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Yoder54
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- Dec 16, 2008
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[citation][nom]TheCapulet[/nom]That girl in the pic has some serious man hands.[/citation]
Due to the camera's depth of field.
I have been teaching computer science and multimedia for over 20 years. It frustrates me to no end working with people who just don't get it, despite being shown how to do something a half dozen times. I can tolerate slow typing and think that typing should be taught to all students while in elementary or middle school, but the psychological block many have when it comes to computers is what is alarming given our technology driven economy.
The inability to problem solve, think critically, and just go blank in front of a computer never ceases to amaze me. I have seen people with PhD's who are just as technologically ignorant as some kids. Don't know if it is due to techno-phobia resulting from working with machines in general or what? Then you see some of these web sites that are so user unfriendly and then the end-user ignorance really shows itself.
Due to the camera's depth of field.
I have been teaching computer science and multimedia for over 20 years. It frustrates me to no end working with people who just don't get it, despite being shown how to do something a half dozen times. I can tolerate slow typing and think that typing should be taught to all students while in elementary or middle school, but the psychological block many have when it comes to computers is what is alarming given our technology driven economy.
The inability to problem solve, think critically, and just go blank in front of a computer never ceases to amaze me. I have seen people with PhD's who are just as technologically ignorant as some kids. Don't know if it is due to techno-phobia resulting from working with machines in general or what? Then you see some of these web sites that are so user unfriendly and then the end-user ignorance really shows itself.
Working as a tech support rep I learned what people hear when you tell them to do something:
"Press 'XXXX' button" = "Mash repeatedly and cry 'It doesn't work!'"
"Close Internet Explorer" = "Shut down the computer"
"Put this address in the address bar" = "Put this in the Google/Bing/Yahoo search bar"
"Press the 'Start' button" = "Press the power button"
"Firefox" = "Foxfire"
They also like to blame their ISP for wireless router signal issues, their computer not turning on, their computer running slow (not just the browser), their OS login password not working, Internet Explorer crashing, Facebook/Myspace/Yahoo being down, and settings on their computer changing.
People also try to get their ISP to provide free PC repair and virus removal because they know if they go to the manufacturer or a storefront they're going to be charged. Then they bitch about it if we refer them to the manufacturer of the product they are trying to get support for saying "Well they're gonna charge me 80 dollars!" Guess what, the only free tech support you get nowadays is from your ISP, good luck even trying to find the damn phone number to your manufacturer (it's usually buried underneath layers of menus because they try to force you to use their FAQ's, which is pointless if the PC in question can't get online or doesn't work).
Whenever an old man/lady calls and says "My family told me to get a computer" I immediately think "Shoot that family member". Now not all of them are horrible, just the majority.
And if you haven't figured it out by now, yes I work for a cable ISP.
"Press 'XXXX' button" = "Mash repeatedly and cry 'It doesn't work!'"
"Close Internet Explorer" = "Shut down the computer"
"Put this address in the address bar" = "Put this in the Google/Bing/Yahoo search bar"
"Press the 'Start' button" = "Press the power button"
"Firefox" = "Foxfire"
They also like to blame their ISP for wireless router signal issues, their computer not turning on, their computer running slow (not just the browser), their OS login password not working, Internet Explorer crashing, Facebook/Myspace/Yahoo being down, and settings on their computer changing.
People also try to get their ISP to provide free PC repair and virus removal because they know if they go to the manufacturer or a storefront they're going to be charged. Then they bitch about it if we refer them to the manufacturer of the product they are trying to get support for saying "Well they're gonna charge me 80 dollars!" Guess what, the only free tech support you get nowadays is from your ISP, good luck even trying to find the damn phone number to your manufacturer (it's usually buried underneath layers of menus because they try to force you to use their FAQ's, which is pointless if the PC in question can't get online or doesn't work).
Whenever an old man/lady calls and says "My family told me to get a computer" I immediately think "Shoot that family member". Now not all of them are horrible, just the majority.
And if you haven't figured it out by now, yes I work for a cable ISP.
theuerkorn
Distinguished
- Jan 30, 2009
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[citation][nom]guardianangel42[/nom]Very very true, which is why I am taking multiple Auto Shop and Metal shop classes on top of my engineering classes.I would much rather be a jack of all trades and master of none than a specialist in a field that is extremely narrow in scope.[/citation]
Maybe, but in order to be better than average you typically have to specialize not to run out of time trying to chase too many goals.
