The thing I don't get is all the people I personally know that use AOL just log on and go directly to IE to use the internet... what the hell is the point of AOL then? Why not just cut out the middleman and save yourself $10 a month and all the bloat by getting an ISP?
lol at work one time i asked a lady for her email address, i dont remember what it was, we'll use "lady" just for an example. heres how i remember it, it was funny as hell.
me: "do you have an email address?"
her: "yes, its ahhh, oh what is it?..."
me: .......
her: "oh, its www. uh no, oh yeah, it's www.lady.com"
me : ????.......
another lady in background: "no, it's lady@aol.com!"
me : !!!!
her: "oh yeah, it's just lady"
me : "at aol.com????"
her: "oh yeah, but thats kind of obvious, thats what everybody's is anyways.."
me: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
that was absolutely the dumbest response i have ever had when asking for an email address.
me: "do you have an email address?"
her: "yes, its ahhh, oh what is it?..."
me: .......
her: "oh, its www. uh no, oh yeah, it's www.lady.com"
me : ????.......
another lady in background: "no, it's lady@aol.com!"
me : !!!!
her: "oh yeah, it's just lady"
me : "at aol.com????"
her: "oh yeah, but thats kind of obvious, thats what everybody's is anyways.."
me: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
that was absolutely the dumbest response i have ever had when asking for an email address.
<< her: "oh yeah, but thats kind of obvious, thats what everybody's is anyways.." >>
Yep, I repeat, the *majority* of AOL users think that AOL IS the internet.
I tend to agree with NesuD,
I used AOL at first. I went over the monthly
limit of hours & paid about $30 for a month.
So I changed.
Now I'm the anti-AOL person at work.
If your paying $24 a month, I don't think you should have
those stupid ads on by default. I also hate it when I'm trying
to get someones connection to work, and I have to wait for
the "updating AOL" message to finish before it actually cuts off.
AOL Tech support told my sister she was having problems because
AOL was installed on a partition other than C: !
Back to the thread:
Some of the people I work with are "clueless" about computers.
I like them all just the same, but of course most of them use AOL.
When they have problems with their AOL and ask me something,
I just have to plead "AOL ignorance".
I had one guy that wanted to use NetZero for free and then access AOL
through it (so he could pay less). Wonder how long it would take
to sign on that way ?!?!?!?!?!
Can you imagine the bandwidth those two would use.
I used AOL at first. I went over the monthly
limit of hours & paid about $30 for a month.
So I changed.
Now I'm the anti-AOL person at work.
If your paying $24 a month, I don't think you should have
those stupid ads on by default. I also hate it when I'm trying
to get someones connection to work, and I have to wait for
the "updating AOL" message to finish before it actually cuts off.
AOL Tech support told my sister she was having problems because
AOL was installed on a partition other than C: !
Back to the thread:
Some of the people I work with are "clueless" about computers.
I like them all just the same, but of course most of them use AOL.
When they have problems with their AOL and ask me something,
I just have to plead "AOL ignorance".
I had one guy that wanted to use NetZero for free and then access AOL
through it (so he could pay less). Wonder how long it would take
to sign on that way ?!?!?!?!?!
Can you imagine the bandwidth those two would use.
Randomish drunken replies:
And I quote from one:
"It's easy oh so easy. AOL, so easy to use, it's #1".
You're right, AOL would get a lot more respect for me if it required a degree in advanced super micro advanced astro physics. Damn their souls for making it easy to use and accessible for everyone.
Now, think about this for a moment. AOL costs now $24 (the price just went up by $2 IIRC), it is #1 in the world, the software has been proven to be the most buggy, most insecure piece of ISP software possibly EVER built, and it is #1.
So's Windows 95, 98, ME, etc. Is every Windows user (which is much more than AOL users) stupid too?
There's alternatives, such as Linux, which, by God is free and which leads me to the next comment.
Many ISPs are free if you hack around with them
In other words if you're in the 0.1% of the "techies" in this world. Is my neighbor stupid and ignorant for not wanting to practice something illegal and require use of his time not doing the typical internet things? Not everyone has hours to spend reading Anandtech forums and discovering the magical inside world of computers.
