i agree with bothArthur Dent wrote:I agree. If you've been using computers for years, it can be difficult to see things from the perspective of a beginner. On the other hand, it can be extremely frustrating helping someone who has some kind of mental block that tells them they can never understand computers. I think many people run into this helping their parents with the computer. I know they are smart enough to figure most problems out on their own, but sometimes they insist on having their hand held: "It's asking me if I want to save. What do I do?", etc.sighyoung wrote:But some things that strike me as obvious or intuitive simply aren't to other users. (Control-Alt-Delete might as well be Abracadabra to others.) Also, some people are convinced that they can't figure it out (or that it's not their social role to figure it out), so they leave it to others.
i still have to hold my parents hand on programing the tv's...changing the time, setting the vcr to record stuff, etc...most all tech problems i have to solve for my parents...(60 and 56 are their ages). they dont even have a computer at home...just at their work.
i keep telling them, especially with the tvs, "if you simply look at the manual, it will tell you everything. most electronics are dummy proof anyways...with a default setting, so you can always start over"...doesn't do anything...especially my mom...she agrees with me, but asks me to do it anyways. my dad will try, but he's a slow learner. when they got their new cellphones and my dad got his digital camera...phew, taht took awhile...