Maybe, but in order to be better than average you typically have to specialize not to run out of time trying to chase too many goals.
pale paladin
Distinguished
- Jul 27, 2009
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If nurtured the competency for technical skill transcends multiple disciplines. I have a degree in CIS, I hold numerous ASC auto certificates, I am a skilled cook, I speak 3 languages other than English.
The real frustration people like myself ,who work in IT, get is derived from the impatience of people who at the root level, are not very quick learners. That doesn't mean they are stupid, it's just that their capacity for learning is not as great as others.
IT related work is 70% technical and 30% customer service. The more widely experienced persona of an IT person is unfortunately 99% technical and 1% customer service. So people get frustrated with IT and IT can't f**^%ing stand you. The cycle is horrible and a common ground is never met. My point is: IT people need to work on their people skills and users need to spend just a little more of their own time learning about the hardware and software they use to make their living every day. If I meet another MBA who can't handle office productivity applications I'm going to puke.
The real frustration people like myself ,who work in IT, get is derived from the impatience of people who at the root level, are not very quick learners. That doesn't mean they are stupid, it's just that their capacity for learning is not as great as others.
IT related work is 70% technical and 30% customer service. The more widely experienced persona of an IT person is unfortunately 99% technical and 1% customer service. So people get frustrated with IT and IT can't f**^%ing stand you. The cycle is horrible and a common ground is never met. My point is: IT people need to work on their people skills and users need to spend just a little more of their own time learning about the hardware and software they use to make their living every day. If I meet another MBA who can't handle office productivity applications I'm going to puke.
bildo123
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- Feb 6, 2007
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[citation][nom]ssddx[/nom]while it may be true that quite a bit of the population may not be as computer saavy as tom's readers the very same people might look at us techies in the same way. the older generations often times are more saavy when it comes to the basics.how many of the tech's can honestly say you are as fluent in mechanical skills as either someone born in the 60's or the auto mechanic down the street? We all have our own little areas of expertise. of course some people just dont seem to get anything at all.Just something to think on.[/citation]
This is a good point. Fortunately my father at least showed me how to do the basics, change brakes disk/drum, oil, grease joints, monitor fluids, etc. Another thing he taught me was to be creative with tools and find ways to make things work, regardless of how pretty (or not so pretty) it looks. Need that expensive bushing press tool? Na, just use the vice. Need a shock adjustment tool? Na, just use some channel locks, etc.
This is a good point. Fortunately my father at least showed me how to do the basics, change brakes disk/drum, oil, grease joints, monitor fluids, etc. Another thing he taught me was to be creative with tools and find ways to make things work, regardless of how pretty (or not so pretty) it looks. Need that expensive bushing press tool? Na, just use the vice. Need a shock adjustment tool? Na, just use some channel locks, etc.
ssddx
Titan
- May 27, 2009
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alidan:
computers might be commonplace but that does not mean that everyone is adept. not everyone can be as well rounded as you claim to be. perhaps you should work on people skills...
bildo123:
absolutely correct. sometimes you just gotta suck it up and be friendly (no matter how you really feel) since being a hot-head isn't the right way to go about your job.
pale paladin:
i agree. knowledge is power. people without the knowledge pay those that do. this is why it can cost $80 to fix a leaky faucet.
computers might be commonplace but that does not mean that everyone is adept. not everyone can be as well rounded as you claim to be. perhaps you should work on people skills...
bildo123:
absolutely correct. sometimes you just gotta suck it up and be friendly (no matter how you really feel) since being a hot-head isn't the right way to go about your job.
pale paladin:
i agree. knowledge is power. people without the knowledge pay those that do. this is why it can cost $80 to fix a leaky faucet.
Belardo
Splendid
- Nov 23, 2008
- 3,545
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I'm in the computer business, doing networking, repair, upgrades, builds, purchasing, design, website work, servers, etc. I only took a class on DOS & CAD, DOS because I needed to learn how to use the POS MS-DOS system. ie: MS-DOS is a 2 on the scale 1-10 and I was used to multi-tasking on the more advanced Amiga. I actually knew about 100 AUTOCAD commands by memory in which you typed full words and figures. Not GUI menu / tool bar / pop-up windows. I was most accurate in class.
Anyways, everything I learned is self taught with books, experience and figuring it out. I've seen a college kid taking computer classes had update his dad's computers & network from 98 to NT4... and nothing much worked. Since I was making a car payment and he wasn't offering to pay me, I said he should have stayed with 98 (really, 2 computers) and his network settings were off.
I visited a friend, who I haven't seen for a while. His computer wasn't working right and yet he's about to get his MSCE cert. which parents paid thousands for, so he can get a job. Took me 5 minutes to locate problems, fixed some and directed how to fix the rest. Mom was pissed.