So what does this say about a large majority of people, or at least people using AOL?
They like simplicity, which I do too. Am I stupid and ignorant for driving a tweakless '93 Taurus when I could've bought an equally priced or cheaper car, do some mods to it and get better performance? Are people that get their car repaired and oil changed at car places in the same AOL category?
As time went on...slow...and that trend has continued to this day.
It's not slower than any other form of dial-up.
Actually, I'd say we are more intelligent in the technology area than them.
Uh yes, soo...does this make you better than them in any way? Some people are good with cars, some with cooking, some with gardening, is the group that knows more about technology more likely to be president of the Unitd States or take over the world?
You give the impression that you do.
AOL Users : "ignorance" :: AT Members : "arrogance"
I can't believe you guys are desperate enough to make yourself feel better about yourselves that you choose to stereotype people based on their ISP of all things...
AOL is easy and user-friendly... No isht... How else would the computer illiterate use the internet? You think you're a badass cuz u use a "real" ISP? Here's a hint: 99% of the people in THE REAL WORLD don't care...
YES YES YES PERFECT.
You'd be amazed at how many times I would do support for people and I would ask them if they have the internet and they would reply, "No, I have AOL".
And......................
I read that twice and have yet to see the point other than that you feel the need to express your arrogance by making yourself feel superior to these "AOL users".
And I quote from one:
"It's easy oh so easy. AOL, so easy to use, it's #1".
You're right, AOL would get a lot more respect for me if it required a degree in advanced super micro advanced astro physics. Damn their souls for making it easy to use and accessible for everyone.
Now, think about this for a moment. AOL costs now $24 (the price just went up by $2 IIRC), it is #1 in the world, the software has been proven to be the most buggy, most insecure piece of ISP software possibly EVER built, and it is #1.
So's Windows 95, 98, ME, etc. Is every Windows user (which is much more than AOL users) stupid too?
There's alternatives, such as Linux, which, by God is free and which leads me to the next comment.
Many ISPs are free if you hack around with them
In other words if you're in the 0.1% of the "techies" in this world. Is my neighbor stupid and ignorant for not wanting to practice something illegal and require use of his time not doing the typical internet things? Not everyone has hours to spend reading Anandtech forums and discovering the magical inside world of computers.
So what does this say about a large majority of people, or at least people using AOL?
They like simplicity, which I do too. Am I stupid and ignorant for driving a tweakless '93 Taurus when I could've bought an equally priced or cheaper car, do some mods to it and get better performance? Are people that get their car repaired and oil changed at car places in the same AOL category?
As time went on...slow...and that trend has continued to this day.
It's not slower than any other form of dial-up.
Actually, I'd say we are more intelligent in the technology area than them.
Uh yes, soo...does this make you better than them in any way? Some people are good with cars, some with cooking, some with gardening, is the group that knows more about technology more likely to be president of the Unitd States or take over the world?
You give the impression that you do.
AOL Users : "ignorance" :: AT Members : "arrogance"
I can't believe you guys are desperate enough to make yourself feel better about yourselves that you choose to stereotype people based on their ISP of all things...
AOL is easy and user-friendly... No isht... How else would the computer illiterate use the internet? You think you're a badass cuz u use a "real" ISP? Here's a hint: 99% of the people in THE REAL WORLD don't care...
YES YES YES PERFECT.
You'd be amazed at how many times I would do support for people and I would ask them if they have the internet and they would reply, "No, I have AOL".
And......................
I read that twice and have yet to see the point other than that you feel the need to express your arrogance by making yourself feel superior to these "AOL users".
<< I read that twice and have yet to see the point other than that you feel the need to express your arrogance by making yourself feel superior to these "AOL users". >>
Maybe if you read that message through your AOL browser it will simplify it for you.
<< Maybe if you read that message through your AOL browser it will simplify it for you. >>
Oh I see you were trying to make an attempt at a joke in which you insult my defending of AOL with a silly childish comment that involves my illiteracy which stems as a result of my AOL using, and that AOl will simplify it for me simply because they're AOL.
HA, clever.
Not.
<< GoldenBear, You should be the AOL marketing manager.
