmalion]

Sorry, folks. I only speak computer user-ese, not computer geek-ese. :shock: :lol:
You mean like, "But why did it to that!?"

LOL! With an occasional technical term thrown in to give the illusion I know what I'm talking about. :lol:

[peachexploration]

So you've worked with Lotus Notes email for at least SEVEN years.... How in the fitznippins do you not know how send email with an attachment with FIFTY years worth of training!! ARRGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :evil: :evil: :bkick:

[DWise1]

Sorry, folks. I only speak computer user-ese, not computer geek-ese. :shock: :lol:
You mean like, "But why did it to that!?"

LOL! With an occasional technical term thrown in to give the illusion I know what I'm talking about. :lol:

Actually, I had flashed back to the [what seemed like] million times that my wife would be on the computer and snap that question at me, strongly implying that it was somehow my fault. And every time I would just have to tell her the truth, "Because that's what you told it to do." But she would never let me teach her how to get it to do what she wanted it to do, instead of what she told it to do.

The person who invents a functional "what I want it to do" button for a personal computer will make millions!


BTW, the programmers I was working with at the time loved to quote from Short Circuit, because the computer-oriented quips between the two programmers were exactly what real programmers had been saying for years.

[Bob]

Yeah no kidding! Computers are SO literal!

I tell the firewall "block everything" and then I can't get back into my own system!!!

(Well you SAID!)


I love it when the girl calls NOVA and asks for "the war monger in charge"
:D

[pygmalion]

Actually, I do know my way around a computer. I can network. I can program. But I am by no means a computer geek. I think knowing computer speak these days is just a given, in order to be culturally literate. It's once you get beneath the surface that I think huh???? :?

[DWise1]

It's once you get beneath the surface [of computers] that I think huh???? :?
For me, it's the opposite. My introduction to computers was Air Force computer repair tech school (1977). We literally started from basic electronics and learned the most basic digital circuits (AND gates, OR gates, inverters, flip-flops, etc). We used those to build up registers, counters, detectors, decoders, etc. Then we applied that knowledge to studying the operation of a functional CPU (The COMTRAN-TEN trainer), through which we traced through all the signals that are generated when a single instruction is executed and what all those signals did. Even though the details of how each CPU is designed and works, the basic operation is still somewhat the same.

As a result, when I moved on to computer science (the software aspect), while a lot of the hardware terminology (like registers) was very abstract to the other students, I understood what was happening under the hood.

Did I mention that I've always been such a geek that I could never watch some device in operation without trying to figure out how it works. Am I perpetuating the myth of Scots being natural-born engineers?

[Bob]

That class sounds COOL!


:rocker:

[DWise1]

That class sounds COOL!


:rocker:
It was only seven months long (only took about 3 months to get to the COMTRAN-TEN). And it only cost six years of my life, though most airmen could have gotten by with only a four-year enlistment. I went for six because at the time I was already thinking career; even though I was active-duty for only six years, I've been in the Naval Reserve for 21 years and plan on remaining in for another seven, at which time I will be required to retire.

[peachexploration]

Why is that the moment you start installing a new PC for an employee, the co-workers come around and ask, "Oh! Is So-&-So getting a new PC?" :? :? :doh: You'd think they'd get tired of me saying, "Well, what do you think?" or "What exactly does it look like?" :? Not only that, they ask for computer advice regarding their "home" PC while you're trying to work. ARRRRGGGHHHH!!! Please go away! :evil:

[Bob]

yeah, I hate that.

BTW, peach.. I think there is something wrong with my computer, when can you come take a look at it?

:twisted:

[peachexploration]

:lol: :lol:

[dancin_feet]

Why is that the moment you start installing a new PC for an employee, the co-workers come around and ask, "Oh! Is So-&-So getting a new PC?" :? :? :doh: You'd think they'd get tired of me saying, "Well, what do you think?" or "What exactly does it look like?" :? Not only that, they ask for computer advice regarding their "home" PC while you're trying to work. ARRRRGGGHHHH!!! Please go away! :evil:

When asked if so and so is getting a new PC, have you tried replying:

No, they are getting a new ferrari. I just have to modify the case and it's done!

Or even

No I'm setting up my replacement. His name is Zandor ......

