Why do people feel they have to "pretend"

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: BriGy86
what makes me mad is when you show some one how to do stuff (like me showing my dad how to access his e mail) and even though you have shown them 20 times before (i sh!t you not) they still sit down and act like its the 1st time they have ever done that certain task before

my dad is that way. he eventually gets it but it takes forever.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: mugs
What frustrates me is people who require frequent help doing things that are explained in the manual. That bugs me, because they're wasting my time. I don't get why people are so unwilling to educate themselves.

(one specific case that comes to mind is my mother-in-law being unable to get pictures off her digital camera without help)

Or my grandmother asking me to fix her digital camera (and handing it to me) 10 minutes before I was going to get married. WTF grandma.

 

[Cristatus]

Lazinnes pwns!

 

[Schfifty Five]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86

Originally posted by: Schfifty Five
How bout once you get your own car you do whatever the hell you want with it.

OK, dad. 😛

oooh, I still have at least 5 years before I'm a Dad lol

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: pontifex
we're talking about changing the fvcking time on your vcr so it doesn't flash 12:00 all the time. last i checked you didn't have to go to school to know how to do that. you're post is totally invalid.

Hmm, perhaps we are reading different threads. Let me highlight the things I see in this thread and their consequences of acting like you know WTF you're doing.

Originally posted by: gokuA problem crops up on their computer...

They refuse to figure out as well how to fix/troubleshoot the clock on the VCR, how to figure out tv, dvd player, smoke alarm, alarm clock, video connections from the tv to any other device...

The toaster oven is probably one of the most basic appliances they have in their house and after using it, I see that he once agian didn't turn it off but instead "lowered the temperature" ...
...yet he directly creates a hazard himself. He also did the same thing with a portable heater he bought, except he thinks hes turning it off when hes really just lowering the temperature so it runs continuously...

Failure to know WTF your doing with these devices can lead to several things not limited to: data loss, death by electrocution, death by fire, death by smoke inhalation, etc. Don't believe me? Just read what the OP's dad is doing with these "simple" devices.

Thank you for trying to "invalidate" my post.

See sig again, you didn't get it the first time. Here I'll explain it: What is simple to you, may be complex to someone else. On another subject, you may be the ignorant one to such a simple task.

Know how to bake a pie? Probably not, but if you do, compare that to what a 5-star chef does... You'd look ignorant compared to them, and that's on the subject of pies.

 

[Steve]

Better not work a helpdesk job. I'm in Chicago and currently Remote-Desktopped into somebody in Washington, D.C.

For what? To run MS Antispyware. I told her to do this weeks ago, and I even sent her a link.

 

[BriGy86]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: BriGy86
what makes me mad is when you show some one how to do stuff (like me showing my dad how to access his e mail) and even though you have shown them 20 times before (i sh!t you not) they still sit down and act like its the 1st time they have ever done that certain task before

my dad is that way. he eventually gets it but it takes forever.

i have to help my dad less frequently now, but its been about a little over a year and a half, lol

im also amazed at how people don't bother researching computer before they buy too

like one guy got mad and expected me to know what the differences of the 2 turion CPU model numbers off the top of my head

WTF? i can tell you what one is better by looking at the specs but i dont memorize the model number to go with it

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86

Originally posted by: pontifex
we're talking about changing the fvcking time on your vcr so it doesn't flash 12:00 all the time. last i checked you didn't have to go to school to know how to do that. you're post is totally invalid.

Hmm, perhaps we are reading different threads. Let me highlight the things I see in this thread and their consequences of acting like you know WTF you're doing.

Originally posted by: gokuA problem crops up on their computer...

They refuse to figure out as well how to fix/troubleshoot the clock on the VCR, how to figure out tv, dvd player, smoke alarm, alarm clock, video connections from the tv to any other device...

The toaster oven is probably one of the most basic appliances they have in their house and after using it, I see that he once agian didn't turn it off but instead "lowered the temperature" ...
...yet he directly creates a hazard himself. He also did the same thing with a portable heater he bought, except he thinks hes turning it off when hes really just lowering the temperature so it runs continuously...

Failure to know WTF your doing with these devices can lead to several things not limited to: data loss, death by electrocution, death by fire, death by smoke inhalation, etc. Don't believe me? Just read what the OP's dad is doing with these "simple" devices.

Thank you for trying to "invalidate" my post.

See sig again, you didn't get it the first time. Here I'll explain it: What is simple to you, may be complex to someone else. On another subject, you may be the ignorant one to such a simple task.