I remember when a job sent me out to work on a server, it had UNIX on it which I had zero experience with. I fooled with it, go it working enough to be useful and told the customer that they need someone whose an expert to fix it completely and make sure everything is good.
Since I'm self-employed. I do belittled certain clients... usually in good fun. They do usually give me space and keyboard because I'll be done faster. Sometimes they get dizzy and asking me to "slow down" so they can learn I'm doing. ugh. I do remind them "uh, type it in the address bar if you know the site". "you don't need to put in 'www' anymore" "press the tab key to change fields, faster than the mouse".
They still get impressed with basic usage COMMAND Keys. CTRL-B, S, Z, X, V etc
I've had 2 female clients what would call from time to time, crying. "My computer is dead! All my work is goooonneee!" I'd say "calm down, be there soon". Don't cry until your data is ACTUALLY gone. Crying like a 6yr old isn't going save your computer.
My Son knew things about computers at age 3 that some of these adults still can't do.
PS: I can change my oil. I've changed/fixed axles, water pumps, alternators, heater cores, various crap under the hood of my vehicles. And I look down at any able-bodied male who CAN'T change a tire.
Anyways, everything I learned is self taught with books, experience and figuring it out. I've seen a college kid taking computer classes had update his dad's computers & network from 98 to NT4... and nothing much worked. Since I was making a car payment and he wasn't offering to pay me, I said he should have stayed with 98 (really, 2 computers) and his network settings were off.
I visited a friend, who I haven't seen for a while. His computer wasn't working right and yet he's about to get his MSCE cert. which parents paid thousands for, so he can get a job. Took me 5 minutes to locate problems, fixed some and directed how to fix the rest. Mom was pissed.
I remember when a job sent me out to work on a server, it had UNIX on it which I had zero experience with. I fooled with it, go it working enough to be useful and told the customer that they need someone whose an expert to fix it completely and make sure everything is good.
Since I'm self-employed. I do belittled certain clients... usually in good fun. They do usually give me space and keyboard because I'll be done faster. Sometimes they get dizzy and asking me to "slow down" so they can learn I'm doing. ugh. I do remind them "uh, type it in the address bar if you know the site". "you don't need to put in 'www' anymore" "press the tab key to change fields, faster than the mouse".
They still get impressed with basic usage COMMAND Keys. CTRL-B, S, Z, X, V etc
I've had 2 female clients what would call from time to time, crying. "My computer is dead! All my work is goooonneee!" I'd say "calm down, be there soon". Don't cry until your data is ACTUALLY gone. Crying like a 6yr old isn't going save your computer.
My Son knew things about computers at age 3 that some of these adults still can't do.
PS: I can change my oil. I've changed/fixed axles, water pumps, alternators, heater cores, various crap under the hood of my vehicles. And I look down at any able-bodied male who CAN'T change a tire.
[citation][nom]jsc[/nom]Well, look at the people in the forums who ask a question that a few minutes with google or any other search engine could answer easily.[/citation]
Yeah, that is the point of these forums. They are to get help and opinions from the community, not Google. Didn't realize people were unaware of that.
Yeah, that is the point of these forums. They are to get help and opinions from the community, not Google. Didn't realize people were unaware of that.
newfiedave84
Distinguished
- Oct 17, 2010
- 6
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- 18,510
This brings me back to my days working in an ISP call center. Some moments from the highlight reel:
1) Spending 45 minutes getting a guy to type "sympatico" properly. His caps lock was on the whole time and the field was case sensitive. I told him to check for that four times, even explaining where on the keyboard to look.
2) I was doing a "fresh install" call. After instructing the woman on how to plug in her ethernet cable, she said should couldn't find any available ports on the modem. I told her there should be 4 available ports, and she said her husband filled them up with a caulking gun because they didn't want anything getting in and damaging the modem.
3) This one happened to a friend sitting next to me in the call center. He was doing a wireless setup, and giving instructions on the WEP key. He said, "This key is 26 digits long with numbers from 0 to 9 and letters from A to F." The customer replied, indignantly, "Well how come there's a D in it!"
1) Spending 45 minutes getting a guy to type "sympatico" properly. His caps lock was on the whole time and the field was case sensitive. I told him to check for that four times, even explaining where on the keyboard to look.
2) I was doing a "fresh install" call. After instructing the woman on how to plug in her ethernet cable, she said should couldn't find any available ports on the modem. I told her there should be 4 available ports, and she said her husband filled them up with a caulking gun because they didn't want anything getting in and damaging the modem.