:lol: 8)

[motardmom]

Why is that the moment you start installing a new PC for an employee, the co-workers come around and ask, "Oh! Is So-&-So getting a new PC?" :? :? :doh: You'd think they'd get tired of me saying, "Well, what do you think?" or "What exactly does it look like?" :? Not only that, they ask for computer advice regarding their "home" PC while you're trying to work. ARRRRGGGHHHH!!! Please go away! :evil:

When asked if so and so is getting a new PC, have you tried replying:

No, they are getting a new ferrari. I just have to modify the case and it's done!

Or even

No I'm setting up my replacement. His name is Zandor ......

:lol: 8)

The reply I use most often for "duh" questions: "What gave it away?" or "What made you think that?" (Always with a smile and an innocent look on my face.) I was dancing a few weeks ago and literally bumped into a friend on the dance floor. We didn't know each other was there, we squealed with excitement, greeted each other, all that. When I got back to dancing, my partner asked, "Do you know her?" Uh..... what made you think that? :doh:

[peachexploration]

I used to try an be nice about it. :roll: Most of the time and since it happens so often, I just tell them to go away. :?

[SDsalsaguy]

Hmmm, I'd be tempted to try the "Well would you look at that? So *that's* what I'm doing here!", possibly followed by the "Thank you, that was so helpful. [siad with full sincerity] I've actually been losing track of what I'm supposed to be doing a lot recently and, seeing as your so good at this, would you mind following me around for the rest of the day and continuing to state the obvious? Please?" :twisted:

[peachexploration]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Warren J. Dew]

Why is that the moment you start installing a new PC for an employee, the co-workers come around and ask, "Oh! Is So-&-So getting a new PC?" :? :? :doh:

That's not actually what they are asking, just what they are saying. What they are actually asking is, "so when do I get a new computer?"

Warren <-- a geek who knows a few phrases of nongeek

[peachexploration]

Yes, I know. :) Still aggravating and the reason why I'm not so nice when I tell them to go way. :? Although, I must say even the ones who already have new computers still don't get it. They still ask the annoying question. Just boggles my mind the reaction people have when someone else in the office get's a piece of equipment. :? They stand around like its some sort of football event. :roll:

[DancePoet]

Why is that the moment you start installing a new PC for an employee, the co-workers come around and ask, "Oh! Is So-&-So getting a new PC?" :? :? :doh: You'd think they'd get tired of me saying, "Well, what do you think?" or "What exactly does it look like?" :? Not only that, they ask for computer advice regarding their "home" PC while you're trying to work. ARRRRGGGHHHH!!! Please go away! :evil:

Just tell them you charge more to answer their questions. And if they don't get the idea, after the second question just say, "I charge $100 per answer that's your second question, do you want me to answer both?";)

[peachexploration]

I like that! :lol: The thing is, I work for government. :? :lol:

[DancePoet]

I like that! :lol: The thing is, I work for government. :? :lol:

Tsk, tsk! I highly recommend working for yourself. Sometimes it's more effort, but it's well worth the rewards that you can achieve!

[peachexploration]

I know what that's like when I do catering. Wish I could do that full time but one day....

[DancePoet]

I know what that's like when I do catering. Wish I could do that full time but one day....

Don't wish, do! Have a vision, act to put it into place. Plan, project, perservere! You've got my support! :)

[peachexploration]

Thanks, DP. Well I'm to bed. :D Have a good night.

[SDsalsaguy]

I like that! :lol: The thing is, I work for government. :? :lol:
...doesn't that mean that you can actually charge twice as much and do half as much work? :wink:

[peachexploration]

:lol: :lol: SD, with some of the ideas and comments the characters at work come up with, I certainly wish I could. :lol: :lol:

[pygmalion]

Some of them are very nice characters, though. 8)

[dancin_feet]

Aaarrrggghhhh!!!! (releasing of frustration!)

The Managing Director here at work decided to give her laptop a drink yesterday. I've got it sitting on my desk, trying to dry it out and she's bugging me every couple of hours "Is it working yet? I'm really struggling without it. Can we make it dry out any faster?"

Must remain calm and maintain professional composure, when all I really want to do is yell at her "Well maybe you shouldn't have watered it then, shouldn't you???"