Know how to bake a pie? Probably not, but if you do, compare that to what a 5-star chef does... You'd look ignorant compared to them, and that's on the subject of pies.

last time i checked you can't get shocked by connecting the video and audio cables from your dvd player to your tv and that this required professional help. last time i checked, not knowing how to change the battery in the smoke alarm isn't a direct result of smoke inhalation and doesn't require a fireman to install it. its funny how you conveniently left the other stuff unbolded.

we're not talking about doing something as well as a professional could, moron. we're talking about doing stuff that is in the owner's manual that you are expected to read and figure out how to do yourself.

if the OP's dad read the manuals, eh wouldn't be doing the sh!t he's doing now. the manuals are made for the average person. they aren't made specifically for the guy who's been a a/v geek all his life and has read every book on how to do stuff.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: Phoenix86

Originally posted by: pontifex
we're talking about changing the fvcking time on your vcr so it doesn't flash 12:00 all the time. last i checked you didn't have to go to school to know how to do that. you're post is totally invalid.

Hmm, perhaps we are reading different threads. Let me highlight the things I see in this thread and their consequences of acting like you know WTF you're doing.

Originally posted by: gokuA problem crops up on their computer...

They refuse to figure out as well how to fix/troubleshoot the clock on the VCR, how to figure out tv, dvd player, smoke alarm, alarm clock, video connections from the tv to any other device...

The toaster oven is probably one of the most basic appliances they have in their house and after using it, I see that he once agian didn't turn it off but instead "lowered the temperature" ...
...yet he directly creates a hazard himself. He also did the same thing with a portable heater he bought, except he thinks hes turning it off when hes really just lowering the temperature so it runs continuously...

Failure to know WTF your doing with these devices can lead to several things not limited to: data loss, death by electrocution, death by fire, death by smoke inhalation, etc. Don't believe me? Just read what the OP's dad is doing with these "simple" devices.

Thank you for trying to "invalidate" my post.

See sig again, you didn't get it the first time. Here I'll explain it: What is simple to you, may be complex to someone else. On another subject, you may be the ignorant one to such a simple task.

Know how to bake a pie? Probably not, but if you do, compare that to what a 5-star chef does... You'd look ignorant compared to them, and that's on the subject of pies.

last time i checked you can't get shocked by connecting the video and audio cables from your dvd player to your tv and that this required professional help. last time i checked, not knowing how to change the battery in the smoke alarm isn't a direct result of smoke inhalation and doesn't require a fireman to install it. its funny how you conveniently left the other stuff unbolded.

we're not talking about doing something as well as a professional could, moron. we're talking about doing stuff that is in the owner's manual that you are expected to read and figure out how to do yourself.

if the OP's dad read the manuals, eh wouldn't be doing the sh!t he's doing now. the manuals are made for the average person. they aren't made specifically for the guy who's been a a/v geek all his life and has read every book on how to do stuff.

Well, just wnated to clarify something. OP was saying that his Dad wouldn't do things like turn off the toaster oven or other electronic devices that could be potentially a fire hazard if left on. OP didn't say his Dad didn't know how to turn it off but that he just likes to lower the temp or something. That is just dangerous and ignorant.

 

[Fraggable]

Originally posted by: Baked
Without stupid people, we wouldn't have tech support. "MOOOOOOOOOVE!"

lol I know what you're referring to.

I have this theory that about 90% of Americans are not truly alive, they just exist. The other 10% figure things out on their own, are productive, and have the brains to not put themselves in danger's way. And they can drive, whereas 90% cannot.

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: pontifex
last time i checked you can't get shocked by connecting the video and audio cables from your dvd player to your tv and that this required professional help. last time i checked, not knowing how to change the battery in the smoke alarm isn't a direct result of smoke inhalation and doesn't require a fireman to install it. its funny how you conveniently left the other stuff unbolded.

we're not talking about doing something as well as a professional could, moron. we're talking about doing stuff that is in the owner's manual that you are expected to read and figure out how to do yourself.

if the OP's dad read the manuals, eh wouldn't be doing the sh!t he's doing now. the manuals are made for the average person. they aren't made specifically for the guy who's been a a/v geek all his life and has read every book on how to do stuff.

Nice how you mostly dodge the examples I gave, and focus on the ones I skipped like the a/v one. I don't need to cover each example the OP provided to show my point, any ONE of them would work.

You skipped: data loss by improper use of a computer. This can result in thousands of dollars in repair costs, just to get the data back. Oh, and who is going to recover that data? A professional.

Also, connecting a TV to "any other device" isn't that simple, see HDTV. That often DOES require a professional to setup.