>>You should be the anti-AOL pro-non AOL anti-marketing non-manager.
AOL is a crappy, overpriced ISP whether you want to accept it or not. It IS slower than most if not all dial-up ISPs which are cheaper too. When using dial-up at a relatives to play a game online, I couldn't get a ping below 250ms. When I switched to Prodigy Internet, I could easily get below 200ms and averaged 180-190ms. I've also run speed tests on a broadband connection with and without AOL. When testing with AOL running, my connection consistently rated 100-150kbs lower than running it from internet explorer. One field AOL impresses me in is marketing; those people are brilliant.
GoldenBear, don't waste your time and money. Shell out a few more dollars and get DSL or Cable. If broadband isn't available in your area subscribe to ATT's service for $7 a month unlimited access (includes long distance too!) I think ATT is also the ISP Sega uses for it's service Sega.net which is also superior (ask Deeko I think he uses it.)
GoldenBear, don't waste your time and money. Shell out a few more dollars and get DSL or Cable. If broadband isn't available in your area subscribe to ATT's service for $7 a month unlimited access (includes long distance too!) I think ATT is also the ISP Sega uses for it's service Sega.net which is also superior (ask Deeko I think he uses it.)
a) I don't pay for AOL.
b) I don't use AOL as my primary service.
3) You're God because you know all that and the average person doesn't.
b) I don't use AOL as my primary service.
3) You're God because you know all that and the average person doesn't.
<< a) I don't pay for AOL.
b) I don't use AOL as my primary service.
3) You're God because you know all that and the average person doesn't. >>
a) Your parents are wasting their money.
b) That's good, what do you use?
3) I never said I was a god so don't put words in my mouth, thank you.
Ah... I finally figured it out. GoldenBear somehow got one of those AOL cd's stuck up his ass, and it turned him into an annoying defender of the AOL Dynasty. That explains why he acts as though there is something stuck up his ass.
Chill out, GoldenBear.
GoldenBear, I really don't care what you have to say. AOL is not a good company. They are not a good ISP. They are slow, their software is annoying, and I am really too lazy to list the millions of other reasons why AOL is crap. Thank you.
(Awaiting a swift response with lots of quotes accompanied by bold typing and pointless defending of a horrible company and ISP..)
Chill out, GoldenBear.
GoldenBear, I really don't care what you have to say. AOL is not a good company. They are not a good ISP. They are slow, their software is annoying, and I am really too lazy to list the millions of other reasons why AOL is crap. Thank you.
(Awaiting a swift response with lots of quotes accompanied by bold typing and pointless defending of a horrible company and ISP..)
<< (Awaiting a swift response with lots of quotes accompanied by bold typing and pointless defending of a horrible company and ISP..) >>
HAHAHHA you wish.
the only AOL users that I will be willing to admit that I know, aren't paying for AOl they are ripping it off.
they've not paid for it in about 5 years.
they've not paid for it in about 5 years.
<< But apparently since you don't use AOL, build your own computer, found your way to Anandtech, you're somehow better than these people? >>
Uh. Yeah...
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE aol. Almost all of the consulting money I make outside of my 9-5 job is from aol users. I show them how to get onto the internet ('you mean aol is not the internet???"
, how to use IE and netscape, and, eventually, how a real ISP works.And of course, there is all the money I make cleaning out viruses from their systems...one of the funniest things about aol users is, a lot of them have viruses on their pc's but do not know it...they think that the pc is supposed to act that way...until I show them how they downloaded a virus using "the internet" (aol).
<< Yes, enough said.
I do it every day (tech support for a legal research dot-com).
I know within 10 seconds of the beginning of every call whether or not I'm talking to an AOL'er. There are grades of ignorance and sometimes flat out stupidity, just like there are different grades of anything else. A knowledgable user gives me a question and I give him/her an answer. A non-AOL/Compuserve/Prodigy user gives enough of a vague hint of their real problem without realizing it that I can 19 times out of 20 decipher what that real problem is and walk them through a solution to it. An AOL'er sends something like....well, here's a cut and paste...
Your system (*it's always a 'system' if they don't know what the hell they're talking about, isn't it?*) isn't working again, can't log in my website. When will this be fixed?