3) This one happened to a friend sitting next to me in the call center. He was doing a wireless setup, and giving instructions on the WEP key. He said, "This key is 26 digits long with numbers from 0 to 9 and letters from A to F." The customer replied, indignantly, "Well how come there's a D in it!"
theshaggyman
Distinguished
- Jan 24, 2011
- 2
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- 18,510
to ssddx: a more apt position to be in would be "Jack of all trades, master of SOME".
I hold an IT Degree and a totally unrelated civil engineering degree, worked in a publishing establishment(newspaper related) for a couple years and now 8 more in a finance firm (both as IT staff) and have been infuriated N number of times faced by both incompetent users and incompetent IT staff. At times I have also been positively infuriated at my own lack of knowing some things.
However, I would put status as: Can fix computers, some basic electrical stuff, can do basic maintenance and do use a bicycle(yes, I can fix a slipped chain on my own 😉 and so on, I ride a train to work daily and back so no motor vehicles, can cook (not only for self), make tea/coffee/yogurt/a lot of stuff ;-)
So try to be "Jack of all trades, master of some". It's better
PS Sorry if I seem a bit selfcentred. Didn't mean to be.
I hold an IT Degree and a totally unrelated civil engineering degree, worked in a publishing establishment(newspaper related) for a couple years and now 8 more in a finance firm (both as IT staff) and have been infuriated N number of times faced by both incompetent users and incompetent IT staff. At times I have also been positively infuriated at my own lack of knowing some things.
However, I would put status as: Can fix computers, some basic electrical stuff, can do basic maintenance and do use a bicycle(yes, I can fix a slipped chain on my own 😉 and so on, I ride a train to work daily and back so no motor vehicles, can cook (not only for self), make tea/coffee/yogurt/a lot of stuff ;-)
So try to be "Jack of all trades, master of some". It's better
PS Sorry if I seem a bit selfcentred. Didn't mean to be.
fuzzyplankton
Distinguished
- Nov 14, 2010
- 46
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- 18,530
I always enjoyed have to go out and remove CDs from the 5.25 floppy drives. They would shove the Cds is the drive and turn the twist lever to lock it. Was is worse is the when we dismantle the driver there where up to 5 or 6 CDs jammed in the floppy drive. Most of the time the CDs work toast and this was when CD first came out. They keep killing $350.00 Corel 5 CDs. We ended up taking all or the 5.25 drives out of the machines. Only a 5 machines had Cd Drives in them and only one was slip in CD style like cars players. One more was a caddy and the others where all used CD cartridges to uses them. I wounder if most people reading this even remember this stuff.
TheWhiteRose000
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- Jul 10, 2010
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PudgyChicken
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- May 17, 2010
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What really pisses me off is when somebody wants to see a video on youtube, so they go to google, type the name of the video and then the word youtube.
It's painful.
It's painful.
[citation][nom]newfiedave84[/nom]This brings me back to my days working in an ISP call center. Some moments from the highlight reel:1) Spending 45 minutes getting a guy to type "sympatico" properly. His caps lock was on the whole time and the field was case sensitive. I told him to check for that four times, even explaining where on the keyboard to look.2) I was doing a "fresh install" call. After instructing the woman on how to plug in her ethernet cable, she said should couldn't find any available ports on the modem. I told her there should be 4 available ports, and she said her husband filled them up with a caulking gun because they didn't want anything getting in and damaging the modem.3) This one happened to a friend sitting next to me in the call center. He was doing a wireless setup, and giving instructions on the WEP key. He said, "This key is 26 digits long with numbers from 0 to 9 and letters from A to F." The customer replied, indignantly, "Well how come there's a D in it!"[/citation]
#2 is f*ckin' epic, couldn't stop laughing for a couple of minutes. I feel with you, mate! 😀
#2 is f*ckin' epic, couldn't stop laughing for a couple of minutes. I feel with you, mate! 😀
not a bad video marcus but still never going to be as good as this golden gem: IT guy Vs. Sales Guy. and no it's not on pay perview (but it should be) it's on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nsPE9rxndY
i'm not going to toot my own horn with everything i have mastered or do know because there is still so much i need/want to learn so i will just give some advice that i use when dealing with noobs
patience is a virtue, bring an interesting magazine or newspaper tell them it's because you're such a great multi-tasker!
try not to watch what they are doing after you tell them something and they are slow at doing it, this is why i bring the magazine/newspaper to peruse. wait for them to let you know they are done and ready for the next instruction and you can look over what they did at a glance for any error corrections. if you don't like the magazines or newspapers bring your smart phone make sure you have some fun games you can play on it or can browse the web. anything that can distract you from what the person your helping is doing wrong or turtle speed.