Finally, last time I checked, improper use of a smoke detector is bad. Interesting how you say blast people for not knowing how to set the time on a VCR, but assume they know how and when to change a battery. Especially on a device they don't actively use.

Do you know who checks smoke detectors? A professional by the title of Fire Marshall.

I shouldn't even need to touch on the portable heater, but then again, you're the one calling me the moron. :roll:

Originally posted by: pontifex
last i checked you didn't have to go to school to know how to do that. you're post is totally invalid.

All of these professions generally require school. In short, see sig.

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: Schfifty Five

Originally posted by: goku

Originally posted by: meltdown75
meh

think of something you suck at. ask yourself why you suck at it.

everyone has their little niche or specialty.

The thing is though when I knowingly suck at something, guess what I do? I do the very opposite of giving up, I work at it till I DON'T suck at it...

You still live at home w/ mommy and daddy right? Well, i'm sure they do things for you like cook you dinner or other easy chores. So why can't you help them out every once and a while?

My parents don't cook me dinner on a regular basis, when they cook me dinner, it's because of a special occasion like finals for example.

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86

Originally posted by: pontifex
last time i checked you can't get shocked by connecting the video and audio cables from your dvd player to your tv and that this required professional help. last time i checked, not knowing how to change the battery in the smoke alarm isn't a direct result of smoke inhalation and doesn't require a fireman to install it. its funny how you conveniently left the other stuff unbolded.

we're not talking about doing something as well as a professional could, moron. we're talking about doing stuff that is in the owner's manual that you are expected to read and figure out how to do yourself.

if the OP's dad read the manuals, eh wouldn't be doing the sh!t he's doing now. the manuals are made for the average person. they aren't made specifically for the guy who's been a a/v geek all his life and has read every book on how to do stuff.

Nice how you mostly dodge the examples I gave, and focus on the ones I skipped like the a/v one. I don't need to cover each example the OP provided to show my point, any ONE of them would work.

You skipped: data loss by improper use of a computer. This can result in thousands of dollars in repair costs, just to get the data back. Oh, and who is going to recover that data? A professional.
You don't always need a professional to recover data, I'm no professional and I do it all the time
Also, connecting a TV to "any other device" isn't that simple, see HDTV. That often DOES require a professional to setup.
That must be a compliment to me because I know how to setup an HDTV, it's not very hard you know, how are RGB cables more difficult than composite cables? Set a few settings here and there, it's no real big deal. Now a 5.1 surround sound system with reciever PLUS HDTV, now thats harder, but it *still* doesn't require a professional.
Finally, last time I checked, improper use of a smoke detector is bad. Interesting how you say blast people for not knowing how to set the time on a VCR, but assume they know how and when to change a battery. Especially on a device they don't actively use.

Do you know who checks smoke detectors? A professional by the title of Fire Marshall.
They should know how and when to change the battery because most if not all modern smoke detectors beep intermittantly or continously when the battery is going out. WTH brings a firemarshall to their house!😕
I shouldn't even need to touch on the portable heater, but then again, you're the one calling me the moron. :roll:
Are you implying you need a professional for this as well?

Originally posted by: pontifex
last i checked you didn't have to go to school to know how to do that. you're post is totally invalid.

All of these professions generally require school. In short, see sig.

Pretty much all the points here except the data loss all point to the fact that if you don't read the manual or have a clue about what you're doing, then you shouldn't be doing it in the first place.

 

[J Heartless Slick]

Originally posted by: goku
I've noticed this especially with my parents but they're not the only victims. I've noticed neighbors and teachers be just as pathetic (but not always). A problem crops up on their computer and they raise their hands in the air like they're giving up, which they are. They act like as if I didn't learn how to fix that problem by figuring it out but instead was "blessed with it". Right, sure whatever, either way the problem with these people is the fact that this isn't the one thing they will "immediately give up on".

They refuse to figure out as well how to fix/troubleshoot the clock on the VCR, how to figure out tv, dvd player, smoke alarm, alarm clock, video connections from the tv to any other device, other miscellaneous issues that will crop up in their life like, "why does it squeak every time I walk here" etc.

So when ever I come over or I'm asked a question by "these types of people", it's really frustrating when they didn't even bother to figure out the problem themselves. Now I bring this up because I'm ATM thinking of my dad and his policy to "leave everything on but just lower the volume". He refuses to turn off the radio in the car and instead just lowers it so when I go to listen to music I keep trying to turn it on and then realize he lowered the volume which is a pain in the ass to raise again. He apparently has decided to apply this to anything with a dial, which means their new toaster oven.