I could swap the hard drive out to try to get the files off it, but it's only a new laptop and she had to have the latest and the greatest and no-one else on site has the same model. I've given her back her old laptop she was using before Christmas, but she's still complaining. How many times have we told her to SAVE TO THE NETWORK? Oh no, her stuff is sooooo important it would be a breach of security to have her files on a network, even if it is set so only she can read it!

:headwall: :headwall: :headwall:

[peachexploration]

:evil: :evil: :evil: How aggravating! :evil: :evil: :evil:

Sorry Dancin_feet. You know what? For people like that, it's sometimes good when equipment can't be fixed. They'll be more careful and considerate next time. :roll:

[dancin_feet]

You'd think that wouldn't you. She tells me she has spilled things on laptops before and after a couple of hours they work again. When I told my boss he just laughed. She must do this regularly. How can people who are soooooo ...... no other word for it, stupid, get the top job?

The evil side of me hopes that it doesn't work again. :twisted: Maybe she'll see the value of saving to the network in the future. :roll:

[peachexploration]

I hope so Dancin_Feet. Being ridiculously careless and carefree regarding valueable equipment should be a federal offense. :? Glad I'm not Supreme Court Judge. :lol: :lol:

[dancin_feet]

Better yet, the cost of the new laptop should come out of her salary. It's probably big enough that she wouldn't even notice. :lol:

[peachexploration]

Computer Geek Thoughts for today: :shock: :? :headwall: :argue: :bkick: :twisted: :peace:

[Sagitta]

Computer Geek Thoughts for today: :shock: :? :headwall: :argue: :bkick: :twisted: :peace:

Pole sana!!

[peachexploration]

I hate Adware! I hate Spyware! I hate Spam! I hate Pop-ups! The creator of these ANNOYANCES should have their :bkick: or BE ASSIMULATED with DANCE-FORUMS.COM ads to the point of driving them crazy and finding something more constructive to do such as finding a partner, a dance school and learning to DANCE instead of sitting at computer all day aggrevating the fitzsnippins out of me with these @$$$^%^ :spam: ANNOYANCES!!!! AAAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!!! :headwall:

How's that for a run-on sentence!

:evil:


:lol: :peace:

[pygmalion]

The ones that get me are the ones that say, "Warning!!! Your computer may be infected with spyware!!" Uh. Hello! Your dad-blamed pop-up is what infected my computer with spyware, you jerk!!

Did you see the news blurb a month or so ago where the spammer got sentenced to nine years in jail? Woohoo! Justice at last. 8) :lol:

[peachexploration]

......Did you see the news blurb a month or so ago where the spammer got sentenced to nine years in jail? Woohoo! Justice at last. 8) :lol: Yup! Our office is prosecuting them as well. Yeah, they should all be flogged and then sent to jail. [Peach mumbling under her breath] fitznippin, shaggarapin, meamer fortzrollin, etc. etc,. :lol:

[peachexploration]

So, I'm in this store and someone asks, "Where do you work?" I tell them.
They ask again, "Are you an attorney there?" I answer no.
Then they ask, "What do you do there?" I answer, "Computer Geek" cheekishly at first and then elaborate more with specifics. Manager, supervisor, fix computers, networking, etc.
They were like "Really! :shock: Wow, I thought you were a professional. You don't really look like a computer person!"

:evil: :? :shock: :bkick: [Peach mumbling under her breath] fitznippin, shaggarapin, meamer fortzrollin, etc. etc,. :lol:

:roll: I guess it depends how you "define" professional. :roll:
Thank goodness I have a since of humor. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[pygmalion]

Wow. Was that ever an ignorant comment. Ignorant and incosiderate. Grr. :evil:

[DWise1]

So, I'm in this store and someone asks, "Where do you work?" I tell them.
They ask again, "Are you an attorney there?" I answer no.
Then they ask, "What do you do there?" I answer, "Computer Geek" cheekishly at first and then elaborate more with specifics. Manager, supervisor, fix computers, networking, etc.
They were like "Really! :shock: Wow, I thought you were a professional. You don't really look like a computer person!"