another thing i like to do is bring my digital video camera and record what i am doing for them or them doing it, make it into a cd/dvd media file for them and others with the same problem to watch and learn from with out ever having to bother you for that problem again! esp. great for the repeat offenders!!!@#$$#@%^#$&es that they are (or just great to watch yourself if they are hot, creepy, ya i know, but something to do on those 'quiet' blue moon days or a great way to keep from staring because your watching it on the camera or the previous episode with them on your phone).
just a tip of some of the things that work for me! it also never hurts to act like a road construction crew and have some one else around to talk to while watching that 1 person work! no shovel to lean on required!
never assume that because they have a BS, MBS, IS or any other degree that they know how to do more then the basics. that way you go in expecting the worst and have the opprotunity to leave with out a scowl when they show you they did know something and just needed a little help or just a reminder. i find that alot of tech people start off thinking everyone knows how to do a lot and it sets them up for disappointment.
glass half full/ healf empty thing, your better off going in there expecting an empty glass i find!
i will say i am becomming impressed with some schools that i previously thought were !@#@! my sister in law graduated from rasmussen with a medical degree as a lab technician and she walked into a job being able to upgrade and intergrate every system in the entire hospital and get it to work with the new universal government information medical system all b herself 3 days before the government deadline. she completely blew away the entire IT staff at the hospital. the sad thing is there's alot of hospital personnel that don't even know how to use computers or tablets let alone the systems and programs XD
she just graduated spring of 2010 and she already wants to go back for her masters so she can make another 20k on top of her 40k.
to the guy that said unions are artificially inflating the price. that's interesting, true to a degree, there are market conditions that correct and even get around that, but that is a failure higher up within the company like the head of HR, the CEO and COO. they either need to update their skills and degrees or they can choose to suffer and tank their company/profits to new companies with people that know better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nsPE9rxndY
i'm not going to toot my own horn with everything i have mastered or do know because there is still so much i need/want to learn so i will just give some advice that i use when dealing with noobs
patience is a virtue, bring an interesting magazine or newspaper tell them it's because you're such a great multi-tasker!
try not to watch what they are doing after you tell them something and they are slow at doing it, this is why i bring the magazine/newspaper to peruse. wait for them to let you know they are done and ready for the next instruction and you can look over what they did at a glance for any error corrections. if you don't like the magazines or newspapers bring your smart phone make sure you have some fun games you can play on it or can browse the web. anything that can distract you from what the person your helping is doing wrong or turtle speed.
another thing i like to do is bring my digital video camera and record what i am doing for them or them doing it, make it into a cd/dvd media file for them and others with the same problem to watch and learn from with out ever having to bother you for that problem again! esp. great for the repeat offenders!!!@#$$#@%^#$&es that they are (or just great to watch yourself if they are hot, creepy, ya i know, but something to do on those 'quiet' blue moon days or a great way to keep from staring because your watching it on the camera or the previous episode with them on your phone).
just a tip of some of the things that work for me! it also never hurts to act like a road construction crew and have some one else around to talk to while watching that 1 person work! no shovel to lean on required!
never assume that because they have a BS, MBS, IS or any other degree that they know how to do more then the basics. that way you go in expecting the worst and have the opprotunity to leave with out a scowl when they show you they did know something and just needed a little help or just a reminder. i find that alot of tech people start off thinking everyone knows how to do a lot and it sets them up for disappointment.
glass half full/ healf empty thing, your better off going in there expecting an empty glass i find!
i will say i am becomming impressed with some schools that i previously thought were !@#@! my sister in law graduated from rasmussen with a medical degree as a lab technician and she walked into a job being able to upgrade and intergrate every system in the entire hospital and get it to work with the new universal government information medical system all b herself 3 days before the government deadline. she completely blew away the entire IT staff at the hospital. the sad thing is there's alot of hospital personnel that don't even know how to use computers or tablets let alone the systems and programs XD
she just graduated spring of 2010 and she already wants to go back for her masters so she can make another 20k on top of her 40k.
to the guy that said unions are artificially inflating the price. that's interesting, true to a degree, there are market conditions that correct and even get around that, but that is a failure higher up within the company like the head of HR, the CEO and COO. they either need to update their skills and degrees or they can choose to suffer and tank their company/profits to new companies with people that know better.
@guardianangel42:
Heinlein wrote, quite a few years ago, "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."
That's still true.
Heinlein wrote, quite a few years ago, "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."
That's still true.
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