The toaster oven is probably one of the most basic appliances they have in their house and after using it, I see that he once agian didn't turn it off but instead "lowered the temperature" which pisses me off because I used to be bitched at as a child about all these fire hazards and that if you cause a fire, we may become bankrupt and all that other bullsh!t yet he directly creates a hazard himself. He also did the same thing with a portable heater he bought, except he thinks hes turning it off when hes really just lowering the temperature so it runs continuously...

:|
Why can't people develop BASIC troubleshooting skills? We teach people to try hard in school so that they're educated but when it comes to real life situations they're dumb as blocks...

I once heard a car mechanic say the same thing about people and cars.

There is an implied assumption here that other people have as much experience with and know as much as you do about computers.

Most people don't. For most people computers are still a mystery and they are scared that they will break it.

 

[xanis]

I agree with goku on one hand, but I disagree on the other. I agree that people really should learn some basic troubleshooting skills. It is a pain that when my parents don't know how to do something, they call me to do it for them. My mom, however, makes an effort to at least learn. She wen from not knowing how to work a computer 2 years ago to owning her own laptop and doing office tasks and all other kinds of things. While I'm on this subject of parents asking you to do things, I have to agree with Schfifty Five. It sounds like you still live at home with your parents, correct? You really don't have much room to complain on that one, because your parents feed you, clothe you, put a roof over your head, treat you well and out up with you. It really can't be THAT much of a hassle to help them out with ONE thing, can it? However, you do have a valid point. Not knowing how to properly work a smoke detector or a space heater is extremely dangerous. What you NEED to do is get serious and talk to your dad about it, and force him to learn. If you get in trouble or whatever, so be it. Yelling at your dad might get you gorunded or upset. Failing to learn how to operate a smoke detector or space heater might end in death.

 

[Red Dawn]

I hear you, people don't even want to learn. Of course after doing it for a living I can understand why they don't want to learn, they can't be bothered and if they can get someone else to do it for them they prefer it that way. I hate working on computers, I hate working on others computers even more. I just won't do it anymore. When people find out I use to do it for a living they try and get me to fix theirs, I just tell them that I won't even work on mine, what makes them think I'll work on theirs!

 

[CKent]

Why do people feel they have to "pretend" .. to be stupid

They're not pretending :Q 🙁

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: goku
Pretty much all the points here except the data loss all point to the fact that if you don't read the manual or have a clue about what you're doing, then you shouldn't be doing it in the first place.

And the inability to call in help when you need it. 🙂

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: Xanis
I agree with goku on one hand, but I disagree on the other. I agree that people really should learn some basic troubleshooting skills. It is a pain that when my parents don't know how to do something, they call me to do it for them. My mom, however, makes an effort to at least learn. She wen from not knowing how to work a computer 2 years ago to owning her own laptop and doing office tasks and all other kinds of things. While I'm on this subject of parents asking you to do things, I have to agree with Schfifty Five. It sounds like you still live at home with your parents, correct? You really don't have much room to complain on that one, because your parents feed you, clothe you, put a roof over your head, treat you well and out up with you. It really can't be THAT much of a hassle to help them out with ONE thing, can it? However, you do have a valid point. Not knowing how to properly work a smoke detector or a space heater is extremely dangerous. What you NEED to do is get serious and talk to your dad about it, and force him to learn. If you get in trouble or whatever, so be it. Yelling at your dad might get you gorunded or upset. Failing to learn how to operate a smoke detector or space heater might end in death.

No, I don't live at home but I have a room there and I visit often enough for it to piss me off. My dad has been driving my moms car old car for the past year and before that, I swear to god that car was in really good condition, only thing about it was there were lots of scratches from being in a parking garage and I guess heavy luggage but otherwise it's been taken very good care of by my mother.

Now that my dad has it, it's for one thing parked outside, and because of this, the tint at the back is bubbling up, bizzilion scratches on one point of the car where a bird attacked it because it was retarded, mechanical problems are NOW showing up, only a year later, a car that was mechanically sound for the past 12 years is having irratic problems like the lights on the dashboard don't turn on right away, steering whines despite changing power steering fluid, antenna doesn't go up or down anymore, just other small things that are just now beginning to show the car's age... It's really sad to see what a nice car it was to just turn to crap in little over a year. So, do I really want to have to see the stereo go out because my dad drives around all the time with it off and him not at least LISTENING to it?

 

[Phoenix86]

All this can be cured by living on your own. 🙂

 

[xanis]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
All this can be cured by living on your own and having money. 🙂

fixed.

 

[Eeezee]

This is why people will become upset if you change their homepage to something else. It's part of their unbreakable routine

That is why people like us shall rule the world one day...