:evil: :? :shock: :bkick: [Peach mumbling under her breath] fitznippin, shaggarapin, meamer fortzrollin, etc. etc,. :lol:

:roll: I guess it depends how you "define" professional. :roll:
Thank goodness I have a since of humor. :lol: :lol: :lol:

I am also a computer geek as well as being military (reservist). Plus, even in the late-60's I had the reputation of appearing to be the straightest guy anybody'd ever seen (in those days, "straight" meant non-freak, ie clean-cut, non-radical, non-doper, able to conduct normal conversations in somewhat-standard English) and I still have that appearance and demeanor. More so, perhaps, since I have lost the moustache and now sport close-cropped hair.

A few jobs (and 14 years) ago, the CEO of our small company had previously worked with and managed programmers, mostly of the long-haired, DnD-playing variety. He commented to me one day that it was difficult for him to think of me as a programmer, because I appeared almost normal. I think he meant it as a compliment.

[peachexploration]

Yeah, I just don't understand how people can view "professionals" as being "unprofessional" if they work in the technology field. I get that everyday and have to address this issue (in a not so nice "professional" way) at least once a month. :evil: I'm not really sure what the issue really is although I have a few ideas that I'll keep to myself but I've seen it in action quite often with my fellow geeks. Another misconception that I don't understand is well, I'll use my brother for example.

He'll say, Peach listen, my daughter is a wiz at computers. You think maybe she can work with you?
I'm like, "Well, what classes has she taken or what experience does she have?" He says, "Oh, she works on our computer at home. You know, she change the screen savers, tool bars and type letters too".
:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

So, I say to him "Look Dude, unless she's a genius, she's going to need quite a bit more that!"
He's like really? I'm like, ah yeah! So he's like, "So Peach, did you go to school for that? I'm like, "Yeah, you came to my college graduation, remember? :doh:

As my good friend, Charlie would say: Good grief! :?

:lol: :lol:

[pygmalion]

Ah. Now I see. The problem is that, bottom line, you need some hard skills in order to be a computer geek (or whatever we're calling computer people these days. )

That reminds me of a conversation I had with a lady who went to college to become a home economist. I'm not kidding. Home economics. Anyway, one time when she came to visit me, she said that home economics was her field. I didn't say anything to her, but I made much fun of her, behind her back.

"Home economics? I do that as a sideline, on top of my career and everything else," I thought. Now I wonder ... (Meaning I acknowledge that I owe her an apology, but she was a jerky uninvited guest, so I won't give her a real apology. I'll just change my stance on her field. :wink: :lol: )

I think a lot of people have the misconception that, because they can use a computer, they're computer-savvy. Not!!! Hmm... :?

[peachexploration]

Ah. Now I see. The problem is that, bottom line, you need some hard skills in order to be a computer geek (or whatever we're calling computer people these days. ) Right, just knowing how to install a tool bar or screen saver ain't gonna cut it. :lol:

I think a lot of people have the misconception that, because they can use a computer, they're computer-savvy. Not!!! Hmm... :?Right or quite a few can even be computer-savvy. I'll give them that but even that's not enough. Using a computer or even being able to install a network card in your home pc is very different from building a network for a business with numerous applications and equipment and having it talk to each together so that the business can successfully run. Yup, gotta have the skills baby. :wink:

That reminds me of a conversation I had with a lady who went to college to become a home economist. I'm not kidding. Home economics. Anyway, one time when she came to visit me, she said that home economics was her field. I didn't say anything to her, but I made much fun of her, behind her back.

"Home economics? I do that as a sideline, on top of my career and everything else," I thought. Now I wonder ... (Meaning I acknowledge that I owe her an apology, but she was a jerky uninvited guest, so I won't give her a real apology. I'll just change my stance on her field. :wink: :lol: )Home Economics? You know, that brings back my highschool days. It just clicked that we had a Home Economics teacher and it was one of the most desired electives. Not because that's what we wanted to do for the rest of our lives but they always did fun stuff in that class. Baking cookies and making clothes. Do they still teach Home Economics in school? (showing my age now) :lol:

I'm also thinking about the movie "Mona Lisa Smile" and how women were educated way back when and their options in different aspects of education or profession was very limited. My, has this country changed and yet has stayed the same in many ways. I'm so happy I have many more options now. Not that Home Economics is less important but I like the idea of having many more options.