WTF is that all supposed to mean? Do they actually think anyone can decipher what their problem is? Do they actually think that even qualifies as a legitimate complaint about anything other than the fact that evolution obviously takes longer for some than others?
Yes, there are uneducated users everywhere, but AOL'ers are a breed of their own.
Xayd
>>
Having worked for an ISP, doing DSL I have to TOTALLY agree. This may be the unpopular stance, but I remember people calling me up, being trained and having data flowing in both directions, and Judging by their attitude and knowlege, I would just wait for them to mention AOl, and sure enough, they would say "AOL told me to call you". Then came the big argument, even after I had them open IE and surf the web, ping servers, etc. and proved to them that the DSL part was working, they would scream and argue because AOL didnt work. I used to Hate it. I think anytime AOL support hears "Dsl" they transfer you, the chickensh*t techs they usually are. I hate to bunch people up here, but AOL does appeal to the lowest common denomintator, the sheep with no clue, think about it, its "so easy to use" Has that line ever sold you on anything??
the only AOL users that I will be willing to admit that I know
So you don't recognize people as your friends/family members just because of their choice of internet use?
aren't paying for AOl they are ripping it off.
Well then, they have MY respect, along with yours. Stealing, what a tremendous concept..
one of the funniest things about aol users is, a lot of them have viruses on their pc's but do not know it...they think that the pc is supposed to act that way...
HAHHAHAHAHA THAT'S REALLY FUNNY NO.
This may be the unpopular stance
Uh yes, it is quite unpopular due to all the AOL fanatix here.
I hate to bunch people up here, but AOL does appeal to the lowest common denomintator, the sheep with no clue, think about it, its "so easy to use" Has that line ever sold you on anything??
You mean the lowest tech common denominator. I really DO NOT understand how NOT knowing how the f*ck a computer works makes someone stupid.
So you don't recognize people as your friends/family members just because of their choice of internet use?
aren't paying for AOl they are ripping it off.
Well then, they have MY respect, along with yours. Stealing, what a tremendous concept..
one of the funniest things about aol users is, a lot of them have viruses on their pc's but do not know it...they think that the pc is supposed to act that way...
HAHHAHAHAHA THAT'S REALLY FUNNY NO.
This may be the unpopular stance
Uh yes, it is quite unpopular due to all the AOL fanatix here.
I hate to bunch people up here, but AOL does appeal to the lowest common denomintator, the sheep with no clue, think about it, its "so easy to use" Has that line ever sold you on anything??
You mean the lowest tech common denominator. I really DO NOT understand how NOT knowing how the f*ck a computer works makes someone stupid.
You realize, of course, that only internet newbies (or the forever clueless) use bold in their posts? As if making your words glare off the screen will lend them validity.
Face it. AOL users might be good people. But they do not know how to use computers or navigate the internet. If they did, they would NOT be AOL users!
The fact that you post here means that you have a "real" ISP. Even YOU understand why you don't need aol.
Face it. AOL users might be good people. But they do not know how to use computers or navigate the internet. If they did, they would NOT be AOL users!
The fact that you post here means that you have a "real" ISP. Even YOU understand why you don't need aol.
<< I really DO NOT understand how NOT knowing how the f*ck a computer works makes someone stupid. >>
Because it takes all of a few hours to learn. My mom can use this computer completley fine, and it doesn't have AOL. If she can, anyone can (not saying she is clueless, but she would be considered the average person).
Ignorance doesn't make someone right, nor should it ever be used as an excuse.
bigd480
I thought it was pretty funny that you had one of the most stereotypical comments in your reply that was supposed to be about not stereotyping.
There are tons of ppl MUCH more intelligent and tech savvy than AT members that use AOL... They're the engineers, doctors, scientists of the world and they use it because they don't care how much it costs and they want an ISP their wife and kids can use...
I thought it was pretty funny that you had one of the most stereotypical comments in your reply that was supposed to be about not stereotyping.
There are tons of ppl MUCH more intelligent and tech savvy than AT members that use AOL... They're the engineers, doctors, scientists of the world and they use it because they don't care how much it costs and they want an ISP their wife and kids can use...
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