[Rosa]

Do they still teach Home Economics in school? (showing my age now) :lol:

They do here in the UK, and to boys as well as girls. My son studied it in his first two years of high school (I think it was compulsory) before giving it up to concentrate on more academic subjects.

Funny, he shows no signs of putting his Home Economics skills into practice around the house... :roll:

Rosa :)

PS Sorry, that had nothing to do with computers!

[DWise1]

Do they still teach Home Economics in school? (showing my age now) :lol:

They do here in the UK, and to boys as well as girls. My son studied it in his first two years of high school (I think it was compulsory) before giving it up to concentrate on more academic subjects.


As did our son and several other boys as well. In the US.

Though it never would have happened when I was a kid.

[Ms_Sunlight]

You do need hard skills to be a computer person. I'm what you might call a high-end user -- I work with databases and use them to create statistical reports and the like as part of my job -- and I appreciate the wide range of skills a computer professional might have, and the number of different areas they can specialise in.

But then you do need hard skills to be a professional home economist because it combines a fair amount of practical science with economic and financial knowledge. It leads to all sorts of specialised jobs from creating food products for mass production to designing nutritional menus for schools to being a textiles conservator in a museum to managing the economic production of clothing. Just like being a "computer geek" isn't just one job but can lead to a whole range of jobs from network administrator to software tester to hardware design.

[pygmalion]

Yup. 8)

[Joe]

There's a difference between knowing how to use a computer for mundane tasks and knowing how to fix problems with it.

[Swingolder]

Our computer guy for the building just left for two weeks vacation. We are all holding our collective breaths that we can manage without him! Fortunately we are in-between spring and summer semesters so most of the faculty are gone.

[DWise1]

And as soon as they hear you're a computer professional, they try to get you to fix their PC for free. Or at least to tell them in detail how to fix it.

I've finally had to explain that PC repair requires training and experience that I, as a software engineer, have not received. Though that doesn't seem to always work.

Similarly, just because I know how to program, many co-workers in the past would ask me how to do specialized things in Office or in their own specialized accounting software application. In the latter case, I told her that she would have to ask the company guru for that application. When she asked me who that was, I told her it was her, since she was the only one who used it and hence was most expert on it.


PS
unrelated, but I just now looked up and there's a line in Russian that appears to be saying something about a public advertising site on Google (transliterated: "publichna reklamna cluzhba na Google"). First time I've seen that. But why are the adjectives in predicate form and not attributive? Curious.

[randomMysh]

DWise1: that's because it's in Ukrainian and not in Russian. A different language, although fairly closely related.

In Wisconsin I went to the School of Human Ecology, formerly Home Economics. I think they renamed it just recently. It included apparel and textile design, interior design, something food related and, I think...um, merchandising? There was other stuff, but I really didn't explore. The interesting thing about it is that bacteriology first started out at HomeEc and only later moved off to the bio/chem/physics part of the campus.

[pygmalion]

Yep. The lady I'm talking about learned how to run a business, she learned about the chemistry of cooking, bacteriology, psychology, accounting, and a bunch more things. I just wanted to put her down because she was being mean to me in my own house (long ex-related story that I won't share :? )

Truth is, she got a very good education to do what she does as a professional (sorry peach. no other word fits as well.) And I dismissed her because I'm a dilettante (and she was getting on my nerves. :twisted: :lol: )

Mea culpa. I know now. 8)

That said, computer programming is different than networking is different than systems analysis is different than setting up your home computer. The fact that you can do the latter doesn't make you an IT pro. Sheesh. :?

[peachexploration]

......Truth is, she got a very good education to do what she does as a professional (sorry peach. no other word fits as well.) And I dismissed her because I'm a dilettante (and she was getting on my nerves. :twisted: :lol: )....

Yeah, I get it. :) I wouldn't doubt it as a profession at all. When I made reference to it earlier, I was implying that maybe society viewed it more as an education specifically designed for and associated with women only years ago. If that's a passion for many, then go for it. But we have more choices now and for me, that's a blessing. The more options, the better. :)

[randomMysh]

......Truth is, she got a very good education to do what she does as a professional (sorry peach. no other word fits as well.) And I dismissed her because I'm a dilettante (and she was getting on my nerves. :twisted: :lol: )....

Yeah, I get it. :) I wouldn't doubt it as a profession at all. When I made reference to it earlier, I was implying that maybe society viewed it more as an education specifically designed for and associated with women only years ago. If that's a passion for many, then got for it. But we have more choices now and for me, that's a blessing. The more options, the better. :)

True, that. Actually, the vast majority of students at my school were female. The vast majority of students at my current school are female as well--I am so glad I'm not looking! :lol:

[pygmalion]

......Truth is, she got a very good education to do what she does as a professional (sorry peach. no other word fits as well.) And I dismissed her because I'm a dilettante (and she was getting on my nerves. :twisted: :lol: )....

Yeah, I get it. :) I wouldn't doubt it as a profession at all. When I made reference to it earlier, I was implying that maybe society viewed it more as an education specifically designed for and associated with women only years ago. If that's a passion for many, then go for it. But we have more choices now and for me, that's a blessing. The more options, the better. :)

I agree. 8) :D

[Twilight_Elena]

I am the PC guru in my family and for my closest friends. Worst thing I've ever done was try to explain to my sister by phone how to create an Outlook Express account. I wanted to :headwall: when I hung up. The best thing is when I talk with my best boy friend. His parents are programmers and he's an expert with all things computer-y. Thank God I can talk to someone who understands what "primary master", "*.dll files" or "driver installation" is. :P

Twilight Elena

[Sagitta]

I help out my mom and quite a few people with pc issues and I know almost nothing. I guess that when others know nothing a little is something. :wink: :)

patience, dearies. Patience is what you must have. :lol:

[DWise1]

I am the PC guru in my family and for my closest friends. Worst thing I've ever done was try to explain to my sister by phone how to create an Outlook Express account. I wanted to :headwall: when I hung up.

In one job about 15 years ago, our product was a greenhouse control system run on a PC under DOS. Our company set up the PC before shipping, but only had the bare minimum DOS loaded, so I became very good at talking a grower through editting a batch file with EDLIN -- I could quite literally do it with my eyes closed. And I could tell exactly what mistake he had just made:
"Now go to the floppy by typing 'A:'."
"Bad command or file name."
"Does that colon have a tail on it?"
"Yes."
"That's a semicolon. Use the shift key this time."

But sadly, none of them seemed to ever get my joke in describing the difference between a '\' and a '/':
"The back-slash is the liberal one; it leans to the left."
I would finally just have to tell them that it was not the one below the question mark. You see, in those days, different keyboards would put the '\' key in different places; you could never predict where on the keyboard it might be.

I'd hate to have had to go through that under Windows, where there are so many visual cues that the customer would not know the right ones to tell me over the phone. For example, I would see the gray caption bar on the window and immediately know that's why it won't accept keyboard input, but the customer would not know to tell me that the caption bar is not blue (id est, that the window doesn't have the focus). Even when I'm present trying to talk a computer-non-literate through Windows can be very painful; I've taken to packing a concealed laser when on Navy duty, so that I can point to the exact spot on the screen where the sailor needs to click.


The worst was my cyber-phobic wife (now x2b, though surprisingly not for this reason -- I don't think) who just wanted me to stand over her shoulder and tell her each and every key to press. She just simply refused to take any instructions, fought every inch of the way, and would practically blame me for everything that wasn't quite right. What saved that situation was her master's degree for which she finally had to turn on the computer and run Word on her own (though our son helped her at first, otherwise one of us would have become widowed). But even after she finally learned to use the computer, we would still go through this classic comedy routine:
"I can't find the file I created yesterday."
"Where did you put it?"
"I don't know."
"Well, what did you name it?"
"I don't know."
"And just how then am I supposed to find it if you don't even know what it's called?"
"I don't care. Just find it."
[ARGGGH!!]

And when her mother started doing emails, then she finally became motivated to learn how as well. Now emails are our primary method of not communicating.

[DWise1]

I help out my mom and quite a few people with pc issues and I know almost nothing. I guess that when others know nothing a little is something. :wink: :)

patience, dearies. Patience is what you must have. :lol:

Working defininition of a computer guru:
The one person in the office who knows just a little more than everybody else.

[peachexploration]

"Now go to the floppy by typing 'A:'."
"Bad command or file name."
"Does that colon have a tail on it?"
"Yes."
"That's a semicolon. Use the shift key this time."
.Too funny! :lol: :lol:
....we would still go through this classic comedy routine:
"I can't find the file I created yesterday."
"Where did you put it?"
"I don't know."
"Well, what did you name it?"
"I don't know."
"And just how then am I supposed to find it if you don't even know what it's called?"
"I don't care. Just find it."
[ARGGGH!!]Yup, this one really get on my nerves. :roll: Used to see it at least twice a week until I started threatening to go up the chain of command. :twisted:

That saddest part about most of the so called "computer" problems is that, they're not "computer" related at all. The difference between colon and semi-colon is taught at least by 4th grade, no? :? :nope:

[DWise1]

That saddest part about most of the so called "computer" problems is that, they're not "computer" related at all. The difference between colon and semi-colon is taught at least by 4th grade, no? :? :nope:

Yes, ID-ten-T problems. That colon/semicolon thing happened so regularly. But I think it was not so much because they couldn't tell the difference, but rather that they didn't realize that they needed to use the shift key. And, perhaps, that they didn't realize that you have to type it in exactly right or else the computer wouldn't know what you are telling it. I get the same thing with some of the older sailors (What am I saying? The unit I've currently in is the one specifically for sailors who are "too old".) who, for example, insist on typing in a lower-case "L" in place of a one and cannot understand why the computer won't accept it. It's their old typewriter training getting in their way now; human readers couldn't tell the difference between "l" and "1", but computers can. And they just cannot understand why a computer can't work like a typewriter.

[pygmalion]

Geek alert! :wink: :lol:

I think I'm lucky in that respect though, DWise1. My first exposure to computers was in elementary school (a big deal at the time, since there was only one computer in the school -- in the mentally gifted program room -- and I was lucky enough to be in that program.) So I never had the typewriter thing imprinted on my brain. Besides, immediately when I started working, I did design work on a computer-based system, right out of the gate. So I didn't have a chance to develop fear of the technology.

But people my age and older who weren't raised with computers really have a hard way to go, IMO.

[peachexploration]

Yeah, I hear you DWise1. But to be honest, I've had many, many people ask me the difference semi-colon and colon. That's why it strikes a nerve for me. :lol: And the age thing? Yeah, for the most part, the older generation has a rougher time of it. It also depends on where you work and who the people are. I used to have this lady in my department. She was a beautiful 80 year old sharp lady. No problems with the computer whatsoever. But the 20 year olds in my department? Well..... :roll: :lol: My Mom (who is 79) has a terrible time with in kind of computer reference. Not because she works on them (she runs away from any kind of electronic) but because they are more of an infringement. Too many commericals talking about .com websites interupting her favorite episode of Walker Texas Ranger! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[pygmalion]

lol. My grandmom (who'd be 93, if she'd lived that long :( ) used to absolutely hate anything interrupting her fave show -- The Rockford Files, in the seventies and eighties, and Dr. Quinn in the nineties and until her death in 1994. Older ladies must have their way. Period. :lol: :lol:

Wonder how long til I can be classified as older. :roll: :lol:

[DWise1]

Last Sunday in the final hour of Lindy (California Routine danced to "Life Goes to a Party"; a good cardio routine), this cute young girl complained about getting too old. She looks like she's in her early 20's at the most, so I told her that every time she starts to feel old she should just look at me to see how far away from old she really is (I'm literally old enough to be her father, and then some).

I learned touch-typing in junior high, around '65. The business-machine class in high school used electro-mechanical calculators. In typing class, I even learned how to make a stencil for use on a mimeograph machine (does anyone here even remember mimeographs?). In college ('69-'76), only a very few majors had any computer classes and most all of those would prepare decks of cards on a keypunch and submit their decks through a hole in a door; if they peek in just right they might catch a glimpse of the mainframe computer. I was a foreign language major, so I never got close to any of those computer classes. I didn't see a computer until I started working on my computer science degree in '78 and even then we were restricted to punch cards until we got to upper division classes, at which time we could use one of the dozen terminals in a single terminal room. It wasn't until my last year there, '82, that the university started setting up terminal rooms all over the place for all the non-computer-science students who were starting to use the computer as well.

BTW, anyone remember punch cards? In '86 or '87 I took a graduate course in operating system design in which we did a top-level design of an OS. Half of the class consisted of recent graduates who had not yet gone out to work for a living. As the instructor described the OS, he said that to keep it simple it would have only one input device, a card reader. Half the class immediately raised their hands: What's card reader? A device for reading punch cards. Again the same half of the class: What are punch cards? Throughout their college career, they had used nothing but terminals and had never seen a punch card in that whole time.

So, I'm of the generation who had not grown up with computers and for whom computers were something mysterious and magical (my generation actually bought that bogus story about a NASA computer that was calculating the moon's position back in time and stopped at 6000 years again with a "there wasn't anything before this" error statement and then worked forward and came out off by one day, Joshua's Lost Day). I was lucky to have learned about them through USAF tech school and my computer science degree. Most of my generation got introduced to computers when one got plopped on their desk and suddenly they had to operate a computer in order to keep their job. Or be able to use one in order to get their next job. I can only imagine how terrifying and frustrating that had to have been for them. I did get some glimpses of their experience when I would help co-workers with their problems.

Back then, they'd express frustration, but have not problem asking for help and trying to learn (except for my x2b, of course). But now with these people who grew up with computers it looks like they don't want to admit when they don't know what they're doing. Is that the impression the rest of you get?

[Ms_Sunlight]

Back then, they'd express frustration, but have not problem asking for help and trying to learn (except for my x2b, of course). But now with these people who grew up with computers it looks like they don't want to admit when they don't know what they're doing. Is that the impression the rest of you get?

I don't think so. At work, I hear plenty of people who will quite cheerfully admit they're "rubbish at computers" or "haven't a clue" -- I hear this because I'm known to be the one person on the 4th floor who definitely isn't and that means I'm a bit of a go-to girl.

Then, I work in a place which sees fit to pay software licenses so that everyone has MS Office on their PCs, but which doesn't see fit to train them to use it properly, and who think that it's adequate to give a complete novice a one-hour lesson in learning to use our Route400 email client AND our intranet. Then, they complain when people just don't use the technology they pay good money for. Someone's got to fill that gap. All too often in modern workplaces that's the situation; inadequate IT education by the employer compensated for by the few that do know what they're doing getting leaned on.

[Joe]

We call those I/O errors.

Idiot/Operator, that is. ;)

[pygmalion]

:lol: :lol:

[DWise1]

We call those I/O errors.

Idiot/Operator, that is. ;)

ID-ten-T --> ID10T == idiot

[pygmalion]

:idea: I wondered about that ... :lol:

[Twilight_Elena]

We call those I/O errors.

Idiot/Operator, that is. ;)

ID-ten-T --> ID10T == idiot

I've got a lot of those at school. Good gods, they're 17 and don't know their PC's straight!

Twilight Elena

[pygmalion]

Not everybody has a computer at home, even now. And you can really tell the difference in the level of kids' computer literacy. :(

[Twilight_Elena]

Not everybody has a computer at home, even now. And you can really tell the difference in the level of kids' computer literacy. :(

I'm talking about those kids who have super computers and know nothing but how to run their favourite games. Aarrrg! :x

Twilight Elena

[pygmalion]

There's no excuse for that, IMO. :headwall:

[peachexploration]

There's no excuse for that, IMO. :headwall: That's the truth, Pygmalion!

It's changing now but I remember only a few years ago, most of the people I came across only purchased computer for that reason. Over $2000 to play games. What a waste. :? Now, they are learning to use them more as a production/business tool.

[Twilight_Elena]

There's no excuse for that, IMO. :headwall: That's the truth, Pygmalion!

It's changing now but I remember only a few years ago, most of the people I came across only purchased computer for that reason. Over $2000 to play games. What a waste. :? Now, they are learning to use them more as a production/business tool.

Still a waste, of course. No internet. How on earth are we going to transmit the dance bug? :wink: :P

Twilight Elena